A Living Archipelago
On 8th May 1996 the European Commission ratified the proposition for a development plan for the Swedish archipelago. In total the EU is going to contribute approximately 60 million SEK to various development projects up until 1999. Including the part Sweden has financed a total of 250 million SEK will be invested between 1995-1999. Contributions from the Structural Funds are to be distributed into four areas; Work and business development, Nature and cultural environment, Bridging distances with modern infrastructure and Local mobilisation. The goal is a living archipelago.

Priority 1 Work and business development
The objective is to contribute to the development of a competitive and sustainable business structure/environment, which in turn will lead to an increase in employment, especially in the private sector. The presence of competitive and sustainable businesses is essential for making living and working in the archipelago possible.

Priority 2 Nature and cultural environment
The idea is to co-ordinate the steps that must be taken to develop fishing, agriculture and other actions such as the preservation of buildings and art and tourism. The priority also aims at stimulating activities which will lead to a sustainable utilisation of natural resources and preserving the biological diversity on the islands. The priority will also lead to the creation of additional job opportunities.

Priority 3 Bridging distances with modern infrastructure
The objective is to strengthen the development and position of businesses on the islands. This will be done by using innovative and locally adapted service and solutions for transportation and also by increasing the access to education and R & D. By increasing the knowledge of Information Technology among the inhabitants on the islands it will make it possible for more people to live and work in the archipelago. These steps will shorten the distance between the archipelago and the mainland as well as between the islands.

Priority 4 Local mobilisation
The objective is to stimulate the local population's involvement in creating a viable archipelago with an improved living environment. Local commitment, supported by integrated social planning, will be necessary to achieve long-term, sustainable development. The local culture of the archipelago must also be enhanced.

A few examples of projects that have received economic support from

Objective 5b Archipelago in Sweden

Co-ordinated Hovercraft Traffic
The archipelagos of St Anna, Gryt and Tjust are typical examples of sparsely populated areas of the archipelago. Public services such as schools, medical care and shops can only be reached by boat. To overcome the problem of supplying reliable public transportation during the time of year when the ice is too thin to support any other forms of transportation light hovercraft can be used. This project will enable the inhabitants of these areas to enjoy the same public service as people living on the mainland and will also benefit the local companies and their need for transportation.

A pilot project of IT in stores
General stores in the archipelago often have problems making a profit. They are, together with post offices and pharmacies, essential for a living archipelago. Information Technology can play an important part in keeping these small shops open. The purpose of this project is to offer bank and postal services. The shops will also be given the opportunity to make combined orders for merchandise by using IT, thus making it easier and quicker to find what the consumer wants. This will enable the shops to provide an extended service locally. The inhabitants will save many trips to the mainland and the shops will increase their profitability.

The Boat Museum/ Visitors Centre of Holmön Foundation
The buildings that house the Boat Museum/ Visitors Centre of Holmön were first completed in 1996. The idea was to preserve and increase the knowledge of the island's historical past and make the largest nature reserve in the Swedish archipelago available to more people. In order to achieve this a new entrance to the Visitors Centre had to be built and a permanent exhibition needed to be arranged. With more visitors to the museum and to Holmön there will also be an increase in employment. There are six regions each with a Regional Advice group that processes the applications. They prepare a statement which is handed over to the Secretariat. The Secretariat then processes the applications for the final decision which is made by the Management Committee. The Management Committee consists of representatives from the entire area concerned. The Monitoring Committee supervises the progress of the programme.

If you are interested in finding out more about Objective 5b Archipelago in Sweden please contact the

County Administrative Board of Stockholm
Regional Development Department
Hantverkargatan 29, P.O Box 22067, S-104 22 Stockholm
Elisabeth Öberg, Programme Director, at 08-785 50 18, Annika Nordgren at 08-785 50 81 or Gunilla Björkman at 08-785 5078 at the Secretariat.