Structural fund programmes as instruments for sustainable regional development a review of Nordic effectiveness1

Abstract

The environmental reputation of the Nordic countries makes them an interesting example to study in relation to their efforts to incorporate sustainable development (SD) perspectives. In practice, Denmark, Finland and Sweden have achieved different rates of progress and effectiveness with regard to formulating SD as a national initiative. They also have differentiated experience of attempts to conceptualize sustainable regional development, and this is illustrated through six project examples with an associated diversity of approaches. Regarding the contribution of the Structural Funds to this momentum, examination of 11 operational Objective 1 and Objective 2 programmes indicates that environmental factors have been well integrated, but SD has not been accommodated. Rather than the funds acting as a catalyst for national versions of sustainable regional development, most Nordic Structural Fund partnerships would benefit from studying the innovative methods used in parallel regional economic initiatives.