Bilateral relations between Estonia and NorwayBjoern Rongevaer, Seniorl Adviser, KS

Caracteristica of local government in Norway• territorial administration of 428

municipalities and 19 counties• dominated by small units• comprehensive and same services to

citizens in all municipalities• how are services delivered at what cost• practice elsewhere of interest for adjusting

or improving service delivery

Tasks of Norwegian municipalities

• Local democracy• Service delivery

– Welfare and social services– Care for the elderly– Pre-school and primary education– Primary health– Utilities– Culture– Local infrastructure

• Local development

Why cooperation

• access to best practice for service delivery• better understand of context for decisions

and services• attractive places of residence and work • business opportunities and worth visiting

Cooperation opportunities

• Norway to a large degree integrated into the wider European context without membership in the European Union

• Norway has obligations and makes contributions• Norway receives access and benefits• EEA & Norway Grants main contribution• opportunities for cooperation between local

governments and institutions in Norway and Estonia• strengthen already existing ties between our two

countries

Norwegan partner

• KS is the Norwegian partner of this Estonian programme

• A main task is to facilitate bilateral cooperation

• We help identify partners and establish contacts

• KS supports its members’ international aspirations