Press releases

Economic and the draft action plan was adopted;

The Regional Government approved the draft budget of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia for 2024 and the draft economic and operational plan for 2024-26 as a basis for further preparation. The Provincial Government decided to request the opinions of municipalities and regions on the draft by 23 October 2023.

Membership contributions have been increased by 3% compared to the 2023 contributions in accordance with the planning framework approved by the Provincial Government on 21 August 2023, section 103.

The result for the financial year, after depreciation in the budget year, is EUR -219 617. EUR 219 617 will be credited from the Development Fund. The surplus/deficit for the financial year is EUR 0.

The 2024 budget total for operating revenue has decreased by 5 % compared to the 2023 budget. Membership contributions were increased by three per cent compared to the previous year.

The result for the financial year after depreciation is EUR -219,617. After the items to be recognised from the Development Fund, the surplus/deficit for the financial year will be EUR 0. The 2024 budget and the draft economic and action plan for 2024-2026 can be found on the website of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia.

Option for joint procurement of telecommunications services in Northern Ostrobothnia used

The Provincial Government decided that the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia will use the option for the three supply contracts for telecommunications services for an indefinite period.

Since 2018, the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia has participated in the joint procurement of telecommunications services in Northern Ostrobothnia. The tendering was carried out by the Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District's procurement services and the procurement formed a framework agreement, the main terms of which were agreed by the Hospital District. Since the beginning of 2022, the framework agreement has been transferred to the Northern Ostrobothnia Welfare Municipality Consortium Pohte. At its meeting on 4 April 2023, the Regional Government of Pohteen decided to make use of the option period of the framework agreement for telecommunications services. Without the decision, the option agreement would have expired by 15 August 2023.

Following the decision of the regional government to use the option, the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia was also required to make a decision on the use of the option before the end of the delivery agreements, i.e. by 25 October 2024 at the latest. Currently, the value of the delivery contract of the Regional Council of North Ostrobothnia is EUR 2,090 per month and EUR 100,330 for four years.

Objective-oriented regional structure of Northern Ostrobothnia 2050

The Provincial Government held a discussion on the themes of the goal-oriented regional structure of Northern Ostrobothnia. The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia has started preparing regional structural work together with stakeholders. The work takes into account the effects of the changed world situation. In addition to the current situational picture, the analysis takes into account transport accessibility, business structures and investments, service structure, energy and telecommunications, education provision and biodiversity.

The regional structure work complements the information on the current state and future of Finland's regional and municipal structure for the region in the Ministry of the Environment's national land use development picture work.

In brief

• Representatives were appointed to the Advisory Board for Northern Finland.
• Markus Erkkilä, Director of Planning, was appointed deputy to the Regional Director.
• The approval of the invoices of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia was decided.
• The Regional Development Decision 2023 was recorded for information and the participants were nominated for the annual regional development discussions of the provinces.
• Juha Laukka was appointed to the Organisational Advisory Board of Northern Ostrobothnia.
• The spring meeting schedule was decided.
• The Association's general statements on wind and solar power production, the status report of the Karelia CBC programme, and participation in the CPMR annual meeting and the Eastern and Northern Finland Summit were noted for information.
• Decisions of the Regional Director for the period 12.8.-15.09.2023
• Statements by the Office for the period 12 August to 15 September 2023