Plan proposes 30 new regional development measures

Iceland’s proposed regional development plan includes 30 new measures in a five-year action programme, mbl.is reports. They include speeding up paving work on connecting roads and helping children and young people in rural areas take part in sports and youth activities.

Infrastructure Minister Eyjólfur Ármannsson presented a parliamentary motion for a strategic regional development plan covering 2027 to 2041. The action programme contains 44 measures in total.

“The core of the regional policy being put forward is that people have a genuine choice about where in the country they live, and that communities across the country have the opportunity to develop on their own terms,” Ármannsson said in his speech.

Among the new measures are stronger support for innovation and for immigrants in rural areas. The proposal would also strengthen the ability of regions to lead their own development and continue developing their regional action plans.

Loftbrú has been added as a separate measure, with the aim of establishing its role more firmly and strengthening follow-up on how it helps equalise living conditions. The plan also proposes continuing the Fragile Communities project and adapting it so that it can benefit more communities.

Other proposed measures include continued support for rural shops, improved public transport between communities and efforts to increase the number of location-independent jobs.

The plan covers the whole country, with particular emphasis on places facing specific challenges. It also considers how communities can use their own strengths to build employment, innovation and value creation.

The ministry said the proposal followed extensive consultation across the country, including open public meetings. All ministries are directly involved, and each is responsible for at least one measure.

For the first time, the plan sets benchmarks for measuring the success of individual measures. The infrastructure minister will continue to report to Parliament annually on progress with the measures and the plan as a whole.

Ármannsson also referred to government work affecting rural communities but not included in the plan. He cited increased funding for road maintenance, full funding for winter road services and the establishment of an infrastructure company to speed up major transport projects. He also mentioned measures to strengthen the electricity transmission system, add nursing places and increase the number of doctors in rural areas, as well as construction projects at vocational schools in four municipalities outside the capital region.