International strategy 2012-2015 Oppland County Council

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1. Introduction1.1 Oppland County Council’sinternational engagementOppland County Council will use international work asa tool in reaching the objectives stated in the regionalpolicy plans. Increased knowledge and inspiration fromthe world around us will strengthen both regionaldevelopment and public service, thereby creatingadded value for the citizens. Participation in internationalprojects allows for capacity-building, exchange ofexperience and access to financial instruments.Oppland County Council shall also take global socialresponsibility by contributing to democracy, socialjustice and sustainable development through theexchange of experiences and knowledge-sharing withother nations.The developments in the EU and the EuropeanEconomic Area (EEA) greatly influence Norwegianmunicipalities and counties. The EEA-agreement affects75 % of all issues on the political agenda. in Norwegianmunicipalities. It is thus important that municipalitiesand counties have first-hand knowledge about EEAregulations and its practical impact.This revised edition of the international strategydescribes in short the target groups for the county’sinternational work, the strategic tools that can beemployed to reach the targets and goals, and describesobjectives and strategies. Priority areas, objectivesand strategies are based on each administrativedepartment’s priorities and initiatives. Reporting on theobtainment of objectives will therefore be the responsibilityof each department.If interesting projects not described in this strategyshould arise in the middle of a planning period, theymay still be considered if they are in line with thecounty’s other priority areas and policy documents.This strategy focuses on the county’s involvementwith other countries and therefore does not includemeasures for immigrants to Oppland.1.2 Added value for the OpplandcommunityCooperation on the international arena and participationin international networks and projects is bothdemanding and rewarding. The ultimate goal is toreach better solutions and results than one would byworking in isolation.• z Better attainment of the goals set out in theregional policy documents• z Strengthen regional development and publicservice• z Inspiration, capacity-building and sharing ofexperience through participation in internationalprojects• z Create more attractive work places• z Secure financial support to projects through theEU-programs• z Be at the forefront of new regulations and policieswhich will have consequences for the county• z Participate in and contribute to the political debate• z Gain access to important European policy makers• z Cooperate with relevant regions in Europe throughthe EEA financial mechanism and other relevantarrangements4
2. Target groups2.1 Elected representatives andemployees of Oppland County CouncilThe international strategy is built upon the county’spolicy documents and areas of responsibility. Our ownorganization is therefore an important target group forthe objectives and strategies in this document.The County Council plays an important role in regionaldevelopment, which in turn is affected by internationaltrends. International engagement thus strengthensboth the political and administrative units’ possibilitiesof performing their tasks satisfactorily. Contributionto political debates which affect the county’s developmentis essential, and it is therefore important toincrease the capacity level in our own organization,both politically and administratively.2.2 YouthYouth is the key to a viable society in the future.Being capable of working on the international arenais a prerequisite for succeeding in a globalized world.Giving young people skills in languages, cultural understanding,international relations and inter-culturalcommunication is of vital importance for futureregional growth.The Oppland community has successfully involvedyouth in democratic processes, and this experienceshould be shared with youth from other cultures. Atthe same time, Oppland can learn from other ways ofworking and thinking. Increasing the ability to reflectand develop new ways of working can be achievedthrough active participation in international networksand learning arenas. As an example, the Youth CountyCouncil participates in the youth networks of the internationalorganizations that the county is a member of.It is important for businesses to have employees withinternational skills in order to interact with colleaguesin other countries and succeed in international trade.Therefore, youth in Oppland should have the opportunityto participate in international networks and fulfillpart of their education or vocational training abroad.The upper secondary schools shall facilitate studentexchange and actively use the possibilities within theEuropean exchange programs.5
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Page 7 and 8: 3. Strategic toolsParticipation in
Page 9 and 10: 3.2 European organizationsAER - Ass
Page 11 and 12: 4. Priority areas and objectivesReg
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Page 15 and 16: Objectives for culture• z Strengt
Page 17 and 18: 4.6 Climate, environment and energy
Page 19 and 20: 4.8 Infrastructure and public trans

International strategy 2012-2015 Oppland County Council

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