Action Programme 2003-2005

Helsinki-Tallinn EUREGIO – Action Programme 2003-2005

Approved by the Management Committe of Helsinki-Tallinn Euregio on 1 April, 2003

The aim of the present document is to express common understanding on priority tasks of the Helsinki-Tallinn Euregio for 2003-2005.

WHY Euregio?

The twin-region of Uusimaa-Helsinki and Harjumaa-Tallinn functionally already exists, and further integration takes place through social and economic interaction. The mutual interdependence will even increase when Estonia joins the EU. But automatically not all potential is used. Euregio acts as a catalyst – initiates activities in the areas of mutual interest of the partners. Euregio shall also act as the mediator and facilitator – one who brings interested parties together and creates pre-conditions for further co-operation inside the region.

VISION for the region

The vision for the region is based on the final report of the Vision project Tallinn-Helsinki Twin-Region carried out 2001, and it is also based on the vision adopted by the Joint Programme Document of Interreg IIIA Southern Finland Coastal Zone and Phare CBC Estonia.

The vision statement of the twin-region:

The twin-region of Uusimaa-Helsinki and Harjumaa-Tallinn is part of the strengthening Baltic Sea economic area, and gains from its location both on the internal and external border area of the EU. The twin-region is characterised with balanced economic development that reflects to the well being of people and environment. The region becomes the most innovative regional economy within Northern welfare societies. This common future is achieved in well functioning co-operation and in such conditions where diversities of the two regions are utilised.

By the end of the programme period facilities and broader partnership for revising of the common vision shall be created.

VISION for the organisation

Helsinki-Tallinn Euregio is a compact, stable and effective legal entity, a trusted catalyst, facilitator and a mediator of co-operation. It is well known among its partners and in the wider Baltic Sea Area.

Important aspects:

• Legal entity – the NGO to be founded;

• Compact – important is not the number of people working for Euregio but the level of their commitment;

• Stable – a learning and developing organisation able to deposit and reclaim accumulated knowledge;

• Effective – focused on a limited priority areas of common interests

OBJECTIVES AND ACTION LINES

The priorities and tasks of the H-T Euregio as defined for the period 1999-2002 resembled more mapping of all potential fields of co-operation. During this starting period Euregio conducted several studies, and series of organised discussions on common future visions and trends took place. These were reported and discussed at the Euregio Forum in 2001. Based on this experience, and on the visions for the region and for the region defined earlier, H-T Euregio now aims to define the main objectives and concrete action lines for its work in 2003-2005.

Estonia will join the EU probably in 2004. This will be the decisive factor for all development in the operating environment of Euregio. The change from being an outer border area of the EU to a new inner border area means further intensification of all kinds of interaction across the border. Our mutual interest on both sides of the border is to make this process smooth and to fully exploit new potentials for economic and social development. Inevitable problems and friction related to integration will really appear only after Estonia joins the EU. The main task of this action programme is to define priorities how the potentials most effectively can be turned into reality.

Objectives-

1. to increase the cohesion of administrative procedures in local authorities;

2. to enhance cooperation between universities, research institutions, enterprises and local authorities;

3. to enhance cooperation in the fields of general and vocational education, youth and social work;

4. to improve the administrative capacity of local authorities and the co-ordination of activities at applying for funding for regional development.

Areas of activity-

1. improving the administrative capacity of local authorities – to learn from the Finnish experience: at organising and funding the cooperation of local authorities; at preparing the local authorities for fulfilling the duties and making efficient use of emerging opportunities related to the accession to the European Union;

2. cooperation in research and research intensive enterprising – introducing and implementing the Helsinki-Tallinn Science Twin City concept;

3. cooperation in regional development – comparative analysis of the planning methods, goal setting, monitoring and evaluation in partner organisations; designing joint development visions for the region; exchange of experience and working out joint planning projects;

4. cooperation in vocational education – establishing joint vocational study centre(s) of excellence to facilitate learning by doing;

5. cooperation in drug prevention – to learn from the Finnish experience in planning as well as implementing drug abuse prevention programmes and in training the civil servants; to enhance the exchange of information between organisations engaged in drug prevention;

6. continuing exchange of experience in rescue work – organising joint rescue operation trainings with the help of Helsinki and Tallinn – Harju County, but also with national institutions and other interested partners;

7. start-up support for small enterprises – exchanging regional information and experience in supporting enterprises;

8. increasing public awareness about the twin region – to develop the H-T Euregio into a regional trademark; to initiate targeted international marketing activities to increase the awareness of the twin region.