Metropolitan Initiative

Scandinavian countries have a long tradition of local self-governance. The state delegates a range of responsibilities to the local and regional levels. What's interesting the local authorities have the right to tax their citizens. This privilege gives them a possibility to decide independently on the services provided, but the citizens influence the level and supply of services.

An example of good practice of cooperation and joint action between the state and the city, would be the Metropolitan Initiative. Half of the resources for this initiative for Malmo, Goteborg and Stockholm comes from the national budget and the second half comes from the city's budget.

Firstly, the Initiative aims at giving urban areas good conditions for growing and creating new jobs. Secondly, it is to remove the social and ethnic segregation in the urban areas and to promote equal living conditions. The overall aim of the initiative is to give cities the best possible conditions for growth and increased employment. It is agreed that the city itself is best suited to decide what measures are most likely to be successful and reach the goals set up jointly by the city and the national government.

For the city of Malmo this has meant that most efforts are put into the field of integration, since the city considers the large number of inhabitants with a foreign background to be an important potential for the community growth. Implementation of the Initiative in Malmo relays to a great extent on the initiatives of the citizens. We are convinced that the best ideas exist at the grass-root level and therefore we put a lot of effort into involving different groups of the society.

Such an example is project "Meeting place Mollevangen", where Mollevangen is a residential area notorious of drug problems, rubbery and unemployment. A non-profit organisation was created, where people can meet and get involved, exchange ideas on improving the living conditions, needs of children, public security and culture. In another city district, a magazine was produced, focusing on local problems and giving information about various activities as well as encouraging people to take part in the district activities. The magazine also includes letters to the press, questions, ideas and proposals from those living in the area, politicians and authorities.

In yet another city district activities in the school building are arranged for children 10-12 years old in the afternoon after school has finished. This project involves teachers, non-profit organisations, parents and pupils. Different schools have the opportunity to promote its own profile. The aim of this project is to offer children meaningful spare-time, but another is to show parents of foreign background how non-profit associations work in Sweden and encourage