North Sea Region


The North Sea Region of Europe refers to European countries and regions that have access to the North Sea. Cultural and economic co-operation has a strong tradition in the area, dating back to the Vikings and the Hanseatic League.
Although not a formally established entity, in political terms the North Sea Region is consolidated through international organisations like the North Sea Commission and transnational co-operation programmes like the North Sea Region Programme of the European Union.

Geographic area

North Sea Commission

The partnership of the North Sea Commission consists of most Norwegian municipalities, the regions Halland and Västra Götaland in Sweden, the three Danish regions of Nordjylland, Midtjylland and Syddanmark, parts of northern Germany, the Netherlands and north western France as well as counties and authorities from eastern England and Scotland.

North Sea Region Programme – Cooperation Area

The North Sea Region, as defined in the Operational Programme of the , covers an area of. It consists of the whole of Norway and Denmark, the eastern parts of the UK, parts of the Flemish Region of Belgium, the north western regions of Germany, the northern and western parts of the Netherlands and the south western region of Sweden. Geographically, the region is connected by the large sea basin of the North Sea.

Population

Based on the co-operation area of the North Sea Region Programme, about 60 million inhabitants live in the North Sea Region. The population density of the region varies widely, ranging from sparsely populated areas like Finnmark in Norway to densely inhabited urban centres like the German city of Hamburg.

Economy

The North Sea Region belongs to the most prosperous parts of the European Union. The average level of GDP across the region was €28,516 per capita in 2002. The unemployment rate is below the EU average in most areas. However, there are notable differences concerning economic performance and employment between the areas in the North Sea Region.
Currently, the economic structure of the regions bordering the North Sea is undergoing considerable changes, such as shrinking labour markets in the agriculture and fisheries sector and a decline in old industrialised areas.