The goals stated in the new Cross-Border Cooperation Concept approved by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin are to strengthen ties between the Russian border regions and neighbouring countries, to promote their economic and humanitarian contacts and develop their infrastructural potential.
This new document replaces the previous concept adopted in 2001. It is consistent with the priorities outlined in the Strategy of Spatial Development of the Russian Federation until 2025, and is based on a modern vision of interstate relations.
The main areas of application are cross-border trade, joint investment projects, and building cross-border industrial clusters. A separate chapter has to do with logistics and infrastructure: the development of international transport corridors and simplification of border crossing procedures.
The new concept also addresses environmental protection, joint environmental control and emergency response. Energy security, telecommunication technologies and cooperation in migration matters are also recognised as priority areas.
The document includes relevant humanitarian initiatives, the most important being the joint monitoring of the sanitary and epidemiological situation in the border area and the establishment of direct contacts between universities.
The federal authorities have been instructed to put together an action plan to implement the concept.
The newly adopted concept will help strengthen ties with neighbouring countries and create the right conditions for a successful development of the border areas.