International activities

Regions and their representative bodies have gained in significance as consequence of membership of the European Union. Direct contacts with regions of other European countries have increased and internationalization has become an ever more significant factor also in the work of the Council of Oulu Region. Cooperation with Russian areas and the Barents Sea region have recently grown in importance alongside the historically established Nordic connections and the “European dimension´.

The Council of Oulu Region has three main priorities concerning its international strategy:

The Barents Sea region
Strengthening economic links between Oulu and Barents regions and promoting the economic life and rational use of natural resources in the area. The Northern Dimension work

European Union
Protecting interests at European level and supporting effective execution of EU programmes and projects, making the “European Dimension´ an integrated part of all the development work in Oulu region.

Internationalization in general
Adopting a positive attitude towards international matters in general: Familiarizing the people with different cultures and different ways of communicating, improving the regional organizations´ and businesses´ possibilities for international operations by offering them useful information, contacts etc.

The Council of Oulu Region is participating in many European joint programmes and organizations:

The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR) is an independent institution protecting the interests of peripheral areas and promoting balanced territorial development in Europe. The Council´s work in the CPMR aims at gaining information and participating in the protection of peripheral interests at European level.

AER, the Assembly of European Regions is a political actor speaking on behalf of the regions and trying to institutionalize their participation in European politics. The mission of the Council in AER is to take advantage of the preparing work done and experiences gained at the CPMR and present its views concerning the development of Oulu region to wider European audience.

The Council of Oulu Region is a member of the following organizations: Barents Euro Arctic Council (BEAC), Association of European Border Regions (AEBR), Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), Euregio 2000

In addition, the Council coordinates several cross-border and external border programmes that promote internationalization and co-operation with neighbouring areas, e.g. EU Community Initiative Interreg III programmes worked together with Karelian Republic in Russia, Euregio Karelia , Barents 2010 , collaboration in the Bothnian Arc region.

On international affairs, please contact:
Mr. Kari Aalto Manager, International Affairs Tel. +358 8 3214 053, mobile +358 40 773 8888, telefax +358 8 3214 013 tai or using e-mail

(Our e-mail address is like: firstname.surname@pohjois-pohjanmaa.fi)