Regionförbundet Östsam

The Regional Council

The Regional Council is a regional body with poli­tical representation from the members – the region's thirteen local authorities and Östergötland County Council. The organisation is funded by the members and a large amount of external financing. The Regional Council employs around 70 people and is located in Linköping, Norrköping and Brussels. The Regional Council has been commissioned by the 13 municipalities and the county council to create a functional region with economic growth and com­petitiveness. Assigned by the government, the Regional Council has developed a vision for the future of the region, as well as goals and strategies for how to attain this.

The Regional Council serves its members with facts and basic documentation demonstrating the overall picture of the region, identifies the need for action, and creates a common platform for regional development issues in collaboration with other actors.

Main tasks
The main tasks the Regional Council are:

• Regional development policy
• Municipal coordination
• Government assignments, such as responsibility for the Regional Development Programme and the Regional Public Transport Plan
• International relations

Ambitions & Challenges
Regional development means exploiting the potential of the East Sweden Region. Many different stakeholders participate in this work in order to meet future challenges in terms of competitiveness, accessibility, employment, business development, and demographic change – key issues for all regions in Europe.

As in many other European regions, the unemployment rate has increased in recent years. Unemployment stands at 7% in 2011, compared with 5,9% for Sweden as a whole. The aim is to raise the general educational level in the region as well as the skills level within specific industries.

Efficient matching between skills supply, education and labour market demands is also a key issue. It is important to achieve consensus between stakeholders and create a shared vision of the way in which the region should develop.

The main challenges of the region are:

• Position East Sweden nationally and internationally
• Develop the role of East Sweden in a greater region context
• Strengthen East Sweden as a polycentric urban region
• Work for the development of all areas in East Sweden
• Stimulate a dynamic climate for innovation and entrepreneurship in East Sweden
• Promote opportunities for quality of life and personal development for our inhabitants
• Utilise and develop the attractiveness of East Sweden

In order to meet these challenges the Regional Council is focusing on the following areas of activity:

Spatial Development Planning
Apply a common approach to planning • Develop sustainable transport and communication solutions • Develop public transport in conjunction with infrastructure planning • Develop rural areas • Integrate new areas such as energy and environment and public health

Entrepreneurship & Employability
Develop a flexible education system available to all women and men in the region • Enhance matching of labour market needs and educational options • Increase business start-ups and growing businesses run and owned by women as well as men

Culture & Creativity
Create a dynamic cultural life through effective cooperation between private and public organisations, amateur groups and non-profit association • Provide prerequisites for artistic development, education and business development • Integrate the cultural perspective in all community planning