European Commission suspends cross-border cooperation programs with Russia, Belarus

BRUSSELS. March 4 (Interfax) - The European Commission said on Friday it had suspended cross-border cooperation programs with Russia and Belarus.

"Suspending all cross-border and transnational programmes and payments to Russia and Belarus and, at the same time, strengthening the support to Ukraine is a concrete expression of European and Cohesion policy solidarity with the Ukrainian people," Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira said.

The suspension has immediate effect, the European Commission said, noting that the overall EU funding for the eight programs with Russia is 178 million euros, while the total EU funding for the two programs with Belarus amounts to 257 million euros.

"The regulation on the ENI cooperation program provides for their suspension in case of breaches to international law, human rights, democratic principles and rule of law," the European Commission said.