Imatra-Svetogorsk
Overview
History
At the beginning of the 1990s, cooperation activities began spontaneously between the different Finnish and Russian economic actors. This led to proposals for a common economic development project for the Imatra-Svetogorsk cross-border area, but ultimately this never became reality.
Despite the signing in 1992 of an agreement between the two municipalities, cross-border cooperation only began in 1996. The first joint initiative was intended to facilitate access to Svetogorsk for border workers living in Imatra: free visas were made possible and cross-border cycle paths were also put in place. Other projects have been made possible since Finland’s entry into the European Union in 1995, making the country eligible for the EU funding programmes for cross-border cooperation (Interreg and TACIS). Many fields have thus been the subject of cooperation: wastewater treatment, education, tourism, administration, healthcare and security. The European Union has not been the sole source of finance, Finland having contributed to a project on the monitoring of air quality, which is to date the most institutionalised project between Imatra and Svetogorsk.
Beginning in 2001-2002, preliminary studies on the possibility of a cross-border strategy have been undertaken.
Relatively recent cooperation at the local level
Cross-border cooperation between Imatra and Svetogorsk is recent, and is based on the determination of a number of key actors. While the cooperation mainly concerns the local level, it is also developing at the regional level, involving the towns of Lappeenranta on the Finnish side, and Vyborg on the Russian side. Cooperation is supported by the national and municipal authorities, notably within the TACIS programme.
While a dedicated body for cross-border cooperation has not yet come into being, a steering committee, composed of the mayors of Imatra and Svetogorsk, and an inter-municipal cross-border commission were established in 2001. They have the role of formulating a cross-border strategy for the two towns. The main points that they address are enterprise policy, administrative cooperation, services, and research and development.
The two municipalities are also working towards closer relations between the populations, as well as better knowledge of the cross-border territory. Educational and cultural projects have thus been undertaken in order to encourage young people to visit the other side of the border.
The networking of European cross-border conurbations
From 2004 to 2006, Imatra and Svetogorsk took part in the City Twins Co-operation Network project, involving 10 towns and cities separated by an international border, and financed by the Interreg IIIC programme. The aim of the project was to promote the exchange of good practice in the fields of local administration, education, culture, social affairs, economic development and cross-border cooperation. This network became the “City Twins” association in 2007.
