Regional cooperation between Denmark and Sweden over the Öresund Bridge that connects Malmo to Copenhagen airport by training in 20 minutes.

1. The Oresund region
- a short presentation of the Danish – Swedish cross-border region
Lars Whitt
Date

2. Europe and the Oresund Region
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3. Denmark vs. Sweden
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4. 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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5. The Oresund region
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6. 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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7. Government in the Oresundregion
› Sweden › Denmark
› The swedish national › The danish national
legislation legislation
› Region Skane › Region Copenhagen
› Municipalities › Region Sealand
› Municipalities
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8. 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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9. 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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10. What is Øresunddirekt?
Copenhagen office Malmö office
Edits the web pages Representatives from
www.oresunddirekt.com different authorities answer
cross border questions
Communication between
authorities and the citizens and Stortorget 3, Malmö
between authorities + 46 40 17 64 00
malmo@oresunddirekt.com
Gammel Kongevej 1
+ 45 33 91 10 49
Gammel Kongevej 1
+ 45 33 91 10 49
redaktionen@oresunddirekt.com
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11. 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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12. 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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13. 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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14. How it works
Link to site
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15. 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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16. Thank you
› Lars Whitt
› lvw@oresunddirekt.com
› 0045 26 13 20 84
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17. contact@urbact.eu
www.urbact.eu