In the delegation picture from left Outi Rouru, Kari Aalto, Johanna Bluemink, Ari Alatossava, Anna-Sofia Heikkinen, Arto Maaninen, Anne Rännäli-Kontturi, Jussi Rämet, Claes Krüger and Markus Erkkilä. Picture Hanna Honkamäkilä. Preparations for the EU’s long-term budget for the years 2028–2034 are underway, and Oulu Region’s advocacy actors want to ensure that the needs of Northern Finland are taken into account from the very beginning. The current €1 200 billion multiannual financial framework is valid until 2027. This week, Region Mayor of the Oulu Region Jussi Rämet, Oulu Mayor Ari Alatossava and University of Oulu Rector Arto Maaninen visited Brussels for an intensive round of advocacy. Their schedule included meetings with, among others, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional developement, Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, Finnish Members of the European Parliament, and the cabinet of Commissioner Henna Virkkunen. “The Commission's goal is to make the budget simpler, more flexible, and more impactful. This is a commendable aim, but at the same time, we must ensure the regions retain their ability to influence. Cohesion policy is vital for Northern Finland – if Finland receives only single national funding package for cohesion and agriculture, we must ensure that the needs of Eastern and Northern Finland are addressed. The special status of Northern sparsely populated areas must be safeguarded so that all of Finland can develop in a balanced way”, Jussi Rämet emphasized. Northern Finland well-positioned to benefit from EU Competitiveness plans The new Commission’s political priorities include defence and security, sustainable prosperity, and social justice. In the Oulu region, particular attention is being paid to the Commission's proposed Competitiveness Compass, which focuses on innovation, the green transition, and security – all of which are key themes in region's EU advocacy. “EU funding is crucial for research, development and innovation. Developing wireless technology and…
Council of Oulu Region joined the Living-in.EU initiative in an event organised during the European Week of Regions and Cities, #EWRC this week in Brussels. Living-in.EU 's goal is to promote sustainable digital change and give boost to digital transformation in EU regions and cities. Signing the commitment enables the Council of Oulu Region to participate in Living-in.eu's working groups. The Living-in.EU initiative was initiated in Oulu in 2019. Behind the initiative is the Eurocities cooperation network of the most significant European cities. The network was founded in 1986 and includes more than 200 cities. #EURegionsWeek Council of Oulu Region joined the Living-in.EU initiative during the European Week of Regions and Cities, #EWRC. The commitment was signed by Regional Mayor Jussi Rämet.
Region Norrbotten visited Council of Oulu Region on Monday and Tuesday. We hade joint meeting on current matters in Region Norrbotten and Oulu Region. We discussed especially about logistical cross-border connections, cohesion policy and industrial policy of the European Union. Starting international daily train traffic between Oulu and Haaparanta The electrification of the Laurila-Tornio-Haaparanta line will be completed at the turn of 2024–2025. The Council of Oulu region has proposed to the Finnish government that the 2025 budget should include funding to start international daily train traffic between Oulu and Haaparanta. 2.1 million euro should be allocated to the state budget to the purchase service contract of the Ministry of Transport and Communications from 2025. Opening passenger traffic across the border would enable the development of tourism, and the rail connection would also serve the Bothnian arc working area. European Capital of Culture year 2026 in Oulu and in the region would also greatly benefit for better train connection to Sweden. Northern Sparsely Populated Areas and cohesion policy The most important goal in EU cohesion policy is to preserve the special role for Northern Sparsely Populated Areas. In addition to the importance of traditional cohesion policy, new funding and implementation needs can also be identified in cohesion policy. The problem with fully utilizing the Recovery and Resilience Fund, RRF, is that it has been done at the expense of regions. RRF is centrally managed, and state led. Instead of national implementation, development should continue to be regional. Cohesion policy supports the EU's single market. The EU's internal market is a common market of 450 million consumers, where goods move freely. This represents 60% of Finland's exports go to the internal market area. The EU must also consider the situation of the EU's eastern border. The loss of cross-border funding should…
