International strategy 2012-2015 Oppland County Council

4.5 Regional and local planning and place-based developmentOppland County Council is engaged in several international cooperation projects with a focus on regional development.The Mountain Region Cooperation in Norway (Fjellregionsamarbeidet), environment and climate change,urban- and small town development, water management, public health, and universal design are some of theareas that are highly relevant for international initiatives and cooperation.Place-based development is an interesting arena where international cooperation can yield new knowledge andexperience. Positive effects can be achieved for example through the URBACT-program and cooperation withsimilar projects in other countries.Some of the new EU member states from Eastern Europe have a need for social and economic development. Thiscan be achieved through projects financed by the EEA financial mechanism. Oppland can both contribute to, andget impulses from, participation in such projects.Objectives• z Gather and share knowledge and models for sustainable development of towns, villages and rural areas.• z Knowledge exchange related to the protection and management of national parks and nature protectedareas.Strategies• z Participate in EEA projects which contribute to competence sharing and capacity-building in cooperationwith the new EU member states.z • Facilitate participation in international projects within planning and environment, for example by arrangingstudy trips to areas which have good models for commercial and sustainable development of towns andnature protected areas.16