10:00 07.07.2026
The Kolarctic program’s legacy: How can Russia utilize the experience of joint projects without Western countries
© Russian Arctic and Far East Development
The program of cross-border cooperation between Russia and European countries encompassed eight territories in four countries. Kolarctic financed environmental, infrastructure, healthcare and security projects. When the special military operation began, Western representatives unilaterally withdrew from this cooperation format. This Arctic.ru story discusses possible applications of the program’s achievements and know-how, and who currently owns the relevant copyright.
Quite recently, Finland, Norway and Sweden cooperated actively with Russia’s Arctic regions and jointly implemented various projects; today, this sounds rather fantastic. In the past, Arctic partnerships with European countries developed quite actively. For example, the Kolarctic Cross Border Cooperation 2014–2020 Program was implemented.
The program prioritized measures to facilitate socio-economic development on both sides of the common border. For example, Kolarctic accomplished objectives in the sphere of environmental protection, healthcare, security and the development of transport networks.
A section of the Kola–Verkhnetulomsky–Lotta Border Crossing road, connecting Russia and Finland, in the Murmansk Region
© RIA Novosti / Pavel Lvov
According to experts, there were plans to use advanced know-how in green innovations within the framework of the program. This know-how aimed to resolve various problems, including the provision of the population with drinking water, waste recycling and biodiversity preserving in specially protected nature territories. It became possible to partially implement the concept of joint work for the benefit of the Arctic. But, with the onset of the special military operation, foreign countries unilaterally withdrew from the Kolarctic program and stopped financing it.
Kolarctic has been terminated, but the technologies remain
In his report, Deputy Head of the Department for Comprehensive Scientific Research at the Karelian Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Dmitry Bazegsky, discussed precisely this program and possible options for using its legacy without foreign partners. Addressing the Arctic is Our Common Home forum in Petrozavodsk, the expert noted that the use of advanced know-how was one of the program’s provisions. These technologies have not yet become obsolete and therefore can prove quite useful.
“Joint know-how and technologies, obtained during the project, are really new. They were absolutely up-to-date at that time. Under the program’s provisions, the project could be financed only if the proposed joint know-how had not been used on the program’s territory before,” Dmitry Bazegsky said.
In his remarks, he recalled that Kolarctic had prioritized environmental protection, citing anthropogenic impact on the Arctic, primarily the active development of Arctic territories.
“There were also some problems left from the Soviet era when major industrial enterprises had seriously impacted the environment, primarily soils and water resources. These problems are being addressed to this day,” the expert explained.
Additionally, Dmitry Bazegsky mentioned specific examples of what had been achieved thanks to the cross-border cooperation program. Notably, solar panels have been installed in several Karelian national parks and reserves. The water supply system has also been modernized in the city of Sortavala.
Outskirts of the city of Sortavala in Karelia
© RIA Novosti / Ilya Timin
“This remains the most advanced structure providing the people of Sortavala with clean drinking water that meets all standards,” the expert noted.
There are no legal obstacles
In his report, the scientist emphasized the fact that, despite the European demarche, it had become possible to complete scheduled projects using Russian funding.
“Unfortunately, the European Commission has unilaterally defunded these projects and has withdrawn from them. About ten percent of projects remain incomplete, due to the lack of funding. However, their architects have managed to implement them. In effect, Russian organizations provided funding for completing these projects,” Dmitry Bazegsky noted.
The expert expressed confidence that it was possible to continue applying multiple solutions (that were used) and spreading them to other regions. At the same time, he indicated that, despite the withdrawal of Western countries from the program, there were no legal restrictions preventing Russia from using this know-how.
“Everything implemented within the framework of the program in conditions of northern regions can be replicated for other territories of the Arctic Zone without any obstacles. After clarifying the issue’s legal aspects, we decided that Russian projects alone owned copyright for joint know-how, obtained within the framework of these projects. Consequently, there are no obstacles per se. and no one will go to court over these issues,” the expert said.
Dmitry Bazegsky also noted that the use of green technologies was in line with key objectives for exploring and developing the Arctic.
“The use of cross-border cooperation know-how meets current objectives to explore and develop the Arctic, as formalized by strategic documents of the Russian Federation. They can help implement current environmental protection objectives more quickly,” he noted in conclusion.
