The voice of Central Sweden

by Mrs Laila Nordfors

Central Sweden Cextends from the lowlands of the southern part of Örebro county to the mountains of Dalarna in the north, from the deep forests inland to the coasts of Gästrikland and Gävle and Hälsingland by the Baltic. The region has world-leading forest products and steel industries as well as a natural and cultural heritage that has resulted in tourism with centuries-old traditions. Through it runs the mining district of Bergslagen, the cradle of Swedish industry, a breeding ground for the ideas and technology of the future, where people from different parts of Europe have for a long time converged.

In Europe that is now emerging, people, local authorities and companies are faced with new opportunities for growth. Collaboration in Central Sweden increases the chances of benefiting from and influencing the building of the future Europe. Together we concentrate on informing and educating so that the EU aid for regional development and international projects reaches the region to a greater extent. We arrange lectures and study visits, offer advice about projects and encourage more international contacts.

The Brussels office is the region's face and antenna, targeted at the EU's institutions and 250 other European regions represented in the capital. We monitor issues of interest to Th the region, provide support with applications for EU financing and arrange study visits to Brussels for everyone from groups of schoolchildren to politicians who require specialised briefing.

We also help to make the needs of the region more visible to the EU's decision makers and to market Central Sweden as an attractive partner.