1. East-West Forum for sustainable development in the Baltic Sea Region State of the art. And necessary support 21.11.02 Helsinki 29 CSD/BSR meeting

2. Stages of project realization: territorial focus, partners, time Stage 1. Pilot project Spatial Planning in Russia The project’s territorial focus: St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Oblast. Partners: Nordregio in cooperation with the Leontief Center Time: May 2002 – December 2002 Stage 2. Tacis Micro application The project’s territorial focus is on the whole North-West Russia, including Kaliningrad with participation of partners from Finland and Sweden Partners: Nordregio in cooperation with the Leontief Center Time: proposed period January –June 2003

3. Stages of project realization: territorial focus, partners, time Stage 3. INTERREG Seed Money Partners: EU partner (still missing) and Leontief Center as a seed money applicant Time: January-March 2003 Stage 4. TACIS Small Project and INTERREG applications* T ACIS Small Project application Partners: Leningrad Oblast as main NIS project partner and Pomeranian Development Agency from Gdańsk as a Lead Applicant Time: 2003-2004 INTERREG application Partners: Some Russian Regions and EU partner s (still missing) Time: 2003 (autumn) –2006 (autumn) * TACIS AND INTERREG aplications are two parts of the same project

4. Stage 1. Pilot project Spatial Planning in Russia Activities 1. Preparation of the report Spatial planning in Russia giving a brief outline of the state-of-the-art-: (1) Domestic externalities of Russian spatial planning (2) Formal system of Russian spatial planning (3) Russian spatial planning and policy environment (4) International dimension of Russian spatial planning. 2. Preparation of detailed documents and concepts for the project implementation in particular Handbook of Spatial Planning. This project is prepared as a component of the East-West Forum and forms a part of a larger series of projects and follow-up procedures, whose results and networks will be fully utilized in preparation and dissemination of the Handbook.

5. Stage 1. Pilot project Spatial Planning in Russia Current state of realisation and problems 1.The preliminary results of the Pilot Project have been discussed at the meeting on 5 of June in St. Petersburg. by representatives of authorities, research institutes, international organizations. At the present time background papers addressing chapters (1)-(3) in Russian language have been prepared to be translated into English and the chapter four is in the process of preparation. The final report in English will be probably ready in the beginning of January. 2.Following detailed proposals of the important project components have been elaborated:  Handbook of Spatial Planning: Russia and Europe/Nordic countries in comparative perspective to the Nordic Council.  Application to the TACIS micro project facility

6. Stage 2. Tacis Micro application Activities organising a Pilot Course for Russian planners Current state of realisation and problems The application for the Tacis Micro is practically ready. However, due to the absence of main EU eligible partner (regional or local government) - Nordregio is non-governmental one and can be presented only as additional partner - the Tacis Micro will not be applied at least for the forthcoming application round to be closed in middle of November. The most probable outcome is to skip TACIS MICRO application and the whole stage 2

7. Stage 3. INTERREG Seed Money Activities Preparation of both TACIS Small Project Facility and INTERREG III B applications Current state of realisation and problems At the next INTERREG application round there is a unique possibility open for the non-EU partners to receive seed money for development of their projects. This opportunity might be used by the Leningrad oblast supported by Leontief Centre to develop both TACIS and INTERREG applications. The CSD/BSR assistance concerning:  Finding the EU partner for the project,  Ensuring co-financing for at list part of the seed money is welcome

8. Stage 4. TACIS Small Project and INTERREG applications Activities According to the outcome of the 28 th CSD/BSR meeting in St Petersburg Current state of realisation and problems All North-West regions of Russia and the Leontief Centre are prepared to do their best to launch the East West Forum Project according to the concept discussed by the 28 th CSD/BSR meeting in St. Petersburg. The 25000 EURO has been secured in their budget as a national co-financing for the TACIS part of the project. Nordregio is ready to participate in the main INTERREG IIII B /TACIS SPF project as its chief expert executor. Pomeranian Development Agency from Gdańsk is ready to act as a Lead Applicant for the TACIS part. The following steps should be done in the nearest future:  preparation (by February 2003) of the project application to TACIS SPF (TACIS part is crucial for the whole project success);  the INTERREG application should follow (to enlarge the substance and the network towards a wider BSR Programme).

9. Stage 4. TACIS Small Project and INTERREG applications Proposed solutions What is necessary:  assistance of CSD members for project preparation 1. Practical involvement a) On the level of partners of INTERREG Project realisation – assisting in finding potential EU project partners being able to contribute to the project budget b) On the level of experts - help in forming the composition of experts involved into the project c) Setting up the Task Force on the Tacis Small Project preparation and financing issues 2. Political support of the project a)Sending the copy of the letter (based on the Letter of Finnish Chair supporting the East West Project) to regional and local level inviting them to join the project b) Assisting in receiving approval for the project of National subcommittees and the INTERREG III B SC c) Introducing the project to the Next Northern Dimensions Action Plan d) Monitoring the project implementation  resources to draft both applications and to organise all project partners and to reveal their interest and possible involvement (role) in the project

10. 29 th CSD/BSR decisions We ask 29 th CSD/BSR to take the following decisions : a) Contributing 3 000 Euro from the 2003 VASAB budget as co-financing for INTERREG Seed Money for preparation of the INTERREG and TACIS applications of the project, b) Asking CSD/BSR members to send to their regional and local authorities letters (based on the Letter of Finnish Chair supporting the East West Project) inviting them to join the project, c) Proposing CBSS to introduce the project to the Next Northern Dimensions Action Plan, d) Committing CSD to monitoring the project implementation, spreading the information about the project in the BSR and bringing the project results to the next Ministerial Conference, if appropriate, e) Setting up the Task Force on the Tacis Small Project preparation and financing issues etc., f) Asking CSD/BSR members to assist in finding potential EU project partners being able to contribute to the project budget, g) Asking CSD/BSR members to help in forming the composition of experts involved into the project (CSD/BSR members could recommend persons who having big experience in spatial planning field could be useful for holding training, sharing of the experience etc.)