Objectives of
Nordic-Scottish Co-operation
Objectives
Potential areas of co-operation
Action plan
Background information
Objectives
The aim of the Nordic-Scottish
Co-operation is to promote the development of common approaches to shared
challenges in the fields of regional policy and sustainable economic
development in the Nordic and North Atlantic areas.
In particular,
the objectives are:
- to work together
on identifying solutions to common regional development challenges
and opportunities throughout the area, including a particular emphasis
on remote, sparsely populated areas, which bring sustainable benefits;
- to improve the
efficiency and effectiveness of interregional co-operation programmes,
in particular their economic development impact;
by:
- identifying
common projects designed to reduce disadvantage and exploit opportunities;
- exchanging
experience among officials/experts and co-operating on relevant
policy research; and
- sharing information
on the design, management and evaluation of programmes.
- to collaborate
on supporting institution-building and policy development in the Candidate
Countries, in particular through a shared approach to twinning; and
- where appropriate,
to advance common interests at the EU level by influencing EU policy
debates on regional policy, for example in areas such as Structural
Funds, enlargement and competition policy.
Potential areas
of co-operation
Nordic-Scottish
co-operation is encouraged in the following areas of activity, in particular:
- Regional
Policy and Sustainable Development: changes in outlook and adaptation
on the part of individuals, communities, enterprises and institutions;
new forms of institutional planning, policy design and delivery; sustainable
tourism; effective strategies for responding to potential catastrophes
for the rural economy (oil spills, food safety).
- Regional
Policy in Rural and Peripheral Areas: promoting active and successful
communities; the optimal role of the public sector in the restructuring
and diversification of rural economies; decentralisation of public
sector jobs (government offices, higher education institutions, research
facilities); the quality of employment in rural areas; involving the
private sector more in economic development; service provision for
rural areas (transport, utilities, public/private community services);
raising awareness of the distinct circumstances of Northern peripherality.
- New Economy
and the Information Society: the exploitation of knowledge and
new technology for and by SMEs and communities; effective networking
between companies and individuals; connecting sources of knowledge
(universities, research institutes) with users and businesses; developing
common approaches to and resources for e-learning.
- Business Growth:
promoting entrepreneurship in all areas, especially through education
of young people; developing networks between SMEs; developing joint
opportunities and interconnections in relation to North Atlantic transport,
especially in relation to oil and gas developments in Northern waters.
- Skills and
Learning: benchmarking of skills shortages and mechanisms for
reskilling to get people back to work; comparison of best practice
in responding to labour market demand at regional or area level; developing
the right type of skills for the information age.
- Global Connections: promoting broadband development in less populated areas by, at an
early stage, sharing of information about country and regional strategies,
including on the aggregation of local public sector demand, and progress
to date; research into trends in the application of ICT infrastructure
technology in such areas and planning regimes; promoting e-commerce
and best practice in e-learning for SMEs.
- Community
Development: developing networks to promote bottom-up community
development including through sharing 'best practice' and learning
from mistakes; promoting the involvement of young people in communities
in rural areas by asking young people what they want and promoting
youth exchanges; developing business involvement in community development.
Action plan
Following a meeting
of Nordic and Scottish senior officials in March 2001, a Nordic-Scottish
Co-operation Action Plan (2001 - 2005) was drawn up setting goals, specific
activities, responsibilities and indicators of success. A copy of the
Action Plan is available here.
As part of the conclusions following the Örnsköldsvik conference in
2003, the Liaison Group is commissioned with the task of presenting
findings and recommendations concerning future cooperation, in good
time before the Action Plan ends in 2005.
Background information
Nordic-Scottish
Co-operation on regional development and related issues dates back to
1994. Further information on the history of co-operation and an evaluation
of the first phase is available here.
At the Örnsköldsvik conference in 2003, conclusions including a short
history of the cooperation, present cooperation (2001-2005) and experiences
hereof, as well as some challenges for the future cooperation were highlighted.
The conclusions are available here. |
