LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Kaliningrad Oblast: Poland
built 658 days ago
Kaliningrad oblast is the only subject of the RF, which is completely cut from mainland Russia by land borders of foreign countries (Poland and Lithuania) and international sea waters. In order to compensate territorial isolation from mainland Russia and encourage social and economic development of the region, a free economic zone "Yantar" was set up on the territory of the region in 1991 by the Decree of the Government of the RF. In 1996 the Federal Law on "SEZ in Kaliningrad oblast" was adopted.
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In 2001-2003, over 50m€ in general technical assistance was committed to the Kaliningrad Oblast, and a further 50m€ has been earmarked for the period 2004-2006 under the Special Programme for Kaliningrad, the Neighbouring Programmes, and for improving border crossings. Projects cover institution building, energy, transport, enterprise restructuring, management training, and environment. As a result, since 2001, economic growth in Kaliningrad has been faster than the Russian average, as opposed to the steep economic decline the region experienced in the nineties. With EU enlargement, Kaliningrad’s most important trading and investment partners have become Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Sweden, and UK.
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Kaliningrad oblast’s Department of the Federal Border Service guards a frontier approximately 650km in length: 200km with Poland and almost 280km with Lithuania. The terrain is diverse, including sea (184km), rivers (202km), lakes (42km) and dry land (224km). The border authorities control the passage of people, vehicles and goods at 25 crossing-points (eight sea, two air, seven rail and seven road). There is ... one “simplified” border crossing which may only be used by residents of the border area who have nothing to declare to customs.
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The policy of Western countries has an important influence on the Kaliningrad Oblast's internal situation, and this influence will probably continue to grow. Poland and Lithuania's joining the EU, and Baltic states joining NATO, will turn Kaliningrad into an island surrounded by a political, economic and military entity entirely different from the Russian one. The policy of Brussels and of candidate states is dictated by fear that this difference may become a source of danger. The EU is ... treating the talks on Kaliningrad as an opportunity to exchange opinions with Russia on many questions connected with the integration process.
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