# C_2021048EN.01000501.xml

| 11.2.2021 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 48/5 |
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11.2.2021

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 48/5

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Information to be provided pursuant to Article 5(2)

Establishment of a European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC)

(Regulation (EC) No 1082/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2006 (OJ L 210, 31.7.2006, p. 19))

(2021/C 48/05)

I.1)   Name, address and contact point

Registered name: Kvarkenrådet – Europeisk Gruppering för Territoriellt Samarbete (Kvarkenrådet EGTS)/Merenkurkun neuvosto – Eurooppalainen alueellisen yhteistyön yhtymä (Merenkurkun Neuvosto EAYY)

Registered office: Vaasa, Finland

Contact person: Mathias Lindström (+358 509186462, mathias.lindstrom@kvarken.org)

Internet address of the Grouping: www.kvarken.org

I.2)   Duration of the Grouping

Duration of the Grouping: unlimited

Date of registration: 31.12.2020

II.   OBJECTIVES

The Kvarken Council’s mission is to make the region a leader in European and Nordic cohesion policy within the spheres set out in its statutes.

The Council will work to promote further development of the region as an efficient, competitive and well-integrated border region around the northern section of the Baltic Sea, with a good transport infrastructure and communications, both internally and with the rest of the world, and playing an active role in Nordic and European cooperation. The Kvarken Council EGTC is one of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ approved cross-border committees.

The Kvarken Council will also work to ensure that the regional transport network and transport nodes form part of the European Union’s priority transport networks.

The purpose of the Kvarken Council is to:

| — | promote integration within the region, |
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promote integration within the region,

| — | promote labour market integration within the region, |
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promote labour market integration within the region,

| — | promote cooperation through the Council between authorities as well as entities such as private companies, organisations and associations, |
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promote cooperation through the Council between authorities as well as entities such as private companies, organisations and associations,

| — | reduce and eliminate border obstacles, |
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reduce and eliminate border obstacles,

| — | safeguard the region’s position and foster its development, especially in the following areas:






  — | business, |
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safeguard the region’s position and foster its development, especially in the following areas:

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business,

| — | communications and transport infrastructure, |
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communications and transport infrastructure,

| — | research and development, as well as education, |
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research and development, as well as education,

| — | culture, |
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culture,

| — | viable energy solutions, |
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viable energy solutions,

| — | environment, waste management and recycling issues, |
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environment, waste management and recycling issues,

| — | tourism, |
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tourism,

| — | sport, |
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sport,

| — | children and young people, |
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children and young people,

| — | health. |
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health.

The Kvarken Council EGTC will ensure that all these activities and commitments fall within the respective member’s remit under national laws.

It is not the purpose of the Kvarken Council to make financial profits for its members.

The Kvarken Council may also conduct cross-border operations and advocacy activities, within and outside the region, relating to the tasks set out in the statutes or decisions taken at annual meetings.

Types of activity include setting up networks:

| — | to improve research and innovation infrastructure and the capacity for developing excellence in research and innovation, as well as promoting centres of excellence, |
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to improve research and innovation infrastructure and the capacity for developing excellence in research and innovation, as well as promoting centres of excellence,

| — | to develop and improve green, low-carbon transport systems, maritime transport, ports and multimodal links and airport infrastructure, so as to promote sustainable regional and local mobility, |
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to develop and improve green, low-carbon transport systems, maritime transport, ports and multimodal links and airport infrastructure, so as to promote sustainable regional and local mobility,

| — | to support SMEs’ potential to grow in regional, national and international markets and to take part in innovation processes, |
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to support SMEs’ potential to grow in regional, national and international markets and to take part in innovation processes,

| — | to invest in education, training and vocational training for skills and lifelong learning by developing and implementing joint education, vocational training and training schemes. |
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to invest in education, training and vocational training for skills and lifelong learning by developing and implementing joint education, vocational training and training schemes.

The Kvarken Council can also play a central role in implementing regional EU and Nordic cross-border cooperation programmes or other equivalent programmes by acting as a secretariat or lead beneficiary in the EU Interreg programme, by decision of the relevant Swedish or Finnish authority in each case.

The Kvarken Council will fulfil its objectives by organising lectures, information events and debates, running non-profit projects and studies, and through information and publication activities.

The Kvarken Council’s secretariat can give advice and be involved in applications, assist in partnership issues and inform members of the Council about EU decisions and programmes.

III.   ADDITIONAL DETAILS ON NAME OF THE GROUPING

Name in English: Kvarken Council – European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation

Name in French: Conseil de Kvarken – Groupement européen de coopération territoriale

IV.   MEMBERS

IV.1)   Total number of members in the Grouping: 10

IV.2)   Nationalities of the members of the Grouping: Finnish, Swedish

IV.3)   Member information (1)

Official name: Österbottens förbund – Pohjanmaan liitto (Regional Council of Ostrobothnia)

Postal address: Hietasaarenkatu 6 B, 65101 Vaasa, Finland

Internet address: www.obotnia.fi

Type of member: Local authority

Official name: Keski-Pohjanmaan liitto – Mellersta Österbottens förbund (Regional Council of Central Ostrobothnia)

Postal address: Rantakatu 14, 67100 Kokkola, Finland

Internet address: www.keski-pohjanmaa.fi

Type of member: Local authority

Official name: Etelä-Pohjanmaan liitto (Regional Council of South Ostrobothnia)

Postal address: Kampusranta 9 C, 60101 Seinäjoki, Finland

Internet address: www.epliitto.fi

Type of member: Local authority

Official name: Vaasan kaupunki – Vasa stad (City of Vaasa)

Postal address: PL 3, 65101 Vaasa, Finland

Internet address: www.vaasa.fi

Type of member: Local authority

Official name: Seinäjoen kaupunki (City of Seinäjoki)

Postal address: Kirkkokatu 6, 60100 Seinäjoki, Finland

Internet address: www.seinajoki.fi

Type of member: Local authority

Official name: Karleby stad – Kokkolan kaupunki (Kokkola)

Postal address: Kokkolan kaupunki PL 43, 67101 Kokkola, Finland

Internet address: www.kokkola.fi

Type of member: Local authority

Official name: Jakobstad stad – Pietarsaaren kaupunki (Jakobstad)

Postal address: Strengbergsgatan 1, 68600 Jakobstad, Finland

Internet address: www.jakobstad.fi

Type of member: Local authority

Official name: Region Västerbotten (Västerbotten region)

Postal address: Region Västerbotten, 901 89 Umeå, Sweden

Internet address: www.regionvasterbotten.se

Type of member: Local authority

Official name: Umeå kommun (Umeå Municipality)

Postal address: Umeå kommun, Skolgatan 31A, 901 84 Umeå, Sweden

Internet address: www.umea.se

Type of member: Local authority

Official name: Örnsköldsviks kommun (Örnsköldsvik Municipality)

Postal address: Örnsköldsviks kommun, 891 88 Örnsköldsvik, Sweden

Internet address: www.ornskoldsvik.se

Type of member: Local authority

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(1)  Please add for each member.

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