05.05.2025
Meeting press release of the the Board of the Regional Assembly
The provincial government met on Monday 5 May in Oulu. The Provincial Government proposes to the Provincial Council the approval of both the regional plan for the energy and climate phase of Northern Ostrobothnia and the Administrative Regulation of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia.
The regional plan for the energy and climate phase of Northern Ostrobothnia is proposed for approval
The provincial government proposes to the provincial council that the regional plan for the energy and climate phase of Northern Ostrobothnia be approved. The regional plan for the energy and climate phase of Northern Ostrobothnia consists of documents that are: appended to the item.
Responses to the public consultation for the second proposal phase were accepted. The second proposal of the regional plan for the energy and climate phase of Northern Ostrobothnia was publicly available from 17 February to 21 March 2025. A notice on the display of the formula was sent to the municipalities on 12 February 2025 and an official announcement was published on 14 February 2025. 95 participants provided feedback during the consultation period. The county's 14 municipalities left a reminder. Neighbouring regional federations received a statement from the Regional Council of Kainuu. In addition to the North Ostrobothnia ELY Centre, feedback was received from the ELY Centres of Kainuu and South Ostrobothnia. Reminders were received from Metsähallitus, the Paliskunta Association and the Museum of Northern Ostrobothnia. During the consultation period, 14 reminders were received from associations and communities. Four reminders were registered from companies and 41 from individuals, some in the form of joint submissions. In addition, 12 wind power operators received reminders.
In the feedback, municipalities and wind power operators criticise the demarcation of the wind power areas in the phase-regional plan during the planning process. Private and business are mainly concerned about the impact of the abundance of wind turbines and power lines on their habitat; authorities are mostly satisfied with the planning solutions and their justifications. Responses to the feedback received have been prepared. The general response includes the most significant entities that have emerged, the progress of the planning process has been opened and the justifications for the planning solution have been presented. A response has been prepared to each reminder, responding to the issues raised in the feedback. The phase county plan documents have been revised in accordance with the responses for approval processing.
Proposed changes to the governance rule
The provincial government proposes to the provincial council that it approves the new administrative regulation of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. The Statute would enter into force on 1 September 2025, so the new provisions would apply to the institutions of the next term of office. A new administrative rule including a remuneration rule and an explanation of the changes can be seen on the agenda.
Extensive structural and substantive changes to the governance rule have been prepared, building on the 2024 Internal Audit Report and the shortcomings and inaccuracies identified in the day-to-day operations. Given the extent of the changes, this is a comprehensive reform of the administrative rule. The provisions are largely based on existing powers of action and decision, so the aim of the reform of the administrative rules is not to significantly change existing competences, but rather to take better account of existing operational and decision-making processes.
In brief
- An interim report 1/2025 was recorded for information.
- The implementation status of the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme, the JTF and national funding was noted.
- The provincial government ordered Sari Nurro, Esa Aalto and Jouni Jussinniemi to attend the annual meeting of the CPMR Baltic Sea Commission in Brussels from 27 to 28 August 2025.
- The Provincial Government issued a travel order to Esa Aalto to attend the CPMR Energy Working Group meeting in Gothenburg from 15 to 16 May 2025 and ordered her representative to attend the CPMR Climate Working Group meeting in Seville from 27 to 28 May 2025. Loss of earnings and daily allowances are compensated according to the fastest way of travel.
- The provincial government ordered Sari Nurro to attend the SEARICa event at the European Parliament in Brussels on 20 May 2025 and the EU Arctic Forum in Kittilä on 25-27 June 2025.
- The preparation of the Strategy 2025-2028 of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia was noted.
- Signed for information decisions taken by office-holders between 1 and 28 April 2025;. The provincial government did not exercise the right of withdrawal under Section 92 of the Local Government Act.
- Signed for information opinions issued by the Office for the period from 1 to 28 April 2025;.
