Urban Policy in Norway

Speech at the Informal Ministerial Meeting on Urban Development and Territorial Cohesion in Leipzig on 24 /25 May 2007.

Thank you, Chair.

• I would like to thank the German presidency for hosting this informal ministerial meeting and for inviting Norway. I warmly welcome the opportunity to comment on the issue of urban development today.

• The Government in Norway has put regional and rural development at the top of the political agenda. Our main goals are to facilitate economic growth  in all parts of the country and that people should have a real, independent choice in where to settle. In this context also cities have a role to play. 

• The Government would like to see cites and towns acting as generators of national and regional development.

• In that context we think it is of special importance to support and strengthen the rural – urban linkages. To succeed in building vital regions, Norway has found it useful to strengthen towns and cities for instance through specific programs addressing innovation with importance for a greater region. In Norway we have over the last years established different networks to facilitate innovation in enterprises.   

• The Government also has a special eye on the small and medium sized towns and how they can improve their attractiveness to especially young people. This is important to create an alternative to a life in the big cites, for instance through teaching young people how to establish their own business.

• In the near future we will present the first White Paper detailing the Government’s strategy for urban development  in our greater capital region.

• Oslo is - as most other capitals - a centre for business environment, central administration, transport, cultural events etc. I believe that a strong capital region is an advantage for all of Norway. It is for example of great importance that the rest of the country can benefit from the vital research and development environment in Oslo.

• And Oslo, of course, is dependent on the business in the rest of the country as a market for the services provided in the city. To be a competitive region on the European level, it is necessary for Oslo to interact with the rest of the country.

• Our ambition is to develop a holistic urban development policy for Oslo based on the Nordic model of welfare and growth. We will pursue a policy which supports both economic growth and social cohesion. 

• In the White Paper on the greater capital region, the Government has given special attention to certain areas in Oslo facing particular challenges. In these cases, the national level will cooperate with the local level to solve special issues. The objective is to ensure long-term competitiveness, social equity and quality of life for the inhabitants and the business in the deprived urban neighborhoods and in the city as a whole.

• Norway warmly welcomes the Leipzig Charter and its territorial approach to urban development. We will continue to carry out a differentiated policy adapted to our different regions.

• Thank you for your attention.