20.12.2022
Meeting press release of the the Board of the Regional Assembly
The Regional Government of Northern Ostrobothnia held its last meeting of the year in Oulu on Tuesday, 20 December.
Markus Erkkilä vs. Provincial Director at the beginning of February
Markus Erkkilä, Director of Planning at the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, was appointed as the Deputy Director-General of the Region from 1 February to 31 March 2023, and as the Director-General of the Region from 1 April 2023 until the newly elected Director-General of the Region takes up the position. Regional Director Pauli Harju's last day of service is 31 March 2023, but Harju will be on annual leave and other leave as of 1 February 2023.
Report on the development of wind power expertise in Northern Ostrobothnia
North Ostrobothnia accounts for about 40 per cent of Finland's wind power production. Antti Majava Käännepiste from R&D Ltd presented a report on the development of wind power expertise in Northern Ostrobothnia. The results will be published at the wind power seminar on 27 January 2023.
Northern Ostrobothnia's smart specialisation strategy has been updated
The provincial government approved the Smart Specialisation Strategy update. The focus areas will continue to be regenerative and prosperous, climate-wise and international, as well as networked and attractive Northern Ostrobothnia. New content themes include energy production and storage as well as innovative tourism. The success and effectiveness of the implementation of smart specialisation is monitored and evaluated annually.
Appointment of candidate Chairs and Vice-Chairs of CPMR Working Groups
On a proposal from the member regions, the Board of Directors of the Baltic Sea Commission appoints the chairmen and vice-chairmen of the working groups. The Provincial Government proposes Jouni Jussinniemi as Vice Chair of the Transport Working Group, Sari Nurro as Chair of the Maritime Working Group and Jari Leathersta as Chair of the Arctic Expert Group.
Changes to the meeting schedule for spring 2023
The meeting schedule for the spring of 2023 was specified due to the recruitment process for the post of Provincial Director: a meeting of the Provincial Government on Monday 23 January and Monday 13 February, an extraordinary provincial council on Monday 13 March and a meeting of the Provincial Government on Tuesday 14 March.
Changes in membership
The provincial government decided to propose to the provincial council that Tiina Hanhikorve be granted a resignation from the position of deputy member of the Audit Board and that a new deputy member be elected for the remainder of her term of office.
Jukka-Pekka Kivioja was appointed as the representative of the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) and Juha Mäntynen as the deputy member of the cooperation group of the region of North Ostrobothnia.
In brief
- The Provincial Government entrusted the preparation of the initiative entitled ‘In the next period, the possibility of restoring the natural life cycle of migratory fish in the provincial waters’ approved by the Provincial Council on 12 December 2022 to the Provincial Planning and Competence Division.
- In advocacy matters Regional Director Pauli Harju raised the objectives of the Government Programme for Eastern and Northern Finland and the preparation of the Development Programme for Eastern Finland.
- The Ukrainian Embassy in Finland has submitted a request to participate in the global initiative ‘Lights for Ukraine’ at 19:00 on 21 December 2022. (local time) 21.12.2022. It was decided to encourage municipalities to participate in the initiative.
Additional information
Jussi Ylitalo, President of the the Board of the Regional Assembly, tel. +358 45 160 6466
Pauli Harju, Regional Director, tel. +358 400 389 152
