Innovatie in regionaal beleid stond centraal tijdens bezoek Hübner aan noord-Noorwegen (en)
Innovation in regional development will be highlighted during Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner's visit to Northern Norway on 27-29 June. She will make a presentation on research, development and innovation at a seminar organised in co-operation with the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities, as well as contributing to other meetings and seminars with regional authorities and project promoters.
Commenting on the visit, Commissioner Hübner said: "Norwegian regional policy has much in common with the EU's Lisbon strategy for jobs and growth. Norway and the EU have developed very successful cooperation on questions related to regional policy. Norway's active involvement in cross-border, transnational and neighbourhood programmes with the EU and the Russian Federation is very important for the sustainable economic development of the region. Norway is contributing significantly to supporting EU Cohesion Policy through the European Economic Area agreement. I believe we should go on working together for the benefit of our regions and their citizens."
Programme
Meetings: The Commissioner will meet Ms Åslaug Haga, Minister of Local Government and Regional Government, Ms Liv Monica Stubholt, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Inge Bartnes, State Secretary, Ministry of Local Governance and Regional Development, and President of the Sami Parliament Ms Aili Keskitalo, as well as other local and regional government officials and representatives of civil society.
28 June: Keynote speech on the new EU Cohesion Policy at seminar organised by the Delegation of the European Commission to Norway and Iceland in Oslo. Visit to Tromso, seminar on Innovation and Regional Development together with Minister Åslaug Haga.
29 June: Presentations on Norwegian projects co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.
Northern Maritime Corridor and Safety at Sea: 20 regions in eight countries, focus on shifting transport from road to sea as well as on maritime safety.
FEM (Female Entrepreneurs Meeting): international network involving Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, supporting female entrepreneurs.
Finally, capacity building at local level will be discussed at a seminar organised by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with participants from Norway and Poland.
Notes for editors
For more than 10 years, Norway has played an active role in cross-border and transnational co-operation programmes with its EU neighbours. Under the new EU Cohesion Policy and its "European Territorial Cooperation" objective, these programmes will continue through 2007-2013 and the Norwegian government will allocate €134 million to these.
Through the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area (EEA), Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are making a total of €600 million available to the 10 countries that joined the EU in May 2004, as well as to Greece, Portugal and Spain. Through the Norwegian Financial Mechanism, Norway is making an additional €567 million available to the 10 countries that joined the EU in 2004. Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein will also contribute approximately € 140 million to social and economic development in Bulgaria and Romania over the next two years.
In total, these financial mechanisms will make available € 1.3 billion over the five-year period between 2004 and 2009, supporting projects in sectors such as protection of the environment, promotion of sustainable development, conservation of the European cultural heritage, health and childcare, development of human resources, regional development and cross-border activities.
More information:
More about European Regional Policy: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index_en.htm