Preparations for the EU programming period starting in 2028 started
Last year, the regions of Eastern and Northern Finland decided to organise themselves regionally to prepare for the future EU programming period. In order to start the preparations, funding for the two-year AKKE project was applied for in the spring.
The Regional Assembly of Lapland, the Regional Assembly of Kainuu, the Regional Assembly of Central Ostrobothnia, the Regional Assembly of North Savo, the Regional Assembly of South Savo and the Regional Assembly of North Karelia, as well as the Regional Assembly of Northern Ostrobothnia, which coordinates the work, participate in the preparation. Hanna Honkamäkilä is the project manager and the Coordinator responsible for the preparation of the post-2027 programme period in Eastern and Northern Finland.
The need for coordinated preparation is based on the needs identified in the region and, in particular, on the recommendations of the OECD report on the Northern Sparsely Populated Areas (NSPA). The aim of the project is to organise regional-level preparation and agree on programming principles. The preparation is carried out in accordance in cooperation in cooperation with the partnership principle, so that each Regional Assembly is responsible, as a regional development authority, for the involvement of stakeholders in its area.
European Commission proposes major overhaul of EU budget
In July, the European Commission published its proposal for the multiannual financial framework (MFF) for the period 2028-2034. The Commission proposes to merge the European European European European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (ERDF) (ERDF) (ERDF), the European European European European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) Plus (ESF+) Plus (ESF+) Plus (ESF+), the European European European European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) (EAGF) (EAGF) (EAGF) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) and the Home Affairs Funds into a single major fund.
The proposal cuts cohesion funding and agriculture by about 20% compared to current levels and increases competitiveness funding by about 20%. The proposal represents a significant redistribution of funding in cooperation in cooperation within the EU and geographically.
The Commission also proposes that future EU funding should be based on programmes that include reforms and investments. Funding for final beneficiaries, i.e. project beneficiaries, would be based on a performance-based approach. The EU would disburse funding against implemented plans and results, not on the basis of actual costs and receipts.
Impact on regional development and financing
The Commission proposes that each Member State draw up its national and regional partnership plan for the use of the money from the single fund. The Member State's national and regional partnership plan is called the national and regional partnership plan, the abbreviation of which is NRPP.
Finland would contribute a total of EUR 9.7 billion to the new fund between 2028 and 2034. This includes the €1.6 billion earmarked in the Commission's proposal for border management and home affairs and €4.8 billion for direct agricultural income support.
The remaining EUR 3 billion could be used for cohesion policy, the European European European European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) Plus (ESF+) Plus (ESF+) Plus (ESF+), rural development and other 30 mandatory policy objectives listed in the Regulation.
Until now, the European Commission's proposal has always included special funding for northern sparsely populated areas (NSPA) based on Finland's Accession Treaty, but now it is not presented separately in the budget.
The future EU budget will continue to provide robust support to Northern Sparsely Populated Areas (NSPA)s, taking into account their specific needs and challenges, such as natural and demographic handicaps, in particular in terms of connectivity and accessibility. NSPA support has a strong contract law and social foundation, and Eastern and Northern Finland is seeking its continuation.
