The focus of the project is on stimulating positive development of rural areas. In order to achieve this, three themes are identified, which development or deterioration are mutually interconnected and have a major influence on the out migration trends in the area. These are: social/health services, transport services, and economic development. The project aims to work out solutions for the rural areas for the negative trends in the rural areas, through e.g. improving the level of social services offered, providing a better coordination of public transport, and securing/inspiring activities in rural areas.

Overall aim of NS RURAL is to secure and provide positive development in rural areas in interaction with urban centres or among each other through an innovative cross-sectoral cooperation. Rural areas along with their smaller towns in many parts of the NSR suffer from a self-increasing marginalisation and lack of development with poorer and limited supply of vital functions and services and a considerable loss of jobs. To change the situation, the inter-rural co-operation is expected to create added value since the problems in the areas concerned are rather similar as are the services needed. Furthermore the cross-sectoral approach will contribute to an integrated understanding of the complexity and interdependency across the sectors, which is particularly pronounced in the rural areas. This broader understanding and approach is vital for finding lasting solutions, which will secure a positive development.

Expected Outcomes

There is to be less out-migration from, more efficient use of transport systems throughout and improved service to inhabitants within the respective rural areas. Transport options shall include more sustainable options. Social services shall be run on more even conditions, regardless of the place of living. Economic diversification and new jobs will be secured by cross-sectoral planning co-operation.

Activities

All activities are structured into the three main themes, public transport, social services and economic development, with an anchorperson each, plus an overall part of research, manage-ment and co-ordination. Pilots are focusing on e.g. improved public and private transport through new means of using ICT-systems, ensuring retention of key-skilled persons in the rural areas by providing better work-conditions or improving cross-sectoral planning between different units dealing with economic development. While pilots may start or concentrate in single municipalities, im-plementation within the project is mainly envisioned throughout whole surrounding counties as second steps. As an example, the introduction of ?dial-a-bus? systems or ICT to a better co- ordinated supply of social services will start on smaller scale but spread and incorporate bigger areas. All the pilots are bound to relate actively especially within their topics and will therefore be closely monitored.

Reported Outcomes

The project continued in progressing towards the implementation of the pilot projects in the 3 key project themes ?social services?, ?transport? and ?economic development?. Under the Economic Development theme the UK partners have been liaising with the County and District Council planning officers to ensure project activities help inform development of rural policies in the planning regime. In Denmark 10 companies have been identified to become part of a project on establishing networks among rural based companies, which are likely to be in a situation of transition, generation change, takeover or closure. Sweden works on a catalogue providing an overview of local and regional producers. This catalogue will serve as the basis for developing a cluster of small-scale/local producers. In Germany work has been underway on the drafting of a basic structure model for strategic alliances of SME's as providers to bigger companies. This draft has been presented to the Ministry of Economy and Labour of Lower Saxony as an example for locally adapted economic growth planning. The German partners have also been building on existing strengths such as locally produced food and beverages and further strengthening a concept of branding in a 'basket of regional products'. On this topic the Swedish, Norwegian and German partners have shared experiences about the way to develop a brand for locally produced food products. As part of a Swedish pilot project transport actors for a goods handling terminal for local produces were selected. The German partner organised a 2-week job shadowing visit from the Danish partner to Wesermarsch municipality on economic promotion and development to learn about similarities and differences of the economic development strategies and systems. The Dutch partner has finalised the visiting facilities/information point at a model farm and presented findings and results from the pilot project. As one of the Transport Service projects VAFT-tour (?Your own bus from door to door?) in Viborg County (DK) has expanded its service hours, especially to cover weekends and holiday periods. The awareness of the dial-a-bus system as an innovative transport service has risen noticeably. In Norway a new bus line from Tinn Austbygd during weekends and school holidays has been introduced as part of the local pilot project. In Sweden the formation of a sub group has been established within North Sea Rural activities in the field of Social Services between a Norwegian social service project and the Swedish equivalent. The aim is for the participants to draw on each other?s experience in relation to voluntary rescue units in sparsely populated areas and to investigate potential areas for further co-operation within RURAL. In Denmark a health care centre/clinic was opened in November 2005. The clinic is a real success and has already resulted in one young medical practitioner choosing to settle in the clinic instead of in another part of the region. The idea is to develop joint clinics with more specialists under on roof - supporting essential social services in rural areas. All medical practitioners involved have moved from individual practices to the one 'clinic'. There is continued interest in the health clinic concept. As part of the transnational activities, the Swedish pilot projects were presented and discussed at the last transnational meeting in Sweden.