This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Scottish-Bavarian Action Plan
06/05/2005
Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform Tom McCabe signed the Scottish-Bavarian Action Plan alongside the Bavarian Minister for European Affairs and Regional Relations, Eberhard Sinnerat a formal ceremony in Munich today.
The Action Plan follows on from a Co-operation Agreement signed in 2003 and sets out a programme of activities in areas including health improvement, planning, the environment, justice and policing, education, youth work, tourism, infrastructure investment and administrative reform.
Tom McCabe said:
"Since formal co-operation was established with Bavaria in 2003, we have seen numerous tangible benefits, most notably learning from Bavaria's experiences in the development of a housing project in Regensburg, which is being transferred to benefit the quality of housing in Scotland."
"The signing of this Action Plan takes ongoing collaboration between Scotland and Bavaria to a new level, setting out a strategic programme of action and future development. I look forward to seeing further benefits in the years ahead."
Speaking about the influence that Scotland and Bavaria could play on the European stage Mr Sinner added:
"Scotland and Bavaria share a common vision of bringing Europe closer to people. This is best achieved through cooperation." Specific programmes of action agreed in the Plan include:
- exchanges of approaches on encouraging healthy living, including reduction in smoking, improved diet and physical activity;
- exchange of know how and experience on a wide range of environmental topics including flood management and waste recycling;
- further development of existing links between Scottish and Bavarian schools; and
- development of e-Tourism links between Scotland and Bavaria.
Mr McCabe added:
"Signing this Action Plan also highlights the Executive's commitment to working with other legislative regions in Europe and to making a valued contribution to EU policy.
"Developing Scotland's links with the regions and countries of Europe on practical issues of concern to all citizens is vital and we are delighted to extend our existing collaboration with the Free State of Bavaria."
Scotland - Bavaria twinning partnerships include:
Aberdeen - Regensburg, Ayr - Bayreuth, Argyll & Bute - Amberg/Sulzbach, Banffshire - Kronach (District), Dumfries - Passau, Dundee - Wurzburg, Edinburgh - Munich, Glasgow - Nürnberg, Inverness - Augsburg, Kilmarnock & Loudoun - Kulmbach, Elgin - Landshut, Lossiemouth - Hersbruck, Moray - Kronach, Motherwell - Schweinfurt, Perth - Aschaffenburg, Renfrewshire - Fürth, Selkirk - Plattling, Prestwick - Lichtenfels, Kirkcaldy - Ingolstadt and Stirling - Forchheim
Bavaria's GDP is larger than that of Belgium or Switzerland. Germans make up the largest proportion of the market using the Zeebrugge-Rosyth Ferry, accounting for 40 per cent of all tourists coming from that route.
Ad-hoc co-operation between Scotland and Bavaria has existed for many years. The formal co-operation agreement signed between the Scottish Executive and the Free State of Bavaria has been in place since June 2003.