How does Region Värmland use regional, Government and EU funds to promote growth?

Every year we authorise some 8,0 million euro for around 150 different projects. We run a small number of our own projects, but are often involved as co-financiers. Project-owners are other participants, e.g. municipalities, the cluster organisations in Värmland, the Chamber of Commerce, Almi, Inova and Karlstad University. We also ensure that both national and EU funds make their way to Värmland.

It has been demonstrated that the projects we have supported and co-financed are competitive when Government authorities or the EU’s structural funds decide on which development and growth projects to support. This is primarily due to the fact that we work on guaranteeing the quality of contents, goals and results in regional projects.

The structural funds are a part of the EU’s regional policy, known as “The Cohesion Policy”, which has the aim of creating a coherent EU by reducing economic and social differences between member countries and their regions. The EU’s structural funds are managed by the member countries themselves. Sweden has chosen a growth agenda for its money. Our work therefore contributes to ensuring that EU money benefits Värmland.

Unfortunately, matters involving the EU continue to instill respect and fear. Our opinion is that these feelings are mainly due to ignorance. Resources from the structural funds provide us with more muscle. The investments that we desire, and need to make, can then be implemented faster, and in larger, more effective formats.

With several different particpants planning and implementing projects together, we then have the opportunity of increasing the value of the resources invested substantially. It is usually said that the regional funds are “geared up”.

This is how it can work:
X municipality + Y municipality have a project plan and present it to Region Värmland. We feel that the project is entirely in line with the goals and strategies that are on our agenda in the regional development programme and would be happy to join the project as co-financier. Each of us decide to invest 10 units (10+10+10=30). We then apply for funds from one of the EU’s structural funds, which decides to contribute the same amount (30). This means that the project can be implemented with a budget of 60 units (30+30). For each public euro that is invested, the EU adds one euro.