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Russia and the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region: bridging a (mis)connection gap 63through cooperation on local government and good governance, coope ra -tion between parliamentarians, cooperation between the media and journalists,and cooperation between NGOs. 20The NCM has several information offices in north-western Russia. Forexample, the Kaliningrad NCM office (opened in 2010) has contributed tothe regional energy efficiency dialogue in many ways. One of the outcomesof the NCM work is the established network of energy managers fromeleven regions of north-western Russia and municipalities of the KaliningradRegion, as well as energy experts within involved regions. 21 Rotating summerschools on energy planning and energy efficiency are regularly organized incooperation with the CBSS. The Kaliningrad part of the “Rotating summerschools” project has been completed through the event, “Baltic Sea RegionRotating Energy Planning Academy (BALREPA) — Energy Efficiency andRenewable Energy — 23–26 May 2011, Kaliningrad, Russia.” 22The problem with the ND partnerships and NCM is that they have amulti-focused agenda, as their activities cover not only the BSR, but also theneighboring areas such as the Barents and Arctic regions. Both institutionsshould avoid unnecessary doubling and need to establish a more efficientdivision of labor between their programs and projects. This is especiallyimportant in view of the global financial crisis and scarcity of resourcesavailable to the regional actors.The HELCOM, which was specially designed for the BSR, is the leadinginstitution in the sphere of European-Russian cooperation on environmentin the region. Among the recent projects, the HELCOM BALTHAZARProject (2009–11) in the KR, which aimed at implementing on-farmpilot projects to the environmental benefit of the Baltic Sea, should bementioned. 2320Guidelines for the Nordic Council of Ministers' co-operation with North-West Russia 2009–2013. Adopted by ministers for Nordic Cooperation 13 November 2008, pp. 2–3. http://www.norden.org/en/nordic-council-of-ministers/ministers-for-co-operation-mr-sam/russia/documents/guidelines-for-the-nordic-council-of-ministers-co-operation-with-northwest-russia (Home pageof Norden organization; visited 10.05.2013.).21Grove A. Role and achievements of the Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM) on environmentand energy in North–West (NW) Russia, as a part of the Baltic Sea Region. Baltic Rim Economies.21 December 2011, no. 5, p. 19.22Norwegian Presidency, 2010–2011. Council of the Baltic Sea States Annual Report. Stockholm:CBSS. 2011, p. 54.23Commission Staff Working Paper in the Implementation of the European Union Strategy forthe Baltic Sea Region. 13 September 2011, SEC(2011) 1071 final, p. 10.