1. Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications Sweden Urban – rural relations, the Swedish case DG-meeting, Prague 18 May 2009 Kjell Unevik, Director Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications kjell.unevik@enterprise.ministry.se

2. Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications Sweden Municipalities – size matters Almost all Swedish municipalities have to handle and plan for development in both urban and rural areas

3. Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications Sweden The Rural Strategy – a new way of cross- sectoral working and a Communication to the Parliament I.An ongoing work of securing a rural perspective in all policy areas at a national level. Started in 2006. All ministries involved but Ministry of enterprise responsible. A rural perspective and measures taken for rural areas can be found in bills, instructions for committees of inquiry, in the government of agencies and other decisions of the government.

4. Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications Sweden The Rural Strategy – a new way of cross- sectoral working and a Communication to the Parliament II.A Communication to the Parliament from the Government 2008/09:167: - A positive governmental view on rural areas - The strengths and weaknesses of rural areas - Measures that are taken or being prepared to develop rural areas in Sweden - Areas that needs to be further investigated

5. Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications Sweden Examples of measures taken to develop rural areas 250 million SEK extra to co-finance private roads which are open for everyone 50 million SEK extra to develop public and commercial services Changes in the legislation making it easier to build close to seashores 100 million SEK per year to develop entrepreneurship among women Increased number of police officers in rural areas

6. Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications Sweden s Rural areas Many different kinds of rural areas with different possibilities, resources and trends of development, from peripheral and sparsely populated to areas in the proximity to bigger cities. The rural strategy is a new approach towards “all policies”, aiming for a good management of the growth potential in different kinds of rural areas.