NORTH SEA COMMISSION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GROUP MEETING IN AVIEMORE 13TH JUNE
2006 MINUTES
MEETING VENUE
MacDonald Hotel,
Aviemore, Scotland
ATTENDEES
Mr Kevan Lim -
Councillor, vice-chair NSC EDG, East of England Regional Assembly
Ms Elizabeth Marshall -
Area Development Manager, The Highland Council, Caithness, Scotland
Ms Elisabeth Drew -
Lead officer – Funding Development, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Mr James Knowles -
Head of Economic Development, Aberdeenshire Council, Scotland
Mr Erik Lindboe -
Co-ordinator NSC EDG, Rogaland County Council, Norway
APOLOGIES
Ms Rinske Kruisinga -
Councillor, Provincie Noord-holland
Mr Thrond Kjellevoll -
BTV Co-operation/International adviser, Telemark County Council, Norway
Ms Helena Nilsson -
Västra Götalandregionen, Sweden
Mr Arne Monrad Johnsen - Adviser, Sogn og Fjordane County Council, Norway
AGENDA
15.30 – 17.00:
EDG Vice-chair, Councillor Kevan Lim - East of England Regional Assembly - welcomed the delegates to the meeting,
and gave a summary of the joint meeting earlier this day between
chairs/vice-chairs/co-ordinators of the Education and Research Group and the
Economic Development Group. The subject here was the future structure of the
North Sea Commission.
The proposal to the General assembly re.
the thematic groups:
“Todays
structure needs an update, to be more on line with today’s issues; therefore
these changes; Fisheries to Maritime Resources – in line to meet the challenges of new
EU Maritime Policy (This group would still not be broad enough to address all
the issues involved in the Maritime policy (i.e. environment, tourism,
transport, economic development etc). Whether a Maritime Resources group is
suitable to act, as a lead in this respect would have to be further discussed.)
Environment
to Sustainable Development – the SC wants to give a clearer sign for
NSC to make a group responsibility to follow up of the Gothenburg Agenda.
(Sustainable development is and will always be much more than environment).
Merge Education & Research and
Economic Development to one group Innovation and Education - a more clear sign for a follow up of the Lisbon Agenda”.
As soon as possible after the GA’s
decision on this issue on Friday 16th June, the Economic Development
Group and the Education & Research Group should get together to discuss how
to go on with preparing the merge, to discuss the matter of who is going to
chair, vice-chair and co-ordinate the new group, to create a brand new Work
Plan, a.s.o.
This joint meeting is expected to be held
soon after the summer vacation, in September.
The date is not yet settled.
Also, the EDG meeting recommended that the
new group’s Work Plan is limited to just a few and concrete issues/projects.
This will make it easier to keep a keen focus on the work, and easier to fulfil
the planned targets.
Is it natural that the work with a couple
of key issues from each of the “old” groups is continued in the future as part
of the new Work Plan. For example, the EDG believes that Energy/Renewable
Energy/the North Sea House should be one of the main topics in the future. In
connection with this, the new Innovation and Education Group will discuss the
future of the Renewable Energy Subgroup.
Other possible future items and projects
were also mentioned in the meeting. However, the final planning and decision on
this will be made by the new group – the Innovation and Education Group.
The co-ordinator will come back later with
more information and details about the future.
HAVE YOU ANY NEWS
TO SHARE WITH THE GROUP?
Please e-mail
Erik Lindboe:
Erik.Lindboe@rogfk.no
You will find
more information about the North Sea Commission here: