22.09.2025
Decisions of the Regional Government Meeting
The Regional Government of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia met in Oulu on 22 September. The meeting was the first meeting of the provincial government elected by the provincial council in September. This is an announcement of the meeting's decisions. The minutes will be published at the following address: the agendas and minutes of the institutions;
Link to agenda: Agenda 22.9.2025
Please find enclosed the decisions of the meeting:
Right to be present and to speak at meetings of the Provincial Government
The Provincial Government granted the right to attend and speak at the meetings of the Provincial Government for the duration of its term of office to the Heads of Division, the Head of Communications and Administration, the Service Coordinator and the Protocol Controller appointed by the Provincial Government, unless it is one of the above.
Appointment of a provincial government recorder
For the term of office of the institution, the Provincial Government appointed the Director of Administration and, as his deputies, the Head of Communications and Administration and the Head of Administrative Development.
The vitality promise of Northern Ostrobothnia
The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia and the entrepreneurs of Northern Ostrobothnia have prepared a vitality pledge 2025, which contributes to the responsibility, well-being and success of companies, communities and residents, and strengthens the regional profile, attractiveness and visibility of Northern Ostrobothnia. In addition, cooperation with the representatives of the Oulu constituency will continue to promote the region's common objectives of advocacy. The University of Oulu, OAMK, CENTRIA, OSAO, JEDU, Pohde, Oulu Chamber of Commerce and the entrepreneurs of Central Ostrobothnia have already committed to the common goals.
The Provincial Government approved the Northern Ostrobothnia Viability Pledge 2025 and authorised the Provincial Director to sign the document. The Vitality Pledge 2025 will be published on 15 October 2025. Subsequently, the goal is that each city/municipality in the province and the local business association draw up a corresponding local vitality promise.
Making available the drafts of the provincial programme for Northern Ostrobothnia 2026-2029 and the environmental report of the provincial programme and requesting statements
The Provincial Government decided to display the draft provincial programme for Northern Ostrobothnia 2026-2029 and the environmental report of the provincial programme for the period from 25 September to 27 October 2025, to publish an announcement on the official bulletin board of the Federation on the website and in the newspaper Kaleva, and to send the programme documents for statements to the member municipalities, the authorities operating in the affected area and the main stakeholders.
The authority responsible for the draft regional programme shall, in accordance with the SEA Act, reserve the possibility for the public to acquaint themselves with the draft plan or programme and its environmental report and to express its opinion on them. The documents must be kept available for at least 30 days and a statement must be requested from the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment and, if necessary, from other authorities operating in the affected area. Opinions will be taken into account when finalising documents.
Budget of the Audit Board for 2026
The costs of the Audit Board are included in the expenses of the elected official administration of the Federation's draft budget. The Provincial Government noted that the budget for the evaluation and audit was included in the draft budget of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia for 2026 and will take note of this.
Budget 2026 and Economic Plan 2027-2028 of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia
The Provincial Government approved the budget 2026 and the draft economic plan 2027-2028 as a basis for further preparation and decided to request the opinions of the municipalities on the draft by 21 October 2025.
The 2026 budget totals EUR 5 369 403 in operational revenue, which represents a decrease of 1,88 % compared to the 2025 budget. Operating income mainly consists of municipal contributions as well as subsidies and grants, in which technical support and project income are recorded. In addition, operating income includes refunds from Kela for occupational health care expenses. Membership contributions have been increased by 1.6 per cent compared to 2025.
Operating costs amount to EUR 5 576 153, which represents a decrease of 2.16% compared to the previous year's budget. The decrease in the number of own production projects is reflected in the decrease in operating income and costs. Revenue from saved funds from the old programming period of the Karelia CBC programme has not been budgeted for use in 2026.
The result for the financial year, after depreciation in the budget year, is EUR -213 750. EUR 213 750 shall be credited from the Development Fund. The surplus/deficit for the financial year is EUR 0.
Appointment of the North Ostrobothnia Regional Cooperation Group for the 2025-2029 term of office
The Provincial Government appointed the members of the North Ostrobothnia Provincial Cooperation Group:
Municipal representatives (alternate member in parentheses)
Tiina Gallen (cok), Kempele (Elina Mannermaa (cok), Vaala)
Eeva-Maria Parkkinen (centre), Oulu (Auri Haataja (centre), Pudasjärvi)
Outi Pekkala (left), Haapavesi (Hanne Huusko (left), Muhos)
Nina Pulkkanen (center), Raahe (Marjo Miettunen (center), Tyrnävä)
Lyly Rajala (cok), Oulu (Mauno Jussila (cok), Sievi)
Marko Salmela (sdp), Raahe (Ahti Häikiö (sdp), Siikajoki)
Leevi Sippola (center), Haapajärvi (Tapio Mattila (center), Alavieska)
Johannes Tuomela (center), Ii (Esa Karjalainen (center), Vaala)
Paavo Käsmä (ps.), Taivalkoski (Tommi Väisänen (ps.), Utajärvi)
Representatives of donors
North Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Jonas Liimatta (Tero Väisänen)
Petri Keränen (Timo Lehtiniemi)
Risto Leppänen (Ari Kuotesaho)
Timo Lehtiniemi (Tiina Suutari)
Regional Assembly of Oulu Region
Tiina Rajala (Saija Tikkanen)
Social partners
AKAVA: Mikko Sormunen (Jukka Squirrel)
Confederation of Finnish Industries: Jukka-Pekka Kivioja (Juha Mäntynen)
SAK: What-Aukusti Heiskanen (Saija Luonuansuu)
STTK: Ulla Tynkkynen (Janne Rönkkömäki)
MTK-North Finland: Hanne Aho (Jan-Ove Nyman)
Entrepreneurs of Northern Ostrobothnia : Marjo Kolehmainen (Risto Huovinen)
Oulun kauppamari: Mari Viirelä (Esa Pellikainen)
Northern Ostrobothnia District of the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation: Esko Saari (Kirsi Eskelinen)
Organisational Advisory Board for Northern Ostrobothnia: Heli Hietala (Esa Aunola)
Lyly Rajala was appointed as Chairman and Paavo Käsmä as Vice Chairman of the Cooperation Group.
Provisions on the regional cooperation group and its tasks are laid down in the Act on the Development of Territories and the Implementation of the Regional and Structural Policy of the European Union and in the Executive Decree issued on the basis of the Act. According to the Act, the county has a regional cooperation group for coordinating the preparation and implementation of regional development plans, programmes and agreements. The provincial cooperation group acts as a partnership body for the European Union's regional and structural policy programme.
Acquisition of information management services
The call for tenders was published in Hilma on 22.8.2025. The call for tenders included the provision of data center, user support, mobile device, terminal equipment and expert services, as well as a procurement implementation project. Competition has been an open procedure. The estimated value of the procurement exceeds the national threshold under the Act on Public Procurement and Concessions. The tenderer's eligibility requirements were a turnover of at least EUR 320 000 in the previous financial year, two references to the corresponding services provided by the tenderer, and a nominated project manager and service manager, who must have at least a vocational IT degree, at least five years of professional experience in the field and a reference to the implementation of the implementation project. In addition, the tenderer must fulfil the obligations under the Contractor's Liability Act.
The Provincial Government decided to exclude Acio Oy, Decens Oy and Tietokeskus Finland Oy from the tendering procedure for the reasons set out in the explanatory memorandum; and select Tietolatva Oy's tender, which is the best price-quality ratio, from the tenders included in the tender.
Approved invoices of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia
The provincial government appointed the approvers of the invoice. The system for accepting invoices is based on the division of responsibilities and cost centres.
Deciding on the exercise of the regional government's right to take over and on the obligation to notify
The Provincial Government decided that there is no obligation to notify and that the Provincial Government does not exercise the right of withdrawal in the following types of cases: decisions taken by office-holders in EU programmes and national financial instruments, as well as decisions on staff display screens.
Implementation of the Regional Assembly meeting
The provincial government stated that the decision of the provincial council of 8 September 2025, section 19, was born in the wrong order and referred it back to the provincial council for re-examination. The other decisions of the provincial council of 8 September 2025 were taken in the prescribed order, the provincial council has not exceeded its powers of action and the decisions are not unlawful and the decisions are enforced with the exception of the decision concerning section 19. According to Section 8 of the Administrative Regulation of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, the members and deputy members of the Audit Board must be delegates. The decision of the Provincial Council on the election of the members of the Audit Board 8.9.2025 § 19 was born in the wrong order, because the persons appointed as members and deputy members are not members of the Provincial Council. The election of the members of the Board of Auditors must therefore not be carried out and must be referred back to the Provincial Council.
Cases of report
Signed for information:
- The visit of the Coalition Party's ministerial group on 18 August 2025 and the visit of the Finns Party's parliamentary group on 27 August 2025
- Meeting of Members of Parliament of the Oulu constituency 24.9.2025
- NSPA Forum in Örnsköldvik from 11 to 12 September 2025 and IP Advocacy in Brussels from 30 September to 1 October 2025
- Meeting of the municipal leaders of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia on 26 September 2025 and study trip abroad on 1-4 October 2025
- North Ostrobothnia Regional Parliaments, 3-4 November 2025
- VM: Government service and facility network renewal project group in Northern Ostrobothnia
Official decisions for the period 12.8.-16.9.2025
Signed for information by office-holders of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia Implementing Decisions. The provincial government did not exercise the right of withdrawal under Section 92 of the Local Government Act.
Statements by the Office for the period 12 August to 16 September 2025
The information provided by the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia opinions.
Additional information
Lauri Nikula, President of the Provincial Government, tel. +358 40 913 5722
Jussi Rämet, Regional Director, tel. +358 40 586 3877
