Press releases

Current project presentations Work & Stay - Whole Life in Koillismaa project was presented by Employment Specialist Esa Loukusa. The State-of-the-art H2 research infrastructure project was presented by University Researcher Samuli Urpelainen from the University of Oulu. KASVA - Sustainable growth for micro and small enterprises through regional cooperation between RDI actors and business services -project was presented by Research Director Anna-Mari Simunaniemi from Kerttu Saalasti Institute. The Regional Financing Plan for the EU Regional and Structural Policy Programme 2024-2025 was approved by the Regional Cooperation Group, which approved the Regional Financing Plan and Priorities for the Renewing and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 EU Regional and Structural Policy Programme. The regional cooperation group decided to transfer EUR 2 million of the JTF business support authorisation of the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia to the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. Regional councils are responsible for preparing regional funding plans for the Regional and Structural Policy Programme of the European Union in cooperation with the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment and other regional partners…

The regional government held a meeting in Oulu on Wednesday 18 October. On lobbying issues, Regional Director Jussi Rämet told about the Northern Programme, the Transport12 plan and the meeting of the Minister of Local Government and the Region on 5 October 2023. The municipalities of Northern Ostrobothnia, Pohde and the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia are preparing a cooperation agreement There is a need for the development of strategic cooperation, cooperation structures and operating methods between municipalities, the wellbeing services region and the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. The North Ostrobothnia Welfare Area Pohde has drafted a cooperation agreement based on the model of the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities' Welfare Area and the municipalities' strategic cooperation agreement. The parties to the agreement would be the North Ostrobothnia Welfare Region, the municipalities of the region and the Regional Council of North Ostrobothnia. The key objective of the strategic cooperation agreement is to help the wellbeing services region and municipalities as well as the Regional Council to direct their own and joint activities. The strategic cooperation between the county's municipalities, the Welfare Region and the Regional Council will continue to be discussed by the chairmen of the councils and boards of the municipalities of Northern Ostrobothnia…

The secretary of the regional cooperation group held a Teams meeting on Tuesday 17 October. The Regional Councils are responsible for preparing regional funding plans in cooperation with the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centres), in particular, but also with other regional partners. The financial plans describe the regional allocation of Finnish regional and structural policy funds by priority axis, specific objective and authority for the next two years. In addition, the plan provides an estimate of municipal funding and other public funding by priority axis, specific objectives and authorities. The financial plans cover ERDF, ESF+ and JTF funding. In connection with the preparation of the financing tables, the situation regarding the commitment and reservation of the 2021-2023 granting powers for JTF and ERDF funding in the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia and the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment will also be examined.  Open call for applications Renewing and competent Finland 2021-2027…

The Summit of the Provinces of Eastern and Northern Finland was held in Helsinki on 5-6 October 2023. These counties, which make up most of Finland, expect Orpo's government to take consistent and effective development measures throughout the country. This is the only way to ensure the safety and security of supply objectives set out in the Government Programme. The key measures are those of the Northern Programme and the Eastern Finland Vision, the adequate resourcing of which must be secured. Funding for the self-development of the counties (AKKE) is a necessary part of the development funding of the counties and must be included in the state budget in the future. The meeting was attended by Minister of Economic Affairs Wille Rydman (PS), Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah (KD), Minister of Local Government and Regions Anna-Kaisa Ikonen (Kok) and Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen (Kok). MEP Elsi Katainen (Centre) opened EU regional policy priorities and topical issues in the East and …

The meeting of the North Ostrobothnia Regional Cooperation Group was held on Thursday 28 September in Oulu. The Cooperation Group decided to support as many as 21 projects to be funded under the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 EU Regional and Structural Policy Programme. Current project presentations Higher education pathway to the extractive sector, KORKO /ESF+ (supra-regional) Promoting well-being at work in foster care / ESF+ Renewable and skilled Finland 2021-2027 EU regional and structural policy programme - preparation of the regional funding plan for 2024-2025 The regional cooperation group took note of the state of play of the preparation of the regional funding plan. The regional cooperation group's tasks include approving the regional funding plan for the EU's regional and structural policy programme and its funding priorities. Regional councils are responsible for preparing regional funding plans for the European Union's Regional and Structural Policy Programme. The unions make preparations in close cooperation with the ELY Centres in particular,…

The provincial government held its meeting in Oulu on Monday 25 September.  Jussi Rämet, the new regional director of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, took up his duties on 1 September 2023, and this regional government was his first in the new position. The Regional Government approved the draft budget of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia for 2024 and the draft economic and operational plan for 2024-26 as a basis for further preparation. The Provincial Government decided to request the opinions of municipalities and regions on the draft by 23 October 2023. Membership contributions have been increased by 3% compared to the 2023 contributions in accordance with the planning framework approved by the Provincial Government on 21 August 2023, section 103. The result for the financial year, after depreciation in the budget year, is EUR -219 617. EUR 219 617 will be credited from the Development Fund. The surplus/deficit for the financial year is EUR 0. The 2024 budget total has decreased for operating revenue by five…

The secretariat of the regional cooperation group held a meeting on Tuesday 19 September 2023 in Oulu. Open calls for applications The Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Northern Ostrobothnia is open for applications for ERDF infrastructure projects from 1 September to 31 October 2023. An amount of EUR 2 million is available. ESF project call (P-P, Lappi, Kainuu) open from 15 November 23 to 31 January 2024. Specific objectives 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 to be applied for. The next call for projects was then pre-planned from 15 August to 30 October 2024. In addition, a continuous search for JTF ESF-type activities is ongoing in 2024 as long as there are granting powers. The open calls for applications for the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme can be found on the EURA 2021 website: The Secretariat of the Regional Cooperation Group supports the following projects to be funded under the EU's Regional and Structural Policy Programme for a Sustainable Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027: Developing digital business knowledge and skills in the age of artificial intelligence (DigitAIli) /…

The Regional Councils are responsible for preparing the regional funding plans of the Regional and Structural Policy Programme of the European Union for the period 2024-2025. The unions make the preparations in cooperation with the ELY Centres and other regional partners. Financing plans will be drawn up by priority axis, specific objective and authority for the next two years. The financial programming concerns the regional component of the EU's regional and structural policy programme. In connection with the preparation of the financing tables, the situation regarding the commitment and reservation of the granting powers for JTF and ERDF funding in 2021-2023 in the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia and the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment will be examined with regard to the need for possible transfers of granting powers. North Ostrobothnia concessions under preparation 2024-2025: 2024: ERDF + State EUR 22.453 million, ESF + State EUR 11.605 million and JTF + State EUR 7.489…

The provincial government held its first meeting of the autumn season in Oulu on Monday, 21 August. In matters of lobbying, Provincial Director Markus Erkkilä presented the key issues of the Government Programme from the perspective of the Regional Council. An increase of up to 3% in municipal funding for 2024, the Epiphany Reception will not be organised The Economic and Action Plan 2024-2026 will be prepared in accordance with the guidelines approved by the Provincial Government in June. On Monday 21 August, the meeting discussed the size of municipal funding and possible economic adjustment measures for the 2024 budget. The largest increase in budgetary expenditure is in staff salaries, which will increase significantly in 2023 and 2024 as a result of municipal wage settlements. The provincial government decided that the amount of municipal funding would be no more than 3% for 2024. It was also decided not to organise a Epiphany reception in 2024. The provincial government decided on the financial framework for municipal funding after a vote. In connection with the discussion, Juha Pylväs presented, supported by Tiina Hanhikorpi,…

The meeting of the North Ostrobothnia Regional Cooperation Group was held on Thursday 22 June in Oulu. The Cooperation Group decided to support six projects to be funded under the EU's Regional and Structural Policy Programme for a Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027. The regional cooperation group also prepared a statement on increasing entrepreneurial activity. Current project presentations Rethinking North project. One of the tasks of the Regional Cooperation Group (MYR) is to guide the region's development and strategy. The proposal made to MYR by the secretariat of the regional cooperation group highlighted the activity of start-ups in the region and especially the number of start-ups by young people. Both are lower than in other European countries. In its statement, the provincial cooperation group encourages the following measures related to entrepreneurship to be taken into account: ‘The Northern Ostrobothnia Regional Cooperation Group calls on the regional development funding agencies to take into account in their decisions…