23/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - In Stockholm on Friday 19 October, EU Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hubner and Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Maud Olofsson adopted and launched eight regional programmes which will direct the action of Cohesion Policy in Sweden in 2007-2013, with total EU funding of €1.89bn (17.4bn Swedish crowns). In Stockholm, Commissioner Hubner addressed the recently created Swedish National Forum for Regional Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Employment, Sweden's first ever platform for ongoing political dialogue on all levels (national, regional and local) on matters related to regional development. On 20 July 2007, the European Commission approved Sweden's National Strategy Reference framework (see EUROPE 9473). (G.B.)