The Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is involved in the work of the Finnish-Russian intergovernmental group for the development of cooperation between neighbouring regions, coordinated by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Finland funds numerous projects in the neighbouring regions of St Petersburg, the Leningrad district, the Karelian Republic and Murmansk.

The main emphases in the social and health sectors are

• stopping infectious diseases
• preventing chronic widespread diseases
• preventing substance abuse
• developing the social and health care system.

Young people are a special target group for activities.

Other forms of neighbouring area cooperation

Finland participates in numerous social and health sector projects organised internationally at regional level. These include projects by the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Barents Euro-Arctic Council, and the Council of the Baltic Sea States.