23.05.2022
Meeting press release of the the Board of the Regional Assembly
The Regional Government of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia held a meeting in Oulu on Monday, 23 May. In advocacy matters, Regional Director Pauli Harju highlighted the state of preparation of the Just Transition Fund (JTF) and the feedback received from the European Commission, the state of preparation of the TE Services 2024 reform and the impact on employment of the suspension of the Hanhikivi nuclear power plant project.
Preparation of the regional plan for the energy and climate phase progresses
The Regional Government approved the principles as the basis for the further preparation of the regional plan for the energy and climate phase in Northern Ostrobothnia. The most important background study for the phase county plan is the TUULI project, which produces new information on the suitability of the Northern Ostrobothnia region for wind power production and seeks solutions for solving environmental issues. Comprehensive interaction procedures have been implemented during the TUULI project and the views of different stakeholders have been taken into account. However, the procedures carried out during the project do not replace the interactions carried out during the provincial planning process. During the phase county plan, it is possible for the county's member municipalities and various actors to commit to common principles and planning regulations that guide wind power construction. After the regional planning, the final implementation of the areas will be decided in the municipal planning and EIA procedures.
The regional plan for the energy and climate phase will be presented to the regional council on 13 June 2022 and the regional government will process the preparatory material for the regional plan on 21 June 2022. The phase county plan will proceed to the proposal phase at the end of 2022, when a landscape survey, an eagle habitat model survey and a transportability/special transport survey will be prepared and the combined effects of wind power areas will be assessed.
For more information on the regional plan for the energy and climate phase, please contact Markus Erkkilä, Director of Planning, tel. +358 40 685 4045.
The rules of the Development Fund of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia will be renewed
The Regional Development Fund for Northern Ostrobothnia was established in 2013. New rules have been prepared for the Development Fund, specifying the purpose of the Fund and the criteria for granting funding. The decision-making power has been updated so that the Regional Director decides on the use of the Development Fund up to EUR 60,000. For amounts exceeding this amount, the use of the Fund shall be decided by the Provincial Government. The provincial council will be asked to adopt the new rules.
The Development Fund of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia secures the Union's ability to pay
The provincial council is proposed to transfer EUR 500,000 to the development fund. When approving the strategy of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia for 2020-2024, the Regional Council has set demanding development challenges for the Regional Council. In order to be able to act in accordance with the strategic objectives set and the operational objectives set for the coming years, the federation acquires project funding for the implementation of its operations. Almost all project funding requires an organisation's own contribution, some of which is covered by the Development Fund to balance the budget. The fund can be used to secure the Union's ability to pay for the self-financing of projects implemented by the Union.
Member changes in the Provincial Government
The Provincial Government proposes to the Provincial Council that Eija-Riitta Niinikoski (Centre, Nivala) be granted a resignation from the membership of the Provincial Government and Reetta Tuovinen-Salo (Centre, Utajärvi) be granted a deputy member of the Provincial Government and that a new member and deputy member be elected to the Provincial Government for the remainder of the term of office.
The TE2024 project in Northern Ostrobothnia supports municipalities' preparation for the TE reform
The TE services are expected to be transferred to municipalities during 2024. The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia has prepared a project application with representatives of municipalities, the TE Office and the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment to support municipalities' preparation for the reform. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment granted funding to the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia for a project that provides the municipalities of Northern Ostrobothnia with information on the reform and supports their preparation. The project prepares a municipality-specific mapping of the current situation regarding the funding, services and personnel used to manage employment. The aim is for the municipalities of Northern Ostrobothnia to have good, equal and equal capacity for reform. The total cost of the project is estimated at EUR 501 886. The project's self-financing of EUR 50 189 will be covered by the Regional Council of North Ostrobothnia's development fund, in which case the Regional Council of North Ostrobothnia will pay the self-financing on behalf of the municipalities.
Almost 250 projects funded in the 2014-2020 programming period
The implementation of projects funded by the Finnish Structural Funds programme for sustainable growth and jobs 2014-2020 will, as a rule, end at the end of 2022. During the programme period, the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia has organised 17 application rounds and funded 245 projects, of which 76 are still ongoing. The funding for Priority Axes 1 (Competitiveness of SMEs) and 2 (Production and utilisation of the latest knowledge and know-how) is EUR 90 million. In spring 2021, dedicated REACT-EU funding amounted to EUR 6.6 million.
In brief
- The Audit Board’s evaluation report for 2021 was noted.
- The information security and data protection regulation of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia was approved. The rule defines the principles, procedures and responsibilities to be followed in the implementation and development of the information security and data protection work of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. The rule serves as a basis for the Code of Conduct.
- In the future, interim reports will be submitted to the Provincial Government four times a year. In the interim reports for March and September, key financial indicators are reported to the provincial government. In addition to key figures, the interim reports for June and December also report on the realisation of operations in more detail.
- The first interim report for 2022 was recorded for information.
- A new description of the management and control system will be introduced in the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia after the start of the fifth Structural Fund period and the opening of funding applications. The description now being introduced is being assessed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and final approval is expected in late 2022.
Additional information: Jussi Ylitalo, President of the Provincial Government, tel. +358 45 160 6466
