Valgamaalane: Agreement confirms continued support of Nordic countries

"You only need to look at where we are on the globe and check the thermometer on the window to see that we're as Nordic as any of the Nordic countries!" said Valga County Governor Margus Lepik at the signing of a cooperation agreement between the county government and the Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM) for 2011. Local newspaper the Valgamaalane viewed the event and the cooperation of the NCM as signs of the continued support shown by the Nordic countries for the region.

Beth Sundström, who only took up the post of director of the NCM Office in Estonia a few weeks ago, says that the cooperation between the Nordic countries and Estonia - which will soon be marking its 20th anniversary - has been very successful, writes Valgamaalane journalist Sirje Lemmik. "Finland is our presiding country this year, and they place a lot of focus on green ways of thinking, so this year we will be concentrating more on environmental cooperation and economical behaviour," Sundström explained.

Tiina Hallimäe, a senior specialist on enterprise with Võru City Government, says that the support the city's timber and furniture manufacturers received through the mobility programme allowed them to take a six-day trip to timber industry competence centres in Denmark and Sweden last November. "The support covers transport and accommodation expenses, and applying for it and reporting back on it couldn't be easier," she explained. "The advisors are very helpful and friendly, too."