ABSTRACT
Cross-border co-operation commenced at the initiative of the county and provincial authorities in the 1960s. This comprised regular meetings and focused on matters of planning. Since there was a need for regional support in both the Arvika and Kongsvinger regions (ARKO) region, co-operation came to be focused on the ARKO region. The ARKO delegation was set up in 1968 with representatives from the municipalities and local business organisations. Since 1989 the ARKO co-operation has been managed by a steering group consisting of nine leading politicians and public officials from the participating municipalities. The ARKO co-operation aims at overcoming the hindrance of the border and at managing the region as a whole and seeks to make the region a better place in which to work and live. The main financial support for the ARKO co-operation comes from the Nordic Council of Ministers and from the municipalities.
