West Norway - North Scotland

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West Norway - North Scotland

• Frameworks for
• Co-operation

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West Norway - North Scotland
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Background to Initiative

• 1995-2005 Rural development - 10 years of
  co-operation
• - Rural Development Programme in Sogn og
  Fjordane Duthchas LIFE Environment
  Project in the HI - Titan / Euromontana /
  Nortrail
• - Northern Maritime Corridor
• 2004-2005 Identifying potential for future
  co-operation
• Feb-June 04 Initial groundwork and discussions in
  Norway
• Aug-Sept 04 Discussions with key organisations in
  Scotland
• Oct 04 Meeting with West Norway Council
• Nov 04 Video-link meeting between Norway and
  Scotland
• Jan 05 Meeting between the Scottish
  organisations
• May 05 Strategic seminar in Inverness
• Sept 05 Study visit to Scotland
• Dec 05 Study visit to Norway

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West Norway - North Scotland

• Where?

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West Norway - North Scotland
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West Norway
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Sogn og Fjordane
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Scotland
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Facts and Figures

• Area km² Pop Density km²
• Norway 323,802 4,577,457 14
• Scotland 76,760 5,062,011 65
• West Norway 58,582 1,185,699 20
• HI 39,000 370,000 9
• Sogn og Fjordane 18,623 107,222 6
• Highland 25,900 208,000 8
• Shetland 1,468 21,940 15
• Kommune x 26 716 (av.) 4,154 (av.) 6

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West Norway - North Scotland

• Why?

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West Norway - North Scotland

• Similar challenges opportunities
• Bio-geography
• Natural cultural heritage
• Natural resources
• Sparse population
• Peripheral communities
• Loss of young people
• Agricultural decline
• Globalisation of markets
• Narrow employment base

• But different responses
• Rural policy
• Administrative system
• Ownership of land resources
• Agricultural structure
• Rural services welfare
• Transportation communications
• Employment distribution

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West Norway - North Scotland

• What?

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Strategy for Co-operation
Strategic Seminar on May 6 agreed

• A bi-lateral regional partnership would be
  mutually beneficial and should be developed
• Focus on rural development in peripheral,
  mountain and island areas
• Initially involving Sogn og Fjordane, Shetland
  and Highland
• Strategic practical actions in an inter-linked
  monitored programme
• First phase 2005-2007
• Statement of Shared Intent to be signed by the
  partners on Dec. 5 2005
• An annual partners forum will monitor progress
  and agree forward plans
• A co-ordinator will manage the first phase,
  working to the lead partners

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Partnership for Co-operation

• Scottish partners
• The Highland Council
• Shetland Islands Council
• Highlands Islands Enterprise
• Scottish Natural Heritage
• UHI Millennium Institute
• Hi-Arts
• RSPB

• Norwegian partners
• Sogn og Fjordane County Council
• Sogn og Fjordane County Governor
• Innovation Norway
• University College of Sogn og Fjordane
• West Norway Research Institute

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Themes for Co-operation
Rural development of small scale communities in
peripheral, mountain, coastal and island areas

• Early project themes
• Socio-economic benefit
• Natural heritage
• Culture and the arts
• Local produce
• Youth
• Cross-cutting themes
• Entrepreneurship
• Youth

• Strategic themes
• Major industry/ smelter closure
• Rural healthcare, services infrastructure
• Community land ownership management
• Knowledge economy regional university
• Renewable energy
• Coastal zone management aquaculture
• Local democracy and governance
• Community planning
• Sustainable resource management
• Celtic/ Norse connections - input to 2007

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Process for Co-operation
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First steps for Co-operation

• First phase (2005-2007)
• Strategic Seminar agreeing the objectives and
  framework May 2005
• Application for LEADER funding Aug 2005
• Signing of Letter of Intent confirming the
  partnership Dec 2005
• Study visits to make connections on the key
  themes and develop project proposals Sept / Dec
  2005
• Programme of projects linking communities and
  practitioners on key themes
• Strategic process to explore policy context, set
  priorities, monitor progress
• Funded by LEADER and the partners in both
  countries.

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First steps for Co-operation

• Intended Outcomes
• Long-term bi-regional partnership and strategic
  network
• Bi-lateral local community links and activities
• An understanding of best practice in rural
  development in each region
• Identification of themes for future co-operation
  and projects in 2007
• Development of partnership projects under
  Interreg / other EU Programmes/ other funding
  sources

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West Norway - North Scotland