The NSPA network represents close collaboration between the four northernmost counties of Sweden (Norrbotten, Västerbotten, Jämtland, and Västernorrland), the seven northernmost and eastern regions of Finland (Lapland, Northern Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, Kainuu, North Karelia, Pohjois-Savo and Etelä-Savo) and North Norway (Finnmark, Troms and Nordland).
These 14 regions from three countries share common circumstances and objectives, and are working together to raise awareness of the NSPA in the EU institutions, to influence EU policy and to provide a platform for best practice.
For more information, please visit: Northern Sparsely Populated Areas Network or follow in LinkedIn.
On Tuesday 18th of February 2025 the OECD report on the Northern Sparsely Populated Regions (NSPA) was published in Brussels. The report highlights the benefits of strategic cooperation by 14 NSPA regions from Finland, Sweden and Norway. The report provides recommendations at national, regional and European level to continue working together towards common goals. Article about the Report in Finnish.
Report underlined need for stronger and more coordinated cooperation between the Nordic regions. The challenges we face, whether they be demographic decline, connectivity gaps, or the transition to a green economy, are not confined by national borders. They are shared challenges, and they require shared solutions. The OECD report and its recommendations and conclusions are now very relevant, more relevant than ever before. We need move our co-operation to the new stronger level and find together new ways to co-operate and find new substances where we can be stronger together.
