Институт развития глобального общества

Regional Development and Cross-Border Co-Operation. Finding Partners in Norway

Окт 30, 2009 Международное сотрудничество

Norwegian institutions are pleased to invite you to engage in partnerships in the area of regional development and cross-border co-operation.
In the period up to 2009, Norway will contribute EUR 1.134 billion to the EEA Financial Mechanisms for Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain, Portugal and Greece. 
Regional development and cross-border co-operation are specified as a priority sector in most of the  Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the EFTA states/Norway and the above countries. Projects within these priority sectors are eligible for support through the Norwegian Financial Mechanism. Information about the financial mechanisms is available at the following websites: www.europaportalen.no (Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs) or www.eeagrants.org (Financial Mechanism Office).

Regional development and cross-border co-operation cover a wide range of topics. Norwegian local and regional authorities can offer expertise particularly in the following areas:
Regional development
Cross-border co-operation
Implementation of legislation
Administrative skills
Provision of public services
Other areas of regional development and cross-border co-operation in line with the MoUs

The contact points on the right will be pleased to discuss possible co-operation projects. They can also assist you in finding suitable partners and provide examples of projects, both in the areas highlighted above and in other areas in line with the Memoranda of Understanding signed by the beneficiary states.

Contact your local Norwegian Embassy if you need further assistance.

An important objective in the MoUs is that the EEA Financial Mechanisms should strengthen EFTA states/Norway’s relations with the beneficiary states and increase co-operation on common challenges related to regional development and cross-border co-operation. This co-operation should build on EEA /EU legislation and on the priorities of the countries covered by the EEA Financial Mechanisms.

Why a Norwegian Partner?

Over more than 40 years, the Norwegian authorities have built up comprehensive expertise in the field of regional development and cross-border co-operation. This has been achieved through co-operation across all levels of the public administration – national, regional and local. Norwegian local and regional authorities have broad experience in providing public services and in the fields of human resource development, environment, health/childcare and cultural heritage.

Norwegian local and regional authorities and the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS) can offer expertise particularly in the following areas:
Regional development policy

In Norway the responsibility for regional development has largely been decentralised to the regional level.
Regional planning and development
Developing regional partnerships
Industrial and business development

Human resource development aimed at strengthening democratic processes and building the administrative competence and public service capacity of local and regional government bodies.
Development and implementation of training programmes for local and regional councillors on roles and functions, ethics, planning, budgeting, decision-making and political-administrative matters
Development and implementation of training programmes for administrative leaders and staff on roles and functions, leadership and personnel management
Employer policies, labour relations, central bargaining and negotiations between the social partners

Cross-border co-operation

Norwegian local and regional authorities have long and broad experience in cross-border co-operation.
Interreg programme
Nordic cross-border co-operation
The Barents co-operation
Through grants from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS) has established cross-border co-operation projects with border regions in Poland and the three Baltic states, also involving partners from Russia and Belarus.

Technical assistance related to the implementation of EU legislation

Norwegian local and regional authorities are bound by a comprehensive legal framework (national legislation, as well as EU/EEA directives) that has to be implemented and applied within many policy areas:
Social policy
Free movement of persons
Urban, rural and regional development and public-private partnerships
Environment (more than 200 directives)
Competition rules, state aid and public procurement

As directly elected levels of government, local and regional authorities also have experience of:
Participation in the development of national policy and action plans
Budget negotiations with the central authorities
Analysis of the financial impact of requirements and reforms imposed by the central authorities
Lobbying, media management and public relations
Environment and sustainable development

Environment and sustainable development with emphasis on strengthening the administrative capacity to implement relevant EU legislation and investments in infrastructure and technology with priority given to municipal waste management.
Sustainable development policies and Local Agenda 21 activities
Natural resource management and environmental protection
Organisation, operation and management of regional/local public enterprises in the utilities sector (i.e. water, waste, energy, etc.).

Health and childcare

The three Baltic states and Poland have defined health and childcare as a priority sector. Norwegian local authorities can offer expertise in:
Organisation, management and operation of childcare institutions, child and family welfare and support systems, care of the elderly and related institutions, local health care services, etc.

Cultural heritage

Norwegian actors at the local and regional level have valuable expertise related to:
Local and regional museums
Conservation and maintenance of architectural heritage
Land use, zoning, urban renewal and development
Management of cultural activities and institutions

Norwegian contact points

Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities
P.O. Box 1378 Vika
NO-0114 Oslo
Tel: +47 24 13 26 00
Fax: +47 22 83 22 22
Contact persons:
Knut Hjorth-Johansen
e-mail: knut.hjorth-johansen@ks.no
Elita Cakule
e-mail: elita.cakule@ks.no

Eastern Norway County Network
Schweigaards gate. 4
NO-0185 Oslo
Tel: +47 22 05 50 80
Fax: +47 22 05 56 92
Contact person:
Ann-Irene Sæthernæs
e-mail: ann-irene.saeternes@oppland.org

The BTV co-operation
The BTV co-operation comprises the counties of Buskerud, Telemark and Vestfold.
Telemark fylkeskommune
Fylkeshuset
NO-3706 Skien
Tel: +47 35 58 42 00
Contact person:
Bjørn Reisz
e-mail: bjorn.reisz@t-fk.no

Executive Committee for Northern Norway
Executive Committee for Northern Norway
Sjøgata 3
NO-8002 BODØ
Tel: +47 75 50 34 20
Fax: +47 75 52 67 25
Contact person:
Greta Johansen
e-mail: johansen@lu.no

The Regional Council for Western Norway
P.O. Box 13
NO-4001 Stavanger
Tel: +47 51 51 69 27
Fax: +47 51 51 59 44
Contact person:
Sverre Mauritzen
e-mail: sma@vestalandsraadet.no

Other
Møre Research Volda

Postal adress: P. O. Box 325, N-6101 Volda, Norway
Tel: +74 70 07 52 00
Fax: +47 70 07 52 01
E-mail: moreforsk@moreforsk.no

Contact person:
Mr Johan Barstad
Tel: +47 70 07 52 12
Fax: +47 70 07 52 01
Mobile: +47 92 03 73 27
E-mail: jb@hivolda.no