2. NKE activities 2019–2024
NKE is responsible for overseeing that the goals in the co-operation programme are met. This sets a guideline for NKE when prioritising annual projects. Due to the long perspective of chemical regulation in EU and globally, the focus areas of NKE have remained the same throughout the six-year period. This has allowed Nordic co-operation to contribute to the processes consistently and coherently through subgroups. However, in addition to the subgroups, NKE has also funded relevant individual projects.
The annual budget for NKE ranged from 3 to 5 MDKK. NKE project cycles ran annually. Open call for project applications was issued in springtime (April-May) each year. Following the guidelines of Nordic Council of Ministers, the project funding has been available for any municipal, regional, or national authorities, universities and colleges, research institutes, and other non-profit organizations relevant for contributing to the reduction of the hazards and risks from chemicals. NKE evaluated the applications in autumn making the selection for the next years action plan. The action plan was proposed to the committee of senior officials for Environment and Climate (EK-MK) who approved the action plan with or without modifications. The action plan was then adjusted by NKE taking into account allocated budget and comments from the committee. After final approval prioritised projects were launched in the beginning of the following year.
NKE-funded activities and projects can be divided into development of new knowledge, reviews, competence development as well as seminars and workshops. In addition, subgroups have organised annual meetings as part of their activities or to specifically plan future initiatives.
Figure 1. Types of projects based on the granted funding in 2019–2024.
Figure 2. The conducted projects have contributed to priority goals in the Nordic Co-operation programme 2019–2024.
Figures 3. Nordic map of participation. The size of the circles on the map is related to the number of projects a country has participated in.