EU

Sweden's membership in the EU has meant that the right to make decisions in certain issues has passed from the Swedish government to the EU. The decision-making process is influenced through lobbying (where arguments are put forward to EU Commission officials or politicians in the European Parliament), or via the consultations in which the EU invites participation.

You can find out more about them via the EU's consultation portal.

The Committee of the Regions is a formal and important referral body for municipalities. Employee and employer organisations as well as consumer organisations and other NGOs (the “civil society") are represented via the European Economic and Social Committee .

Issues in Sweden that are controlled via EU legislation include procurement, environmental work, the handling of foodstuffs and working hours (through the Working Hours Directive). Most other areas of activity within the municipalities are covered by the EU's “soft" legislation. In these cases, EU ministers reach a consensus on certain joint visions, but each member state is responsible for organising and controlling the work within its own borders. This is how all fields within healthcare, community care and education are governed. Here the EU acts as a coordinating body using the open coordination method.

Areas of shared responsibility

between municipalities and the EU include the environment, transport, education, the labour market, IT, social issues, public health, consumer issues and culture. Democracy and equality are additional common areas. To run its policy work in practice, the EU draws up special programmes and provides a certain amount of funding. This funding aims to encourage growth and competitiveness as well as compensating for any regional differences and inequalities.

EU projects

If municipal development needs reflect the focus of the EU, a municipality may participate in EU projects. In the great majority of cases these projects must be conceived and implemented in the form of international cooperation, with at least two other countries involved.
The EU Guide on Central Sweden's website lists the current programmes to which you can apply for funding.

As a citizen it can be difficult to find what you are looking for amidst the welter of EU information

Libraries have special responsibility for providing citizens with information. They are required to be equipped to provide answers to basic questions or, alternatively, to refer you to relevant national contact points/authorities and/or websites where you can find the answers to your questions. A useful and up-to-date website with EU information is: www.eu-upplysningen.se (The EU information service of the Swedish Parliament).

Each county also has as a Europe Direct office. The EU Commission has given this office the task of supporting the information activities of libraries and schools, etc. In Örebro County Maja Sjöstedt at Europe Direct in Askersund is responsible for this aspect of the office's work.

You can send an e-mail to:
europadirekt@regionorebro.se
or phone +46 583-81296, mobile +46 703-606930.

Often a Swedish authority or national contact point that is responsible for information in a specific area may be able to answer questions about EU projects.

• These include, for example, enquiries relating to:
• regional support (the county administrative board)
• employment and competence development (the Swedish ESF Council)
• school projects (the International Programme Office)
• culture (the Swedish National Council for Cultural Affairs)
• environment (the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency)
• research (Vinnova/the European Programmes Department)

Örebro University Library is also a European Documentation Centre (EDC), which means that it has access to virtually all EU documentation. The EU's own website with complete information.

For additional links and information visit Central Sweden's website .

You can also contact one of the international coordinators,
mrs Carinne Lancereau, carinne.lancereau@orebro.se

Enterprise Europe Network (previously Euro Info Center)

Businesses can contact a special organisation with their questions on the EU: the Euro Info Center. The European Commission has given the Center the task of assisting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with issues such as CE marking, EU legislation, the EMU/euro, and searches for business partners to help develop their operations.

Website: www.euroinfo.se/orebro
Contact person: Ulla Renström
ulla.renstrom@orebro.euroinfo.se, tel. +46 19 17 48 80.

There is also a special organisation that works to promote foreign inward investment in Örebro and Stockholm region, Stockholm Business Region

Contact person in Örebro:

Lars Ekevärn, Director of Business Development
lars.ekevarn@orebro.se  
+46 19 21 40 47, +46 70 321 88 31