The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia is a joint municipal authority consisting of 30 members. Politically elected officials are responsible for decision-making. The joint municipal authority shall: provincial council, the Provincial Government and Audit Board.
The highest decision-making power is exercised by the provincial council elected by the member municipalities. The practical work is guided by the provincial government, which is elected by the council in accordance with the political power relations of the region.
The joint municipal authority is managed in accordance with the strategy and the economic and operational plan of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. The Regional Council is responsible for the activities and finances of the joint municipal authority and exercises the decision-making power of the joint municipal authority.
The provincial government is responsible for preparing, implementing and supervising the legality of the council's decisions. The provincial government manages the operations, administration and finances of the joint municipal authority. The Provincial Government is responsible for the coordination of the activities of the joint municipal authority, personnel policy, internal control of the joint municipal authority and the organisation of risk management.
In order to coordinate measures affecting the development of the region and the implementation of the Structural Funds programme, the county has: the Provincial Cooperation Group. The provincial government appoints a cooperation group of representatives of the bodies provided for in regional development legislation. Its tasks are defined in more detail in the Act on the Development of Territories in force at the time.
The provincial council may establish other permanent committees, advisory boards and cooperation groups.
The office is headed by Provincial Director Jussi Rämet
The office of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia employs approximately 50 experts, of whom approximately 80 per cent are permanent officials and employees. The office is headed by the Provincial Director. The Union Office is divided into three areas of responsibility: development and financing of the county, planning and competence of the county, and administration.
The Regional Director is responsible for the activities of the Provincial Government and manages and develops the activities under the authority of the Provincial Government, is responsible for the association's contacts with its member municipalities and for cooperation with various stakeholders. As the highest office-holder of the Regional Council, the Regional Director is responsible for the implementation of the objectives and decisions set by the Regional Council and Government, as well as for the provincial lobbying.
According to Section 42 of the Local Government Act, the director of a joint municipal authority must conclude a director's agreement setting out the conditions for the management of the joint municipal authority. At its meeting on 5 June 2023, the Regional Government of Northern Ostrobothnia has approved the Director's Agreement.
