Press releases

The renewed and competent call for applications for the Finland 2021-2027 programme, as well as the application situation in the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, is currently open for the trans-regional ERDF project call for Eastern and Northern Finland for specific objective 2.3. The application period ends on 30 November 2025. The Secretariat of the Provincial Cooperation Group supports six projects to be funded from the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme The Secretariat of the Provincial Cooperation Group discussed seven projects at its meeting. Of these, it advocates the funding of six projects. One project received a negative decision. The projects are presented in the minutes of the Provincial Cooperation Group Secretariat. The next meeting of the secretariat of the Provincial Cooperation Group will be held on 16 October 2025 at 9 a.m. Additional information: Regional Development Specialist Heikki Laukkanen, 050 918 0035  

The Regional Government of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia met in Oulu on 22 September. The meeting was the first meeting of the provincial government elected by the provincial council in September. This is an announcement of the meeting's decisions. The minutes will be published at the following address: agendas and minutes of the institutions Link to agenda: Agenda 22.9.2025 Please find enclosed the decisions of the meeting: Attendance and speaking rights at meetings of the Provincial Government The Provincial Government granted the right to attend and speak at meetings of the Provincial Government for the duration of its term of office to the Heads of Division of the Joint Municipal Authority, the Head of Communications and Administration, the Service Coordinator and the Protocol Controller appointed by the Provincial Government, unless it is one of the above. The Provincial Government appointed an Administrative Director as the Provincial Government's Protocol Keeper for the term of office of the institution, with the Head of Communications and Administration and the Head of Administrative Development as his deputies. The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia and the entrepreneurs of Northern Ostrobothnia have prepared a vitality pledge for 2025, which will contribute to the advancement of companies, communities and ….

The highest decision-making regional council of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia met in Oulu on 8 September. It elected the Presidents of the Provincial Council and the members of the Provincial Government and the Audit Board. Senja Kovaniemi (centre) from Liminka was elected as the chairperson of the provincial council. Sanna Laine (sd.) from Kempele was appointed as the first vice-chair, Jouni Jussinniemi (left) from Pyhäjärvi as the second vice-chair, and Juha Koskela (centre) from Ylivieska as the third vice-chair. The central task of the council is to decide on the strategic guidelines, plans, operational programmes and regional land use plans that guide the development of the county. These include, for example, the approval of the provincial programme and the provincial plan. In addition, the Regional Council annually reviews and approves the budget and financial plan of the Regional Council of North Ostrobothnia, and steers the allocation of resources by setting targets for the activities of the budget year. The Board of Governors approves the Association's financial statements and the report of the Board of Directors, which assesses the achievement of the objectives set by the Board of Governors.…

The call for applications for the operating environment development grant of the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Northern Ostrobothnia (ELY Centre) in Northern Finland is open from 1 September to 31 October 2025. In the Northern Ostrobothnia, Lapland and Kainuu call, a total of EUR 1.1 million can be awarded for specific objectives 2.2 and 2.3. A maximum of EUR 620 000 of funding may be allocated to Specific Objective 2.2. The Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia has received eight applications for the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme by 5 June 2025. Nearly EUR 1.8 million has been applied for support in applications submitted to the JTF continuous application process related to employment and skills. The application period for business development grants from the North Ostrobothnia ELY Centre in North Ostrobothnia is open from 13 January to 30 November 2025. By the end of June, a total of 57 applications for business development grants have been received. … of the grants applied for

The Regional Government of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia met on 18 August 2025 for its first meeting in autumn. The meeting was the last meeting of the current provincial government. The provincial council will elect a new provincial government on 8 September 2025. This is an announcement of the meeting's decisions. The minutes will be published at the following address: agendas and minutes of the institutions Link to agenda: Agenda 18.8.2025 Please find enclosed the decisions of the meeting: The Provincial Government took note of the report of the President of the Provincial Government on the evaluation and target discussion that had taken place. The objectives for 2025 were to clarify the role of the Regional Council, develop advocacy work, promote the well-being of the personnel and clarify the management system. The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia's Economic and Operational Plan 2026-2028 and Budget 2026 The Regional Government approved the strategic objectives, measures and indicators for 2026 and a 1.6 per cent increase in the budget's financial framework for 2026. The proposal for an Economic and Action Plan for 2026-2028 will be discussed…

At its meeting on 12 June 2025, the North Ostrobothnia Region Cooperation Group discussed the financing of three projects in preparation for the North Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment. The second issue was the preparation of the provincial programme for Northern Ostrobothnia 2026-2029. Almost EUR 1.7 million of funding The Cooperation Group gave a favourable opinion to all three projects under discussion.  Their total funding amounts to EUR 1 678 917. The projects and their implementing entities are as follows: River Valley Joint Municipal Authority for Education, Centria University of Applied Sciences Ltd and University of Oulu: The path of ideas to innovation, Ostrobothnian growth platform (OPTIONAL) / (JTF). The requested aid amount is EUR 364 442. Helsinki Deaconess Institute Foundation sr and Oulun Ev.lut Parish Union: The power of change from diversity (ESF+). The requested aid amount is EUR 564 405. University of Oulu, Oulu University of Applied Sciences Ltd and North Ostrobothnia Welfare Area: MetaHealthVerse - Renewing virtual training…

At its meeting on 11 June, the Assembly of Members of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia elected the provincial council for the municipal term 2025-2029. The highest decision-making council of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia has 75 members, who are members of the councils of the municipalities they represent. The county council has 31 representatives from Oulu. Raahe received 4 representatives, Kempele, Kuusamo and Ylivieska each 3 representatives. The other municipalities each received one or two representatives. According to the Treaty, each member will receive one representative for each 7000 inhabitants. The calculation is based on the population at the turn of the year preceding the municipal elections. The Centre Party continued to be the largest party The Centre Party held its largest party position in 28 seats in the provincial council on the basis of the results of the municipal elections. The Coalition Party won 13 seats and the Social Democrats 12 seats. The Left Alliance has nine seats, the Finns Party and the Green Party each have six. Christian Democrats have …

The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, which started planning next year's economy and operations, has launched financial and operational planning for 2026-2028. At the same time, further preparation of the strategy has continued, which will guide the planning of the economy and operations in 2026. As part of the preparation of the 2026 budget and the Economic and Operational Plan 2026-2028, the Provincial Government held a brief discussion on the budget's financial framework and the priorities for the strategic goals for 2026. The budget and plan of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia for 2026-2028 will be discussed and approved at the meeting of the Provincial Government on 17 November 2025 and at the meeting of the Provincial Council on 8 December 2025.  The Regional Council prepares a statement on the proposal for a new Act on Territorial Use The Provincial Government held a discussion on the draft Government proposal for a new Act on Territorial Use and authorised the Provincial Director to issue a statement within the deadline. A declaratory matter has a significant impact on the statutory tasks of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. In the preparation of the opinion…

The Regional Council of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia met in Oulu on Tuesday, 25 May. At the meeting, the provincial council approved the regional plan for the energy and climate phase and the financial statements and annual report of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia for 2024. The meeting was the last of the four-year term of this provincial council. The new regional council will be elected on the basis of the results of the municipal elections in the Assembly of Members of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, which will be held on 11 June in Oulu. The regional plan for the energy and climate phase was approved by the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia and the preparation of the regional plan for the energy and climate phase was started in autumn 2021. The phase county plan focused on the following themes: regional structure and accessibility, energy production, storage and transmission, transport system and logistics areas, green structure and ecosystem services, the impact of the energy transition on land use planning and the development of climate impact assessment at the regional plan level. The largest single entity in the phase county plan is wind power and the related energy transmission. Regional plan for the energy and climate phase of Northern Ostrobothnia…

At its meeting on 27 May 2025, the Regional Council approved the regional plan for the energy and climate phase of Northern Ostrobothnia, which was launched in autumn 2021. The regional plan sets out the principles of land use and urban structure and identifies areas necessary for the development of the region. Territorial reserves shall be allocated only in so far as and to the extent necessary to meet national or provincial objectives concerning the use of areas or to coordinate the use of areas in more than one municipality. The regional plan contains provisions that, taking into account the purpose of the plan and the requirements set for its content, are needed when planning or constructing the regional plan area. According to the Regional Use Act, a regional plan can be drawn up in stages. This means that the provincial zoning process does not go through all the land use entities in the area, but focuses on some of the areas defined in the initial phase of zoning.…