Norway will participate in the EU-programme ”PROGRESS”

The Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget) has given its consent for Norwegian participation in the EU-programme ”PROGRESS”. – This will give opportunities to put forward Norwegian interests to the European processes and to promote mutual learning within a range of important policy areas, says the Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion, Mr. Bjarne Håkon Hanssen.

– Norwegian participation in previous programmes has been valuable in terms of mutual learning and has contributed to create platforms for co-operation for the authorities, non-governmental organisations and the research community. The participation in PROGRESS will give us the opportunity to continue ongoing activities as well as give us the opportunity to mobilise more non-governmental organisations and research institutions to actively participating in projects in co-operation with European partners, adds the Minister.

The main aim for PROGRESS (Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity) is to financially support the implementation of the objectives of the European Union in the employment, gender equality and social affairs area. The programme shall run from 2007 to the end of 2013.

PROGRESS will consolidate and continue the activities of the former four Community programmes on social inclusion, non-discrimination, employment and gender equality. Norway has participated in all the previous four programmes to the end of 2006. In addition, Progress will include activities to support the improvement of the working environment and working conditions. The programme will as such represent a major tool of the Community to support Member States' commitments to create more and better jobs and offer equal opportunities for all.  

The programme is divided up into five policy sections which are (1) Employment, (2) Social inclusion and social protection, (3) Working conditions, (4) Non-discrimination and (5) Gender Equality.

Evaluations of previous programmes within these policy areas concludes that they overall have given good contributions to reach the objectives of the programmes, and there is therefore reason to believe that the continuation of the activities in a common programme will continue to yield positive results in the fields of employment, social policy and equal opportunities.