Areas of mutual interest for future co- operation between local and regional authorities in Estonia and Norway Tallinn, 17 November 2004 – Knut Hjorth-Johansen - KS

KS Europe 2 Competence of Norwegian local and regional government: Administration of resources Implementation of laws and regulations Provision of services to the inhabitants Regional planning and development

KS Europe 3 Important priority sectors – the local level is the key actor Development of Human resources Implementation of EU regulation Protection of environment Regional policy Health and childcare Preservation of cultural heritage

KS Europe 4 Two concerns from KS’ point of view: 1.The local and regional authorities in the new member countries should be actively included in the national priorities in order to benefit from the financial mechanisms in the best possible way 2.Norwegian local and regional authorities are ready to become partners with authorities and enterprises in the new EU countries and to help exploring the EEA and Norwegian financial mechanisms

KS Europe 5 Norwegian municipal/regional international co-operation International local and regional co-operation since early 1990’s People-to-people co-operation Development projects under different Government action plans for Eastern and Central Europe and the EU candidate countries (1992 – 2004) 50 – 60 Norwegian municipalities have been or are involved in MIC projects All 19 Norwegian counties and many municipalities are involved in Interreg. projects

KS Europe 6 Why is MIC relevant? Strengthening democratic development and democatic participation –Institutional development –Capacity building Mutual learning processes – exchange of experience and knowledge Experts, advisers who are practitioners Co-operation between public sector, private sector and civil society

KS Europe 7 Preparing the ground for future co-operation Information to local/regional authorities and sister organisations in the new EU countries Information to Norwegian municipalities and counties about the possibilities Active promotion of local/regional priorities and competencies vis-a-vis national authorities both in Norway and the new member states.

KS Europe 8 Norwegian local/regional authorities on the European arena KS Brussels office since 1993 Six regional offices in Brussels: –The Stavanger region, West Norway, the Oslo region, Mid-Norway, Nordland, South Norway (Agder) –Troms, Finnmark + Nordland = North Norway planning KS is member of CEMR and CEEP Regions are member of AER, CPMR, BSSSC, Eurocities, UBC, Euromotana and more

KS Europe 9 Partnership between local and regional authorities in Norway and new EU countries Develop already existing co-operation and networks and utilize: –experiences from bilateral co-operation between regional/local level in beneficiary states and Norway –experiences and co-operation from INTERREG and other EU programmes

KS Europe 10 Sources for contact information KS (Oslo and Brussels) The regional offices in Brussels The three county networks: –Eastern Norway County Network –Regional Council for Western Norway –Executive Committee for Northern Norway The 19 regional authorities

KS Europe 11 Read more about it:        