Political adviser Inge Bartnes

Meeting of the CPMR Political Bureau

21 June 1999 – Langesund – Telemark

Mr. President, let me first of all bring apologies from the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Enoksen for his absence here today. Unfortunately he had made another appointment when this invitation came. But he asked me to give his best regards to the meeting here in Langesund.

I would like to welcome all participants of CPMR (The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe) Political Bureau here in Langesund. I hope you all will have a nice stay in Norway and Telemark.

One of the main aims and objectives of CPMR are to assert the role of the Regions as key actors playing their full role in the European institutional set-up, actively participating in the elaboration and implementation of the development strategies which affect their territories. These objectives coincide very well with Norwegian national regional policy. The ambitions on co-ordination of regional policy at national level in Norway also have its parallels at regional and local level. One of the main objectives of the Norwegian Government is to increase and strengthen the regions role and possibility to develop and maintain regional policy in accordance to regional goals and strategies.

CPMR unites 124 Regions, from 16 countries of the continent, organised in 5 geographical commissions representing the Islands, the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the Atlantic Arc and the Mediterranean. Altogether these Regions cover an area more than 50% of the total surface area of the European Union, and represent nearly 40% of its population. With all these regions involved we know that Europe's strength lies in the diversity of its regions. The regions and local districts are the guarantors of democratic self-determination, balanced economic and regional development and distinctive cultural identities and heritage.

In my intervention I am asked to give a presentation of the position of the Norwegian Government on interregional co-operation.

The years following the end of the Cold War have been marked by the development of a number of regional co-operation mechanisms in our neighbouring areas. This means that we have an organisational pattern that reflects the establishment of cross-border ties at different levels. Between individuals, groups, associations, municipalities, counties, private sector organisations, members of parliament and of course between the authorities at government level, and that these are all willing to work together to achieve common objectives.

Our experience from Nordic co-operation indicates that all contacts are useful for building networks, thereby ensuring peaceful coexistence and development. In co-operation with Russia and the Baltic countries, the experience that we ourselves have acquired during more than 40 years of Nordic co-operation is useful. And we see that others are interested in benefiting from our experience of the practical arrangement of such co-operation and of the rewards it can give in the form of increased economic growth and regional development.

As emphasised Nordic co-operation is a cornerstone of our policy regarding our neighbouring areas. The character of the Nordic co-operation has of course changed now that three Nordic countries have become members of the EU. The Norwegian Government aims to maintain and develop the co-operation to meet the new challenges.

The fact that three Nordic countries are now members of the EU opens up the prospect of a new generation of Nordic co-operation. We must exploit the potential that lies in the possibility of promoting traditional Nordic values directly within the EU system. Norway can also actively support the initiatives taken by the three Nordic members of the EU. Our way of working will be different, but our goal will largely coincide with the goals of our Nordic neighbours.

Norwegian participation in cross-border and transnational regional cooperation .

As part of regional policy, cross-border and transnational co-operations have reached more emphasis and greater importance during the past years. In the Nordic countries we have long traditions on such co-operation. It started with the so-called North-Callotte co-operation area back in the sixties. And later several co-operation areas have developed.

The experience and knowledge gained from these co-operation areas within the Nordic Council of Ministers made us, in a way, well prepared to participate in different community initiatives launched by the European Union.

In May 1995 Norway was invited from Finland and Sweden to participate in Interreg IIA (cross-border co-operation), and later we also accepted the invitation to Interreg II C (transnational co-operation).

Today Norwegian regions are participating in altogether six Interreg IIA-programmes and two Interreg IIC-programmes and one Article 10 programme called the Northern Periphery. (for deg Inge: dette er et samarbeidsprogram mellom Skottland, de fire nordligste fylkene Norge, Nord-Sverige og Nord-Finland) This implies that all counties in Norway may participate in projects within the framework of Interreg.

I would like to give you two examples of projects which we find very useful and interresting. One from the Baltic Sea Region and one from the North Sea Region.

Norway has declared its participation in the EU-programme called INTERREG II C – Baltic Sea Region with national and regional funding (2 million EURO).

The Programme is designed to provide co-financing to transnational projects on planning and regional development in the Baltic Sea Region. The programme period is 1997-1999.

The programme area in the four Member States consists of the islands and eastern part of Jylland in Denmark, the whole of Finland, the six northernmost Länder in Germany and the whole of Sweden except the Objective 6 area. In the non Member States the focus is on the following areas: south-western parts of Nor-way (8 counties), Polish regions bordering the Baltic Sea, the three Baltic States and the Russian areas bordering the Baltic Sea and parts of Belarus.

Projects to be financed under this programme will aim at promoting a Baltic urban system and a balanced settlement structure, improving communications and identifying innovative energy solutions as part of sustainable regional development.

The Programme is also supporting the development of a future-oriented regional development structure and contributes to better living conditions for people and enterprises in the region by:

• Strengthening the development potential of the Baltic Sea Region
• Increasing economic and social cohesion
• Ensuring a sustainable development for the region as a whole
• Promoting a territorial balance

Within the framework of the programme Norway is participating in several transnational projects. I would like to mention one of them called the Metropolitan Areas; Regional Systems of European Capital – Strategies for a Sustainable Development

This project for urban development aims at contributing to the stabilisation of regional development by promoting a Baltic system of cities and capital regions for exchange of experience in regional development and planning. The applicants wish to pursue the regional development strategies for the Baltic Sea Region, thus increasing economic and social cohesion in the area. The partnership in this project is eight counties in southeast Norway, Berlin-Brandenburg region, Vilnius region in Lithuania, the Stockholm region in Sweden, Helsinki region in Finland and the St. Petersburg region in Russia.

Interreg IIC North Sea Region Programme is another Community Initiative Norway participate in. The programme area covers 57 regions in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. In this programme Norwegian national and regional authorities are contributing with 4 million Euro in the program period.

The main objectives of the North Sea programme are:

• Urban and regional systems
• Transport and Communication
• Natural Resources and Cultural Heritage

From this program I would like to mention a project were the host of today, Telemark Council is lead partner. The project is called “Green Port”. The aim of the project is to support regional co-operation on spatial harbour planning and develop management system for collection and disposal of ships' waste generated in the North Sea Region. The system will on a regional basis implement the new EU-directive and integrate the framework for coastal planning taking into account the socio-economic and environmental needs and constraints of the coastal area.

As you all know the EU is now preparing for the programme period covering year 2000-2006. Based on the positive experiences gained during this programme period (1996-1999) the Norwegian government and the regions have expressed interest in further participation in the Interreg III programmes.

The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development has already discussed the new strands of INTERREG III with the involved regions. We have also given comments to the working paper issued by the EU-Commisssion in March. And we are following closely the discussion and process with the upcoming guidelines for INTERREG III. In general Norway support the approach in this working paper on how to organise the Interreg-programmes for the next period. Especially we have expressed our concern of the proposal of one border – one program. Today we have six Interreg IIA-programmes along the border with Sweden and Finland. But we are of course ready to discuss the structures of the different programmes.

We now see new opportunities for constructive co-operation on foreign policy in the Nordic area and Northern Europe, and with the EU. Finland has introduced the concept of "the Nordic dimension" in the EU's foreign policy. Prime Minister Lipponen's proposal has started a political process aimed at involving European countries and the EU more actively in Northern Europe. We maintain close contact with Finland and the other Nordic countries regarding these issues

The Mediterranean countries are now established members of the EU. The next process will be directed northwards and eastwards. Finland is the EU's first common border with Russia, and the aim is to develop a coherent EU policy in relation to Russia. Even though the northern dimension is primarily an EU project, the policy involves not only the Northern European EU members, but also the whole area from Iceland to northwestern Russia, as well as the USA and Canada. Finland attaches importance to co-ordinating the EU's involvement in the Barents Council, the Council of Baltic Sea States and the Arctic Council, and to improving co-ordination of the EU's assistance to Russia.

The Finnish initiative has been given a largely positive reception, and the European Commission submitted a report on the northern dimension in December 1998.

During its chairmanship of the Barents Council the Norwegian Government is focusing on co-operation on specific projects and on the development of strategies for the work of the next five to ten years. These will apply to the areas of democracy and the rule of law, culture and education, living conditions and trade and industrial development.

The Baltic Sea region is one of the most dynamic in Europe, with great potential for growth. It has a population of 50-60 million, and eight of the countries in the region are either member states of the EU or applicants for membership. Poland has become a member of NATO this year. More than any other region in Europe, the Baltic Sea region is marked by the effects of the former East-West divide. In terms of both security policy and economic policy, the region acts as a political barometer, which will indicate whether we are succeeding in our efforts to create new security architecture for Europe.

The institutional mechanisms are already in place in the Council of the Baltic Sea States. The challenge now is to make it a more operative body. In this connection, we should be able to make use of the experience gained in the Barents Council. Norway will submit a more formal proposal along these lines in the near future.

Norway has chairmanship of the Council of the Baltic Sea States in 1999-2000. (take over 1 july 1999) Important priority areas are environmental protection and efforts to combat organised crime. We also wish to assist in developing cross-border regional co-operation between Estonia, Latvia and Russia.

Co-operation in the North Sea region is such a natural part of our international reality that we are in danger of forgetting it when renewed attention is required in the East. The fact is that this co-operation takes place at a very high political, technological and administrative level in almost every field, and may serve as an example for the future Baltic Sea co-operation.

Practical co-operation around the North Sea basin is undoubtedly bettered developed than for any similar area of sea. A number of organisations are active in the region. The North Sea Commission is responsible for co-operation between 35 counties in six countries, with a total population of 40 million. The objective of this co-operation is to develop and promote the region as a centre of economic activity in Europe.

The close regional co-operation that has been established for example around the North Sea and in the Baltic region means that such regions are well equipped to take part in the EU INTERREG programmes. The purpose of Norwegian participation in these programmes is to provide a better framework for production and employment in the border regions. Participation in these transnational co-operation programmes has given Norway and its regions fruitful and new experiences, which we want to continue.

Thank you for your attention, and I wish you all good luck with your political bureau meeting here in Langesund.