21.12.2020
Decisions of the provincial government
The Just Transition Plan for Northern Ostrobothnia is under preparation
For the 2021-2027 EU regional and structural policy programming period, a new Just Transition Fund (JTF) will be introduced alongside the ERDF and ESF funds. The Fund will support regions facing socio-economic challenges in the EU’s transition to a climate-neutral economy by 2050. According to the EU Commission's country report, JTF funding in Finland should focus on the challenges and regional economic impacts of reducing the energy use of peat, especially in Eastern and Northern Finland. The use of JTF funding is conditional on territorial just transition plans. The counties will prepare draft transition plans by February-March 2021. The Just Transition Plan for Northern Ostrobothnia is approved by the regional cooperation group.
The Smart Specialisation Strategy 2021-2024 was adopted
The smart specialisation strategy for Northern Ostrobothnia has been prepared in cooperation with stakeholders over the past year. The strategy aims to transform research and expertise into innovations by responding to the needs of the business sector and to make more efficient use of digitalisation. The success of the implementation of smart specialisation is measured by monitoring the development of RDI activities and livelihoods, as well as the impact of project activities.
Proposals for members of the Baltic Sea Commission working groups
The Baltic Sea Commission's working groups play a key role in preparing the content of CPMR's decision-making. The chairs of the working groups will be elected at the beginning of 2021 for a two-year term and at the same time the members of the working groups from the member regions will be appointed. The members of the provincial government are proposed to the working groups of the CPMR Baltic Sea Commission as follows:
- Transport Working Group, Kalervo Ukkola as member and Matias Ojalehto as alternate member
- Maritime Working Group, Lyly Rajala as a member and Harri Karjalainen as an alternate member
- Energy and Climate Working Group, Eija-Riitta Niinikoski as a member and Rami Rauhalla as an alternate member.
Continuation agreement on the performance of Structural Fund tasks, division of responsibilities and coordination
The provincial government approved the prolongation of the agreement for Northern Finland for the period 2021-2023 on the performance of structural fund tasks, the division of responsibilities and the coordination of sustainable growth and work in the structural fund programme 2014-2020. During the 2014-2020 programming period, the Regional Council of Lapland has acted as the coordinating federation for the Structural Funds on behalf of the provinces of Northern Finland. The contract for the execution of the tasks will be updated as necessary to ensure that the tasks are carried out in accordance with the regulations until the end of the programming period. After 2023, the contract will be further extended if required by the Managing Authority.
The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia participates in the AGRO SE-VI (Cosme programme) project
The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia is a co-implementer of the AGRO SE-VI (Cosme programme) project. The main responsibility lies with the regional authority of the Province of West Greece and the second co-executor is the corresponding regional authority of the Province of Burgos in Spain. The budget allocated to the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia is EUR 29 634. The total budget of the project is EUR 109 089, of which EUR 99 980 is aid granted. The objective of the COSME programme is to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of companies operating in the European Union, to encourage an entrepreneurial culture and to promote the creation and growth of SMEs.
REACT-EU funding for COVID-19 recovery
The European Union is targeting temporary REACT-EU funding for COVID-19 recovery with two new strands added to the Structural Funds for Sustainable Growth and Jobs 2014-2020. Finland's EU contribution is approximately EUR 160 million. Taking into account the counterpart funding of the State, Finland’s appropriations total approximately EUR 270 million for the period 2021-2023. The Government will decide on the distribution of additional REACT-EU funds among the provinces at the latest during January 2021. The regional distribution takes into account the regional economic impacts of the coronavirus in different parts of the country.
In brief
- Terhi Eteläinen was appointed as the representative of the City of Raahe to the Tourism Development Committee of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia.
- Anna Katajala was appointed as the representative of the North Ostrobothnia Social and Health Security Association to the North Ostrobothnia Welfare Cooperation Group and the North Ostrobothnia Organisational Advisory Board.
- Sohvi Tuormaa was appointed as a member of the Northern Ostrobothnia Youth Council and Mona Kela as a substitute, Julia Klaavo as an alternate member (Lumijoki) and Nea Sirkka as a member (Pyhäjoki).
- The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia approved the amended Articles of Association approved by the Extraordinary General Meeting of Istekki Oy.
