The Oresund region- a short presentation of the Danish – Swedish cross-border region

Lars WhittDate

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Europe and the Oresund Region

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Denmark vs. Sweden

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Historical relations between Denmark and Sweden

› How the two states have acted in the period from 1500 to 1800

› The Oresundreion have shifted natinoality many times.

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The Oresund region

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The Oresund region

› 3.6 million inhabitants

› 26 % of the two countries’ BNP

› 14 universities

› 140.000 students

› 1,9 million work-force

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Government in the Oresundregion

› Sweden

› The swedish national legislation

› Region Skane

› Municipalities

› Denmark

› The danish national legislation

› Region Copenhagen

› Region Sealand

› Municipalities

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Background

› 1991: the governments of Denmark and Sweden agree to build the Oresund bridge

› 1999: The report ”Øresund – the creation of a region” concludes that the greatest barrier to integration in the Oresund region is lack of communication between citizens, businesses and public administration

› 2000: The Oresund bridge opens and Oresunddirekt is launched

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Oresunddirekt

Purpose

› To eliminate potential communication barriers

› To make the region more easily available to its citizens and businesses

› Strengthening co-operative networks between civil servants

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What is Øresunddirekt?

Copenhagen office

Edits the web pages

www.oresunddirekt.com

Communication between

authorities and the citizens and

between authorities

Gammel Kongevej 1

+ 45 33 91 10 49

Gammel Kongevej 1

+ 45 33 91 10 49

redaktionen@oresunddirekt.com

Malmö office

Representatives from

different authorities answer

cross border questions

Stortorget 3, Malmö

+ 46 40 17 64 00

malmo@oresunddirekt.com

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Citizens

› There is no established public forum for the inhapitants of the region.

› The various agendas is based on either side of the region – from there different perspektive.

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Civil society medias for a cross-border citizen

› 2003 – a danish – swedish newspaper is establiseh (public funded)

› 2004 Metro Oresund – a coorportation between Metro Copenhagen and Metro Malmo (public funded)

› Common public-service television (public funded)

› Interreg culture projects

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Missing focus?

› Oresunddirect launch a citizen forum in 2005.

› To kick start it – we do as all others – the abstact discussion – the regional development – the politcal discussion?

› What is is the citizens want on our forum? Whats in it for me!

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How it worksLink to site

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Lessons learned

› Citizens do want to particpate in a public discussion – when it is relevant for them

› Citizens are interested in the civil society – but not as an abstract dicussion

› Lively discussion can happen – dont do cencur.

› It take time to be a sucess

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Thank you

› Lars Whitt

› lvw@oresunddirekt.com

› 0045 26 13 20 84

contact@urbact.euwww.urbact.eu