The aim of the conference was to create an awareness in Slovakia of the EEA/Norwegian Financial Mechanisms and to provide a platform for networking and possible mutual co-operation between interested parties from Slovakia and Norway. The occasion of the official opening of the Royal Norwegian Embassy Slovakia was marked by a buffet reception in between the morning and afternoon sessions.
The conference featured the signing, by State Secretary, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Kim Traavik, Norway, and Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs, Minorities and Human Rights, Mr Pâl Csâky, Slovakia, of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Norwegian Financial Mechanism between Norway and Slovakia.
The conference was organised as a combination of a plenary session in the morning and four parallel group sessions in the afternoon. More than 150 participants took part in the conference, of which approximately 70 from Norway and more than 80 from Slovakia.
Plenary session
Opening speeches were given by the Norwegian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway, Mr Kim Traavik, and Head of the Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Slovakia, Mr Milan Tancar, after the Norwegian Ambassador to Slovakia, Ms Brit Løvseth, had greeted the participants. Mr Traavik spoke about the new opportunities within the enlarged EU/EEA, and Mr Tancar spoke on the theme of EU/EEA enlargement - Slovak-Norwegian relations.
Mr Ladislav Setnicky, Director General, The Office of the Government of the Slovak Republic, gave a presentation of the Slovakian priorities and implementing mechanisms.
Ms Stine Lundin Andresen, Financial Mechanism Office, FMO (Brussels), presented the role of the FMO.
Ms Kompisova, Director General, European Affairs Section, Ministry of Finance, Slovakia, spoke about the lessons learned from EU pre-accession funding schemes.
Mr. Per-Erik Hylland, Regional Director Central Europe, Telenor, presented experiences from operating in Slovakia.
Parallel sessions
1. Environment / Sustainable development / Cultural heritage
2. Professional education / Lifelong education / Preventive health/childcare and voluntary
collaboration
3. Academic research: Greater achievements through partnerships
4. Regional development and cross-border activities
The participants in the sessions expressed their sincere interest in further developing the co-operation between Norway and Slovakia at all levels — national, regional, local, between business sectors and social partners.
The work in the parallel sessions was organised as rounds of presentations from the Slovak and the Norwegian side, focusing on several priority areas, followed by discussions among the participants in the group.
SESSION 1:
Environment / Sustainable development / Cultural heritage
divided into three parts:
Part 1: Environmental protection and cultural heritage conservation in Slovakia
Part 2: Organization of nature conservation and cultural heritage in Norway with special
focus on relevant capacity, information and receptiveness
Part 3: Sustainable development / Renewable energy sources
Chairman: Ms Katarina Nováková, Ministry of Environment, Slovakia
Rapporteur: Mr Svein Båtvik / Reidar Hindrum, Directorate for Nature Management,
Norway
Part 1: Environmental protection and cultural heritage conservation in Slovakia
Presentations:
Mr Roderik Klinda, Ministry of Environment, Slovakia:
Norwegian Financial Mechanism in the Field of Environmental Protection
Mr Ladislav Ambrós, Ministry of Environment, Slovakia:
Follow-ups on the Convention on Biological Diversity, including the 2010 Biodiversity Target
Ms Jana Zacharová, Ministry of Environment, Slovakia:
Natura 2000 in Slovakia
Mr Martin Kovác, Ministry of Culture, Slovakia:
European Cultural Heritage Conservation in Slovakia
Topics of discussion / conclusions:
It was clarified that both public and private enterprises are involved in waste management in Slovakia, and recycling of commodities is an area where private business enterprises are particularly involved.
Regarding how Slovakia intends to proceed forward in developing projects and programmes under the financial mechanisms, adequate information is given in the text of the signed MoU and the further process will be open and include all relevant stakeholders, including self-administrative units and NGOs. Institutional support for programme planning is already in place, particularly through structural funds. Environmental education is a broad field that will generally cover all the involved issues in this context.
On cultural heritage projects it is possible to build on the rather extensive collaboration between the two countries that has already taken place.
A number of Slovakian institutions and NGOs expressed their eagerness to see the final detailed guidelines for project preparations to be made available at the FMO website soon.
Due to time limits a number of other questions could not be dealt with at length during the seminar, but the Slovakian Ministry of Environment promised to take note of these questions and answer them in due course.
Part 2: Organization of nature conservation and cultural heritage in Norway with special focus on relevant capacity, information and receptiveness
Presentations:
Mr Reidar Hindrum, Directorate for Nature Management, Norway:
Nature Management
Mr Arnodd Håpnes, World Wide Fund for Nature, Norway:
Nature Conservation
Mr Dag Myklebust, Directorate or Cultural Heritage, Norway :
Cultural Heritage
Topics of discussion / conclusions:
No recorded details.
Part 3: Sustainable development / Renewable energy sources
Presentations:
Mr Ladislav Setnický, Office of the Government of the Slovak Republic:
Sustainable development and renewable energy sources in Slovakia
Mr Johan Vetlesen, Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, Norway:
Sustainable development and renewable energy sources in Norway
Topics of discussion / conclusions:
The chair gave a short summary of the issues covered in the seminar and also indicated that two principal questions should be discussed in more detail:
- The involvement of stakeholders in all relevant sectors
- Development of partnerships between Norway and Slovakia
It was generally agreed that the list of issues raised during the seminar was too comprehensive to be discussed in detail during the seminar, and again it was referred to the signed MoU for more information on how concrete proposals, projects and programmes should be developed. The MoU sets out specific forms of grant assistance, including NGO Funds, Technical Assistance Funds, Research Funds, a Fund for support of co-operation among schools (including scholarships), as well as the Seed Money Fund.
The Slovakian Government Office pointed out that much development has already taken place on the Slovakian side, including proposals for general allocations to various types of projects and shares to be allocated between different programme areas. Again, it was promised to the various stakeholders that the coming development process, including co-financing schemes, would be transparent and open, and aim at involving all concerned groups. The website of the Slovakian Government Office will publish all relevant material on the way forward.
Finally, the seminar was reminded that also non-profit state organisations are eligible for participation under this mechanism, and that sustainability (with a planning horizon for at least 10 years) would be essential for the projects and programmes to be funded under this mechanism.
SESSION 2:
Professional Education / Life Long Education / Preventive health/childcare and voluntary collaboration
divided into three parts:
Part 1: Professional and life long learning, common European challenges and possibilities
for increased cooperation and mobility based on former experiences
Part 2: Healthcare and childcare, especially preventive child and youth work
Part 3: Cooperation between child and youth NGOs and their role in promoting non-formal
education
Chairman: Mr Rolf Kristiansen, National Institute of Technology, Norway
Rapporteur: Ms Iveta Fáberová, Office of the Government of the Slovak Republic
Part 1: Professional and life long learning, common European challenges and
possibilities for increased cooperation and mobility based on former experiences
Presentations:
Ms Hanna Marit Jahr, Education Counsellor, Norwegian Mission to the EU:
Introduction from Norway
Mr Dušan Kulich, Ministry of Education, Slovakia:
Introduction from Slovakia
Topics of discussion / conclusions:
The opening session included a short presentation of the participants by Mr Karol Korintuš, Ministry of Education, Slovakia.
The participants of the session presented their priorities and discussed the opportunities for future cooperation. The representatives of the Ministry of Education in Slovakia focused on cooperation concerning foreign languages education, preparation of lectures for non formal education, sharing the experiences with Norwegian partners on lifelong education and so on . Possible areas of cooperation from the Norwegian side was proposed: programmes for study visits, mobility of vocational, academic and professional staff, apprentices and students, school co-operation at international level, teacher training, accreditation of prior learning in respect to upper secondary education and secondary training, development of flexible models at the workplace, establishing a network of open learning centres, programmes on integration of pupils with special needs into ordinary schools.
Part 2: Healthcare and childcare, especially preventive child and youth work
Presentations:
Ms Kvetoslava Prcuchova, Ministry of Healthcare, Slovakia:
Healthcare and childcare, child and youth policy, especially preventive child and youth work
Ms Jorun Hjertø, Norwegian Ministry of Children and Family Affairs, Norway:
Introduction from Norway
Topics of discussion / conclusions:
The possibilities for cooperation in the area of preventive health focused on childcare and related issues.
Gender equality issues were discussed. The Norwegian Ministry of Children and Family Affairs has long experience in the field of mainstreaming and gender topics.
Part 3: Cooperation between child and youth NGOs and their role in promoting non-
formal education
Presentations:
Ms Christine Weima Lager, Norwegian Youth Council (LNU):
Introduction from Norway
Mr Ján Šipoš, Ministry of Education, Slovakia:
State youth and children policy in Slovakia
Jana Kostanjevcova, Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family, Slovakia:
Presentation from Slovakia
Mr Jozef Mikloško, Usmev ako dar, Slovakia:
Activities of Slovak NGOs in this field
Topics of discussion / conclusions:
The Norwegian NGOs were very interested in sharing experiences and exchanging contact information with their Slovak partners. The co-operation between Slovak and Norwegian partners will be based on previous experiences. The Slovaks presented the actual situation in Slovakia emphasising among other things the need for family support/therapy services, transformation from institutions to foster homes, protection for victims of family violence, support for shelters, as well as for various seminars and conferences on these topics.
SESSION 3:
Academic research: Greater achievements through partnerships
divided into three parts:
Part 1: Benefits from partnership
Part 2: Research for supporting sustainable development and environment
Part 3: Stimulating partnership and increase of mobility
Chairman: Ms Kari Kveseth, Executive Director International Affairs, The Research
Council of Norway
Rapporteur: Ms Ranata Vitková, Office of the Government of the Slovak Republic
Part 1: Benefits from partnership
Presentations:
Mr Alfonz Smola, Technics and Informatics Faculty, Slovak Technical University, Bratislava
Mr Fritjof Salvesen, KanEnergi AS, The Norwegian Energy Efficiency Group, Norway
Topics of discussion / conclusions:
The session was opened by professor Šucha, advisor of the Minister of Education, Slovakia.
The Norwegian partners asked which organisation deals with the research of split fuel wood (there is the Forestry research institute at the Technical University in Zvolen)
The Norwegian partners offered training on raising the consciousness about ecology issues and promoting ecological thinking.
Part 2: Research for supporting sustainable development and environment
Presentations:
Mr Pavel Fellner, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Bratislava
Mr Hallgeir Herikstad, Regional Director, Norwegian Food Safety Authority, Norway
Topics of discussion / conclusions:
The new partners have many possibilities for co-operation on research — at the same time the list of possible topics for co-operation needs to be elaborated.
The Norwegian partners suggested co-operation in the field of food safety and toxicology and asked for contact details for Slovakian partners dealing with these topics.
Part 3: Stimulating partnership and increase of mobility
Presentations:
Mr Vladimír Šucha, advisor of the Minister of Education, Slovakia
Ms Kari Kveseth, Director, Norwegian Research Council
Topics of discussion / conclusions:
- The Norwegian partners presented good experiences from the links between research and
industry.
- There is a need to set up a list of national activities based on strategic priorities in Slovakia
and Norway.
- Annual meetings should be organised.
- It was proposed to set up a scheme supporting short study visits for researchers
- There is an absence of partners within health and food safety
- The common research programmes should be supported.
- Skills training for private and public sectors should be provided.
- Mobility of scientists should be supported, specifically a scheme should be set up for
shorter study visits for researchers
- A list of organisations, including contact information, for Slovak – Norwegian co-operation
should be elaborated.
- The information about the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Slovakia
and Norway and about this Launch seminar should be made publicly available.
SESSION 4:
Regional development and cross-border activities
divided into four parts:
Part 1: Regional and local authorities
Part 2: Social partners - The involvement and the role of the social partners in regional
development
Part 3: Business development
Part 4: Cross-border cooperation
Chairman: Ms Jarmila Tomšová, Office of the Government of the Slovak Republic
Rapporteur: Mr Arve Skjerpen, Ministry of Local Government and Regional
Development, Norway
Part 1: Regional and local authorities
Presentations:
Mr Gízel, Office of Trenčin Self-Governing Region, Slovakia
Mr Arve Skjerpen, Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Norway
Mr Knut Hjorth-Johansen, Association of Local and Regional Authorities
Mr Milan Muska, Association of Towns and Municipalities
Part 2: Social partners - The involvement and the role of the social partners in regional
development
Presentations:
Mr Eurgen Škultety, Confederation of Trade Unions in Slovakia
Ms Siri Engesæth, International Adviser, Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry (NHO)
Mr Tomáš Malatinský, Deputy General Director, Federation of Employers' Associations of the Slovak Republic
Part 3: Business development
Presentations:
Mr Per Støle, the Industrial Development Corporation of Norway
Mr Miroslav Šipikal, Business Innovation Centre, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
Part 4: Cross-border cooperation
Presentations:
Mr Ivan Zemko, Office of the Government of the Slovak Republic
Topics of discussion / conclusions (collectively presented for all the four parts):
Several participants expressed their concerns regarding the long application processing time (6-8 months). Especially for the business sector this was felt to be just too long.
- The cooperation between the regions of Trøndelag and Trenčin was especially underlined by the Chairman of the Office of Trenčin region. A delegation has been in Trøndelag in June this year and a Norwegian delegation has visited Trenčin in October. A declaration of future co-operation has been signed and concrete projects for co-operation will now be developed. The most concrete is a reconstruction of the castle in Trenčin where Norwegian experts with experiences from the reconstruction of the Nidaros cathedral will be involved. Other areas are education and co-operation between universities.
- From both the Norwegian and the Slovakian side the need for transparent processes and transparent criteria in the selection procedure was underlined.
- Many interesting areas for future co-operation were mentioned by the Association of Local authorities in the two countries. Administration of resources, implementation of laws and regulations, provision of services, regional planning, information and communication strategies, education system for self-governing authorities, ethics at self-government level.
- The business sector and the regional and local authorities must work together in order to achieve regional development. Innovation systems and strategies are a responsibility for the private as well as the public sector, and strategic documents must be developed in a public/private partnership. There must be a mutual and common understanding between the public and private sector when developing concrete projects, either concrete investments projects or infrastructure projects of importance for regional development. Science Parks, Business Innovation Centres and Incubators are examples of areas for future bilateral cooperation.
- The role of the social partners within regional policy was underlined by representatives from the Trade Unions as well as from the Confederations of employers. The social dialogue seems to have been weakened by the government in Slovakia over the last years and needs to be strengthened. The social partners in Slovakia expressed a strong will to be active partners in creating new projects and setting up regional bodies. The representative of the Trade Union in Slovakia expressed his fear that the assessment of project proposals would not be transparent enough and raised a question why the Trade Union was not represented in the commission which selects projects in Slovakia while the Confederation of employers was represented).
- Cross-border projects will be important for national, regional and local authorities alike, especially cooperation projects with Ukraine. A special workshop or seminar to develop such projects could be of interest.
- The chairman concluded the seminar by informing the participants that there would be workshops organised in different parts of Slovakia where different issues will be on the agenda. Also, possible Norwegian partners will be invited to these seminars.