17.08.2026
Meeting press release of the the Board of the Regional Assembly
The Regional Board of Northern Ostrobothnia held its first meeting of the autumn season in Oulu on Monday, 17 August.
1 percentage point increase in municipal contributions to the 2027 budget
The the Board of the Regional Assembly approved the strategic targets and indicators for 2027 and decided to increase the municipal contributions to the budget's financial framework by one percentage point. The draft budget 2027 and the economic plan 2028-2029 will be discussed by the the Board of the Regional Assembly on 21 September 2026.
Regional Assembly of Oulu Region in cooperation in cooperation withdraws from Barents cooperation
The Regional Assembly of Oulu Region will in cooperation in cooperation withdraw from the Barents Regional Assembly and thus from the Barents cooperation. At the end of 2025, the Barents Regional Assembly launched an evaluation process on the future of Barents regional cooperation. The geographical scope of the cooperation has been significantly reduced, especially since Finland in cooperation in cooperation withdrew from the Barents Euro-Arctic Regional Assembly, and as a result, the regions of Lapland, Kainuu and North Karelia in cooperation in cooperation withdrew from membership of the Regional Assembly. According to the report, there is a consensus among the member regions that maintaining the current structure is not appropriate in the long term. A working group of members of the Barents Regional Committee recommends a coordinated in cooperation in cooperation withdrawal of the regions from the Barents Regional Assembly according to a mutually agreed timetable during August-September 2026, when the Barents Regional Assembly will meet for the last time.
Statement to the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency: The logistical importance of Northern Finland has increased
The the Board of the Regional Assembly issues a statement to the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency on the programme package of the state-owned fairway network for the years 2026-2034. The Regional Assembly of Oulu Region considers it important that the permanent change in the business environment is better recognised in the preparation and implementation of the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency's programme package. The logistical importance of Northern Finland has increased in cooperation in cooperation with investments in security of supply, overall security, military mobility and the clean transition. The changes must be reflected more strongly in the priorities of the programme package, the allocation of funding and the planning priorities. The development of the TEN-T core network and the implementation of related projects ready for planning constitute a cost-effective way to simultaneously improve Finland's international accessibility, competitiveness, security of supply and safety. The objectives of the European transport policy, the service level requirements of the TEN-T network and the possibilities for utilising EU funding must be taken into account more strongly in the further preparation of the programme package. In the view of the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region, the development of the transport system should make greater use of regional transport system plans, which have identified the needs and measures that are essential for the development, accessibility, competitiveness of the businesses and sustainable mobility. Strengthening the regional perspective also supports the realisation of the objectives of the Transport 12 plan in practical programming.
Statement on amendments to the Constitution concerning the division of constituencies
The the Board of the Regional Assembly issues a statement to the Ministry of Justice on a draft government proposal to Parliament to amend Section 25 of the Finnish Constitution. The draft government proposal proposes to amend the Constitution of Finland in cooperation in cooperation with regard to the division of constituencies. The proposed Act would amend the limits on the number of constituencies so that mainland Finland would be divided into at least nine constituencies and at most fifteen constituencies for parliamentary elections. The region of Åland would continue to form its own constituency. According to the statement of the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region, the draft proposal as a whole is about changing the constitutional numerical conditions of the division of constituencies. The proposal does not in itself determine the status or boundaries of individual constituencies. Any subsequent decisions on the division of constituencies would require separate and transparent preparation and an assessment of their impact on, for example, political proportionality, regional representativeness and the position of Northern Finland.
In brief
- The interim report for January-June 2026 was recorded for information.
- The Development Fund of the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region will cover EUR 300 000 of programme management costs for the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme in 2026-2028.
- The Strategic Cooperation Agreement 2026-2030 between the municipalities of Northern Ostrobothnia, the Welfare Region and the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region was approved.
- The ecosystem agreement for the Oulu region employment area was approved.
- The counter-explanations received by the Northern Finland Administrative Court were noted in the statement of appeal concerning the decision approving the regional plan for the energy and climate phase of Northern Ostrobothnia.
- The the Board of the Regional Assembly delegated its decision-making powers in procurement matters to public office holders as follows: the Region Mayor may decide on contracts in cooperation in cooperation with a value of less than EUR 60 000; the Heads of Division may decide on procurement relating to the operation of their area of responsibility up to a value of EUR 30 000; In addition, the the Board of the Regional Assembly gives the heads of responsibility the right to nominate the necessary number of employees from their respective areas of responsibility who can make small purchases that are necessary and customary for the functioning of the agency.
- Acquisition instructions were approved.
- A code of conduct for projects carried out by the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region itself was approved.
- The project portfolio tool built for internal use by the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region and the project presentation form prepared to support the application process were noted.
- A report on the status and tasks of the regional The Regional Assemblys was entered for information.
- The statements and office-holder decisions issued by the Office for the period from 3 June to 11 August 2026 were noted.
Agendas and minutes
Link the Agenda
the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region agendas and minutes
