20.08.2024
Meeting press release of the Secretariat of the Provincial Cooperation Group, 20 August 2024
Establishment of a regional financing plan for 2025-2026
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has instructed the preparation of regional funding plans for the current programming period. The financial programming 2025-2026 describes the regional allocation of regional and structural policy funds by priority axis, specific objective and authority. The themes of the Eastern and Northern Finland programmes launched by the Government are recommended to be taken into account when planning the use of funds. Regional councils are responsible for the preparation of financing plans in cooperation with the ELY Centres and regional partners. The financing plans approved by the regional cooperation group will be submitted to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment at the end of October.
The Secretariat of the Provincial Cooperation Group decided to forward the preparation of the matter to the Provincial Cooperation Group for information.
Updating the climate road map of Northern Ostrobothnia
The Northern Ostrobothnia Climate Roadmap 2021-2030, adopted in February 2021, will be updated. The Climate Roadmap has been linked to practical climate action in funding for the current programming period and its priority axis 2 (Carbon-neutral Finland). In addition, the information gathered in the roadmap work was utilised in the preparation of the transition plan of the Just Transition Fund of the province.
Since 2021, the state of Europe has changed considerably. The importance of Northern Finland has been emphasised especially in terms of accessibility and the possibilities of renewable and sustainable energy production and its entire value chain. The work on updating the climate road map started in 2023. Climate Road Map 2.0 is published in Finnish and English as a publication of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia.
The Secretariat of the Provincial Cooperation Group took note of the update of the Climate Roadmap.
Search status and upcoming searches
The company's development grants have been applied for in North Ostrobothnia for a total of just over EUR 37 million in the first half of the year. 81 applications have been received for ERDF grants, with a total cost of 31.9 million. In turn, 32 JTF grants have been made, with a total value of 5 million.
The application period for EU rural funding closed on 15 August 2024. 115 applications for aid amounting to EUR 5.7 million were received for agricultural investments. There were 12 applications for business support funding, and they applied for EUR 0.5 million in support.
The next call for applications from the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia under the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme will take place from 1 September to 30 November 2024. The specific objectives 1.1, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 of the ERDF are open. The maximum amount to be granted is approximately EUR 14 million. In the spring of 2025, the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia is also expected to organise a call for applications, in which it is possible to apply for funding for ERDF and sustainable urban development projects.
The Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia has opened a call for applications for the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme in August. A call for ESF+ and Environment ERDF projects has opened in August and will be open until the end of October 2024. There is a continuous call for JTF projects.
The Secretariat of the Provincial Cooperation Group supports seven projects to be funded under the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme
The secretariat of the Provincial Cooperation Group discussed 10 projects at its meeting. Of these, it supports the funding of seven projects. Three projects received a negative decision. The projects have been presented to the secretariat of the Provincial Cooperation Group Protocol.
Next meeting
The next meeting of the Secretariat of the Provincial Cooperation Group will be held on 19 September 2024 at 9 a.m.
Additional information: Development Specialist Heikki Laukkanen, 050 918 0035
