The programme area of the Euregio Karelia Neighbourhood programme included the regions of Kainuu, North Karelia and Oulu on the Finnish side as well as the Karelian Republic on the Russian side.

The regions of Lapland and North Savo bordered on the programme area on the Finnish side. On the Russian side the cooperation areas in priority one (business activities), besides the Republic of Karelia, could include also the regions of Murmansk, Archangel and Leningrad as well as the city of St Petersburg.