1 Barents Regional Working Group on Culture Meeting in Kuhmo Paula Tuomikoski, PhD. Special Government Advisor

2 Barents Euro-Arctic Region

3 Barents culture: strenghts and weaknesses Strenghts –unique culture, cultural diversity –cooperation networks –cooperation between regional administrations –work of the Cultural Committee /Working Group Weaknesses –financing of the action plan –diffuse funding

4 Oulu Communiqué 9-10 September [awareness] of the need for support at national and regional levels for cultural initiatives in the Region... emphasizing two important aspects: cooperation between equal partners and co- financing of activities 1.1.

5 Promotion of the sectors and projects in the 21st century Based on programmes –culture incorporated in large social programmes –specific cultural programmes Based on financing schemes –culture incorporated in extensive funding schemes as earmarkings –specific programmes for financing culture

6 Development of programme- thinking in Barents cultural cooperation Kirkenäs 1993 Archangel 1998 Oulu 2002 Regional cultural committee set up Northern Renaissance Action Programme: "Voices in the Barents Region "

7 Northern Dimension

8 Communiqué The Ministers agree to further develop cultural cooperation in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region as part of implementation of Northern Dimension policies.. 1.2

9 Northern Dimension: Action programme to promote a dialogue that enables the region to develop as a dynamic and open cultural area, raising awareness of cultural heritage, and promoting local and regional development the Annex lists actors and objectives 2.1.

10 European Union Neighbourhood policy Neighbourhood strategy, May 2004 –culture included under the heading People-to-people, programmes and agencies 3.1 Draft regulation on European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument item (s): promoting understanding between cultures, people-to-people contacts, cooperation between civil societies and exchanges of young people 4.

11 EU and Russia four Common Spaces Common Spaces agreed in 2003 Implementation under preparation 4 th space: Research and education, including cultural aspects Road maps under preparation Hague Summit

12 Support for culture from 2 nd Northern Dimension Action Programme Neighbourhood policy 4 th EU-Russia Common Space EU Structural Fund programmes and Community initiatives Nordic program of adjacent areas National programmes

13 The Ministers agree on the aim of ensuring that the needs of cultural development in the Barents Euro- Arctic Region are taken into account in the European Union policies and Community programmes, especially in the next action programme for the Northern Dimension , as well as in the implementation of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between the EU and the Russian Federation 1.3

14 Communiqué Strengthening multicultural and artistic cooperation in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region in interaction with other international structures, in particular the Arctic Council, the Council of the Baltic Sea States, the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Council of Europe, as well as national and other actors and organisations representing ethnic and linguistic minorities in the Region 1.4

15 Possible sources of financing in northern cultural cooperation Neighbourhood programmes European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) EU Structural Funds and Community initiatives Nordic program for adjacent areas National funding

16 AC Beac CBSS Northern Dimension Common Economic Space Common Space of Freedom, Security and Justice Common Space of External Security Common Space of Research and Education, including cultural aspects BEAC The Regional (Northern) Cultural Dimension of the fourth Space

17 What is needed to promote financing in the cultural sector in the North To put in place a cultural programme for implementing the fourth Common Space and as its regional component realise the Northern Cultural Partnership/ Dimension (Barents cultural cooperation as part of it) To create a funding mechanism within the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument and enhance cooperation between different financing organisations

18 Kainuu 2004 Summit - Mid-term conference Barents 2010 Taking Steps Ahead in Barents Cooperation Oslo Committee of Senior Officials