Crossborder parliamentarians challenge passivity in the Öresund Region
Regional network. Regions of Europe are gaining power! Twelve members of parliament from Denmark and Sweden have announced a crossborder-crosspolitical network for MP:s with an interest in the development of the Öresund Region - the crossborder region of Scania in Sweden and Sealand in Denmark.
I believe this is an excellent initiative, and an extremely necessary one, since the governmental structures of Sweden and Denmark continously show their immense political passivity and lack of seriousness in adapting themselves to the new realities. How excellent if the new network would be followed by further initiatives to strengthen Scania’s and the Öresund Region’s positions in business, culture and politics! My humble suggestions: another think-tank with a wider approach than existing ones and a grass-roots organization that would be able to involve more people in different areas of interest.
The purpose of the network that now was founded has been set to “do somehing concrete about barrier and development issues, intenting to create future oriented initiatives and change legislation that is causing problems. — The Öresund Region is Denmarks and Sweden’s common chance to create an international heavy weight metropolis”. Another 15 MP:s have declared their intention to participate in the network. Further MP:s from Sweden and Denmark, including those who are members of the European Parliament, will be welcomed with open arms.
Gitte Lillelund Bech, a Danish MP, hosted the first network meeting on May 23, in cooperation with the independent Øresund Institute.
The network will meet twice a year. Peter Danielsson, MP from Helsingborg in Scania will be one of the organizers for the next meeting to be held during fall. Mr Danielsson comments: “This initiative should have been taken many years ago. We depend on each other in the Öresund Region, but politically we know far too little about what’s happening on the other side of the state border”.
Anders L. Hansson