05.06.2023
Decisions of the provincial government
The provincial government held its last meeting in the spring at Maikkula Manor on Monday 5 June. On lobbying issues, Provincial Director Markus Erkkilä presented the state of play of the Government Programme negotiations.
Jussi Rämet to start as regional director at the beginning of September
Jussi Rämet, M.A., has announced that he will take up the position of regional director and start working on 1 September 2023. The provincial government confirmed the election of the provincial president. The post is subject to a six-month probationary period. The provincial government approved the provincial president the Director's Agreement.
Responses to feedback from the energy and climate preparation phase as a basis for planning work
The Provincial Government approved the responses to the feedback prepared for the preparation phase of the energy and climate phase of Northern Ostrobothnia as principles for the planning of the proposal phase. In addition to the feedback-specific response, nine general responses were formulated, which cover the whole of the theme in question more broadly.
Preparations will continue through a more detailed review of the feedback from the draft phase, as well as ongoing and already prepared studies, cooperation between authorities and labour negotiations. Studies and impact assessments obtained during the EIA and zoning process of separate wind power projects will also be used. At the proposal stage, the content of the plan markings and regulations will be supplemented on the basis of more detailed information. The planning of the phase county plan will continue through a combined impact assessment to prepare a plan map for the proposal phase and other documents. According to the target schedule, the phase-province plan will proceed to the official and municipal guarantee of the proposal phase in accordance with the Land Use and Building Regulation in autumn 2023. The aim is to process the approval of the regional government and the regional council of the phase-provincial plan during 2024.
State of play of the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 and Sustainable Growth and Jobs 2014-2021 programmes and state of play of national funding
Northern Ostrobothnia is Finland's most significant region using EU regional and structural policy funds. The volume of funding is the largest in the country. During the 2021-2027 programming period, North Ostrobothnia will receive a total of EUR 356 million in granting powers (EU + State): European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) EUR 153 million, European Social Fund (ESF+) EUR 84 million and Just Transition Fund (JTF) EUR 119 million. 35% of ERDF funding must be used for climate action. The region’s funding volume in 2023-2024 is exceptionally high due to the strong frontloading of JTF funding. The state of play can be found here link.
Changes in membership
- Mikko Lapolla was appointed as the representative of the Oulu Deaconess Institute Foundation to the Organisational Advisory Board of Northern Ostrobothnia.
In brief
- The guidelines for the preparation of the 2024 budget and the Economic and Action Plan 2024-2026, as well as for the strategic orientations, the targets for 2024 were adopted. The financial framework of the budget for municipal invoicing will be approved by the Provincial Government on 21 August 2023.
- Oulun Seudun Sähkö Kuitu Oy was selected to implement the project area Juurussuo, Ketolanperä and Rajakorpi in Kempele by means of a selection procedure in accordance with the Act on Support for Fixed Broadband Construction.
- The meeting of the Provincial Government on 16 October will be postponed to Wednesday 18 October and the meeting on 18 December will be postponed to Tuesday 19 December.
- Decisions by the Provincial Director for the period 29 April - 26 May 2023
- Statements issued by the Office for the period 29 April - 26 May 2023
