The Royal Norwegian Consulate General's participation in the Barents Cooperation by Marit Jacobsen
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The Royal Norwegian Consulate General’s participation in the Barents Cooperation
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Transcript of The Royal Norwegian Consulate General's participation in the Barents Cooperation by Marit Jacobsen
The Royal Norwegian Consulate General’s participation in the Barents Cooperation
BackgroundEstablished in 1993 as a result of
• stronger Norwegian involvement in the regional Barents Cooperation
• strategic interest for North-Western Russia in Norway
still important because of the Norwegian government’s commitment to the Arctic areas
Fields of operation regarding the Barents area• Facilitation of cooperation and organisation of activities
across the borders in the fields of economy, culture, indigenous peoples, people-to-people relations
• Close contact with the Barents secretariat
• Co-organiser of the local border cooperation days in Pechenga municipality
Local border traffic permit (LBTP)•Разрешение на местное приграничное
передвижение
Background• The agreement was
signed on 02.11.2010 and entered into force on 29.05. 2012.
• The agreement seeks to facilitate development of people-to-people contact as a condition for economical, social and cultural cooperation
What does the permit entail?- Gives a right to travel to the other country without a visa
- Is valid for three years
- It is only possible to cross the border at Storskog/Borisoglebsk
- Gives only a right to stay in the areas defined in the agreement (30 km on each side)
- Gives the right to stay in the other country’s territory for up to15 days each time
Experiences so far• More than 2500 Norwegians and 1200 Russians hold the
permit
• During 2013, there has been more than 40 000 border crossings in accordance with the local border traffic permit regime
• Most holders use the permit for shopping, to do business and participate in cultural or other events
What next?• We are awating a possible visa free regime between the
Schengen countries and Russia• In the meantime – the Royal Norwegian Consulate General
continue to facilitate easy submitting of documents for visas and local border traffic permits
• Awaiting Russian authorities’ decision about opening an honorary consulate in the border near areas.
