About project

Project goals

The project aims to enhance cross-border strategic planning and cooperation between the Helsinki-Uusimaa region in Finland and Harju County in Estonia, with a focus on the Tallinn-Helsinki metropolitan area. The project goals include developing a joint cross-border strategic planning framework, identifying bottlenecks in services for cross-border citizens, and establishing a continuous model for collaboration. By analyzing regional planning systems, engaging stakeholders through interviews and roundtables, and benchmarking best practices across Europe, the project seeks to improve information access, administrative cooperation, digital services, taxation, employment, education, and mobility.

Project results

The project results include a shared strategic development framework actively used by both regions, actionable recommendations to address service bottlenecks, and a roadmap for long-term cross-border governance and cooperation, strengthening resilience and integration in the Baltic Sea Region.

Project Activities

Developing Cross-Border Strategic Planning Framework

This work package focuses on creating a shared foundation for cross-border regional planning. Activities include:

• Analyzing strategic planning systems in both the Helsinki-Uusimaa and Harju regions and assessing their roles as public services.
• Agreeing on a framework for cross-border strategic planning to guide future cooperation.
• Agreeing on cross-border public participation processes and methods to involve interest groups in decision-making.

Identifying Bottlenecks in Cross-Border Services

This workpackage aims to understand the challenges faced by citizens and service providers in cross-border interactions. Key tasks involve:

• Investigating cross-border dynamics and pinpointing bottlenecks in service access and interoperability.
• Identifying opportunities for improvement and bringing together relevant stakeholders.
• Conducting stakeholder dialogues and roundtables with service owners.
• Focusing on areas such as mobility and transportation, bureaucracy and legal frameworks, social security, education, digital services, and social/community integration.

Establishing Continuous Framework Model for Cross-Border Cooperation

WP3 focuses on creating a sustainable and long-term governance model for cross-border cooperation between the Helsinki-Uusimaa region and Harju County. The objective is to ensure that collaboration continues beyond the project lifecycle through structured coordination and shared strategic direction.

Key activities include:

• Benchmarking cooperation framework models from other EU cross-border regions to identify best practices, governance structures, and funding mechanisms that could be adapted to the Tallinn–Helsinki context.
• Discussing implementation possibilities at both administrative and political levels to ensure institutional commitment and feasibility.
• Identifying relevant institutions and stakeholders necessary for maintaining continuous cooperation, including regional authorities, municipalities, state agencies, and sectoral partners.
• Developing a practical action plan outlining roles, responsibilities, coordination mechanisms, and next steps for sustained cross-border collaboration.

The outcome of WP3 is a concrete, future-oriented cooperation model and roadmap that strengthens resilience, improves multi-level governance, and supports long-term strategic integration in the cross-border metropolitan area.