Intermunicipal cooperation in the North

The purpose of the trip was to get acquainted with the political and administrative system of the Norwegian districts and also with rural life. Since the visit occurred during regional elections to Municipality and County Council in Norway, the members of the delegation could take a dive into political fight in municipalities of Troms County.

The visit was organized with the support from the Norwegian Barents Secretariat and University hospital of Northern Norway. Project coordinator, Magne Jonsen, the adviser of the University hospital of Northern Norway, has behind him 20-years old experience of cooperation within healthcare in the Arkhangelsk region. Thanks to this cooperation Arkhangelsk has taken a leading position in Russia within cardio surgery, treatment of oncological diseases and prevention of tuberculosis. When his cooperation partner, ex-director of healthcare department of Arkhangelsk region, Sergey Emmanuilov, was elected a Deputy for the Regional Assembly from Leshukonsky and Pinezhsky municipalities, he applied to M. Johnsen for support to establish cooperation between Arkhangelsk and Norwegian municipalities which as experience shows, leads to efficient and intensive development.

The program of the visit was very rich. The Russian participants spent the first three days in Tromsoe where they met chairman of Troms County Council, Pia Svendsgaar, representative of Troms Governor, Tromsoe mayor Arild Hausberg, and also visited the University hospital of Northern Norway. The cultural part was also incorporated in the in the program – a trip on a cable car, excursion to the church of the Arctic Ocean and botanical garden, a sightseeing tour in Tromsoe.

The delegation spent the rest of the trip in municipalities Lenvik and Maalselv. Municipality administrations had prepared a program which included both visits to local organizations and enterprises and observation of the natural beauty of the surroundings; thus the delegation travelled along the Senja island and visited Maalselv waterfall.

The professional part of the program considered interests of each member of the delegation. The farmer could see a private farm, a farm of the Senja upper secondary school, and an agricultural enterprise “Tromspotet”. Teachers visited different schools, from a kindergarten to an upper secondary school, and also learned about with extended education. Doctors visited health centers, senior homes and the dental clinic in addition to the University hospital. Heads of municipalities got acquainted with mayors and heads of municipal administrations and listened to reports about political and administrative activities in Norway. Journalists communicated to their colleagues in publishing house of the local newspaper “Folkeblad”.

Now Russian members of the delegation will start preparing for the return visit of their colleagues to Leshukonsky and Pinezhsky municipalities. During this visit they hope to sign an agreement of intentions, and further, probably, to become twin municipalities.

Text by Julia Iordanova