The Nordic Council of Ministers' Arctic Co-operation Programme provides the overall framework for the Council of Ministers' activities in the Arctic. Over and above the activities financed by the Arctic Co-operation Programme the Council of Ministers implements a considerable number of ventures in the Arctic which are carried out in co-operation with - or independent of - the individual councils of ministers within the Nordic Council of Ministers. The Nordic Council of Ministers' Arctic Co-operation Programme dates back to 1996 and consists of 3-yearly programmes. The current co-operation programme is in effect for the period 2006–08. The programme defines the framework for the activities in the Arctic for which there is a common Nordic desire for priority and funding. In addition the Arctic Co-operation Programme is used by the Nordic Council of Ministers in co-operation with countries in the Arctic Council and the EU in relation to work in the Barents Euro-Arctic Council. The Arctic Co-operation Programme also supplements the Council of Ministers' Russian Pro-gramme which covers some of the same geographical area.