THE  NORTH  SEA  COMMISSION

ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT  GROUP

 

The North Sea Commission Economic Development Group has worked for a number of years to develop networks and professional contacts where exchange of ideas and best practice can take place.  This Group offers an ideal resource for encouraging joint working between areas located around the North Sea.  

 

What we do

 

·        Exchange best practice in economic development around the North Sea

·        Increase knowledge for economic development officers through a series of international meetings, seminars and Study Tours

·        Influence international debate on economic development issues

·        Lobby on issues affecting businesses around the North Sea

·        Provide an international network for professional economic development officers working in councils located around the North Sea

·        Provide business contacts and industry information between nine European countries

·        Provide experienced public and private sector partners for transnational funding applications

·        Provide an international forum for the exchange of ideas

 

 

1.  The North Sea Commission

 

The North Sea Commission (NSC) was founded in 1989 and is one of seven Commissions operating within the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR).

 

The NSC is a formal co-operation between local and regional authorities located around the North Sea.  Current membership comprises approximately 70 authorities from eight countries:

 

·        Scotland

·        England

·        Norway

·        Sweden

·        Denmark

·        Germany

·        The Netherlands

·        France

 

The NSC was founded to encourage and develop partnerships between regions around the North Sea.  This aim continues to have great importance, and the organisation is increasingly receiving more political attention due to its work with the Interreg North Sea Programme, European Regional policies and the North Sea Ministerial Conferences.  In addition to these activities, the NSC also comments on EU White Papers relevant to the North Sea regions.

 

The organisation of the NSC consists of a President and two Vice-Presidents and an Executive Committee with political representatives from the member countries.  In addition, the NSC has six Thematic Groups which carry out much of the work of the organisation.  These groups deal with issues relating to Economic Development, Transport and Communication, Fisheries, Environment, Culture and Tourism, and Education and Research.

 

Each of these Groups has a political Chair and two Vice-Chairs and a professional officer who acts as Co-ordinator. 

 

Thematic Group:                                   Co-ordinator:

Economic Development Erik Lindboe, Rogaland Fylkeskommune, Norway

Environment                                       Per Horberg, Vastra Gotaland, Sweden

Fisheries                                            Ann Bell, Aberdeenshire Council, Scotland

Transport and Communication Jon Halvard Eide, Vest-Agder Fylkeskommune, Norway

Culture and Tourism Geir Sor-Reime, Rogaland Fylkeskommune, Norway

Education and Research Ann Brown, Suffolk County Council, England

 

Membership of the Thematic Groups is open to all member authorities and organisations, and it gives officers a unique opportunity to obtain examples of best practice, exchange experience, find partners for joint projects, and influence how the North Sea is managed by commenting on national and EU White Papers and by taking part in other lobbying activities.

 

In addition to the meetings, seminars and conferences organised on a regular basis by the Thematic Groups, the NSC also organises a major General Assembly each summer with delegates from all the member regions.  A number of activities, such as Thematic Group study tours, partner search for the Interreg Programme, seminars and the Annual Business meeting take place during this 3-4day event.

 

Most NSC meetings and events are held in rural or peripheral areas located around the North Sea. 

 

Information on the work of the NSC and a full list of members is available on the North Sea Commission website www.northsea.org . 

 

 

2.  The NSC Economic Development Group

 

The aim of the NSC Economic Development Group (EDG) is to help create the conditions for economic growth in the North Sea area.

 

Membership of the EDG is diverse and includes a wide range of professional expertise.  This expertise reflects different working practices and methods in the fields of Economic Development and Business Support within the North Sea Commission area.  Information is regularly sent to approximately 90 Group members and additional contacts within the NSC.

 

The current Chair of the NSC EDG is Drs Rinske Kruisinga (Noord-Holland Province, the Netherlands) and the Vice Chairs are Mr Kevan Lim (Suffolk County Council, England) and Mr Thore Westermoen (Mayor, Vest-Agder Fylkeskommune, Norway).

 

The EDG meets approximately four times a year and regularly attracts around 20 professional officials from authorities around the North Sea area.  These meetings provide a good forum for exchanging experiences, information and best practice.  In addition to the formal EDG meetings, Group members are kept up to date with e mailed information on current activities, questionnaires are circulated to Group members, the EDG Co-ordinator attends meetings involving the other NSC Thematic Groups, and a number of special meetings take place to advance new and existing projects.

 

The topics under discussion at EDG meetings have included CAP Reform, Farm Diversification, new technology in Rural areas, the EU Green Paper on Entrepreneurship and local economic development projects.  The EDG has also been working to increase awareness about the Group's activities and improve networking between members and other organisations.

 

In addition, the EDG has been involved in a number of joint NSC projects including :

 

·        organising a seminar on culinary heritage, food tourism and local food projects in the North Sea area.

·        researching a potential conference on broadband and ICT in rural areas.

·        taking part in a NSC Conference on the changing role of women in fishing and rural communities.

·        developing a Small Ports and Water-borne Transport Partnership for the North Sea.

·        developing an event to examine local bio-mass and bio-fuel projects in the North Sea area.

·        Participating in a joint conference on the theme of Sustainable Innovation.

 

Recently the EDG has also hosted two specialist EDG subgroups.  One subgroup was involved with Renewable Energy issues and the other was focussed on developing links and information between Business Centres operating around the North Sea area.

 

(a) The NSC EDG Renewable Energy Subgroup

This special subgroup was formed to examine the business opportunities and employment prospects offered by the renewable energy sector.  The aims of this group were:

 

·        To help ensure macro benefits from the growth of the renewable energy sector assist businesses and communities on a micro level. 

 

·        To advise political representatives on the legislation and market forces affecting this industrial sector in the North Sea area.

 

This subgroup investigated the opportunities offered by onshore and offshore wind energy, and the growing market for biomass and biofuel in the North Sea area. 

 

(b) The NSC EDG Business Centres Networking Subgroup

The overall aim of this subgroup was to benefit professional Business Centre Managers and the companies who operate from Business Centres around the North Sea area.  This project allowed members to gain information about how other Centres operate within the North Sea area, and looked at how businesses could develop new trade links locally and internationally.

 

The aims of the Group were:

·        to encourage best practice management of Business Centres,

·        compare different methods of business incubation support and

improve networking between SMEs locally, nationally and internationally. 

 

 

3.  NSC EDG Action Plan

 

In November 2004 the North Sea Commission Economic Development Group (NSC EDG) held a Strategic Planning Day.  This exercise provided a structured day where group members could agree a practical vision for 2005.  It also helped the group to identify key activities, actions, responsibilities, timescales, resources and outputs.

 

The Strategic Planning Day resulted in the identification of a number of key practical activities for the EDG.  These included:

 

During the Strategic Planning Day the group members also discussed new structures and methods of working.  It was agreed that the group should consider identifying and creating a small number of themed ‘specialist clusters’ comprising group members with a shared area of interest. 

 

The group members also agreed a series of actions that were required in order to achieve the EDG’s key areas of activity.  One of the first actions was to undertake a ‘Knowledge Audit’.  The aim of the Audit was to identify areas of interest and expertise amongst the NSC EDG members.  This would identify key topics for consideration during 2005-2006, and establish the potential for creating ‘specialist clusters’ of group members to work together on these topics.

 

The Knowledge Audit was undertaken during December 2004 and January 2005.  The results of the Audit identified a number of areas of joint interest including:

 

A number of group members expressed an interest in leading a specialist cluster that would focus on a specific topic.

 

 

4.  Enquiries

 

For more information about the North Sea Commission, or the work of the Economic Development Group, contact the Group Co-ordinator or visit the NSC website www.northsea.org .