EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Copenhagen-Malmö: a bridge for employment, Denmark & Sweden

Copenhagen-Malmö: a bridge for employment, Denmark & Sweden

Introduction

Denmark and Sweden are connected by the bridge over the Öresund (the Öre Strait), which is used on a daily basis by thousands of people. Many of these are workers who commute between the two countries.

Problem

The area of Öresund (3.5 million inhabitants) forms a vast cross-border labour pool with considerable potential for development but was confronted with a problem of underemployment.

Description

The project was set up to stimulate the job market in the area of Öresund and encourage cross-border cooperation between the Danish island of Sjaetland and the Swedish region of Scania.
The challenge was to integrate the labour markets so that the two border areas, which until then had evolved separately, could develop together and take advantage of their respective assets. This would benefit local businesses, increase the trade of goods and services and give the inhabitants more training and job opportunities.

Approach

The Öresund Committee, which represents all those engaged in cross-border cooperation, entrusted the project's management with AF-Storkǿbenhavn (public employment services of Greater Copenhagen), and a joint administrative structure was created in 1996. Other cooperation bodies which play a key role in the project are the Öresund Labour Market Council (ÖAR), consisting of the public employment services of the different parts of the cross-border area, and the four Öresund Employment Centres set up in Copenhagen, Malmö, Helsingborg and Helsingǿr to coordinate the services for job seekers and employers throughout the area.

Results

The implementation of the project has been overwhelmingly successful, and the partners now have an effective system and model for the coordination of labour markets on the basis of agreements between two countries, seven regions and over 20 organisations. This vast mechanism has made it possible to develop a whole range of skills, tools and methods to tackle head-on the problem of employment and vocational training.

Beneficiaries

Inhabitants of both countries.

Resources used

Total costs were 444 253 euros, of which the EU contributed 363 480 euros.

EU involvement

The project was part of the INTERREG II Programme of the EU.

Contact info

Öresund Komiteen - Interreg-sekretariatet
Phone: + 46 33 22 00 11

Project start date

01/07/2000

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Working patterns

Keywords

Commuting