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23.02.2023

The regions of Eastern and Northern Finland want to build the security and vitality of Finland as a whole

The regions of Eastern and Northern Finland have joined forces in response to the new threats facing the whole of Finland in a changed security situation.

Eastern and Northern Finland needs investments in transport infrastructure and the main grid, which will speed up investments in the green transition, among other things.

The counties have drawn up common Government Programme objectives to Influencing the vitality of the entire eastern and northern borders, especially the eastern border and northern regions. The aim is to improve the regional transport infrastructure and allocate EU funding fairly. There is a risk that a vitality vacuum in the east and north would drive the whole of Finland to the ever-increasing security challenges.

Regional Director of South Savo Pentti Mäkinen points out that security of supply is built under normal conditions. According to Mäkinen, investments in Eastern and Northern Finland increase national security and are part of international crisis management.

– It is up to us to deal in cooperation with the whole of Finland. We are concerned about the direction of Finland and the security of the whole country," Mäkinen sums up.

Also published on February 13th. the Eastern Finland Development Vision notes that, from a security policy point of view, regional development cannot be based solely on centralisation, but that maintaining the territorial sovereignty of the state also requires decentralisation.

EU-level decisions and Finland's the contracts concluded must be complied in cooperation with;

Common to South Savo, North Savo, North Karelia, Central Ostrobothnia, Northern Ostrobothnia, Kainuu and Lapland are, among other things, long distances and sparsely populated areas.

The regions of Eastern and Northern Finland are part of the solutions for the future of Finland as a whole. The region uses natural resources in a sustainable way and creates new technologies, products and services for the whole world. When building the sustainable development of Finland as a whole, the voice of Eastern and Northern Finland must not be ignored.

Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has affected all of Finland, but it has put the security of Finland's eastern border at the centre of national defence strategically.

While the effects of the war are visible in regional economies and vitality, Eastern and Northern Finland has felt its old plagues, the decline of the population and the emphasis on public investment in Southern and Western Finland.

in cooperation with the war in Ukraine, especially in the East, business has suffered, investments are waiting for themselves and concerns about the future are present. For example, the share of the tourism sector in Eastern and Northern Finland is 40 per cent of the share of the whole country. The sharp decline in Russian tourists has an impact on the investments of tourism companies, especially in South Savo, North Karelia and Kainuu.

As a result of the war, traffic flows have changed, which is why additional investments in transport infrastructure that supports security of supply will be needed in the coming years.
Due to the closing of the Saimaa Canal, freight traffic has shifted to rubber wheels and rails, which has revealed a large repair debt on traffic routes at the latest. In the new security policy situation, Finland's international connections through Northern Finland must also be taken care of.

In Finland's own allocation of national funding, Eastern and Northern Finland have been left to lick their fingers. According to the 2021 statistics, Eastern and Northern Finland receives less than 20% of the national funding granted by Business Finland and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. The percentage also takes into account Finnvera's loans and guarantees.

Eastern and Northern Finland expects the future government to take care of the special status of sparsely populated and remote areas as well as border regions. Decisions taken at EU level and agreements made by Finland must be taken into account, taking into account the development differences between the regions. The realities of the northern climate, the longest external border of the EU and long distances still need to be taken into account.

A message from the counties to MEPs and MPs

Representatives of the Regional Assemblys of Eastern and Northern Finland, elected representatives of the Regional Assemblys and the management of the EU Office for Eastern and Northern Finland met in cooperation with MEPs and representatives of their regions in Helsinki on 23 February. The counties expressed their concerns and hoped that they would be taken into account in both national and EU decision-making.

MEPs were present at the event. Elsi Katainen (centre), Nils Torvalds (r.) and Eero Heinäluoma (sd.) and Members of Parliament Katri Kulmuni (centre), Minna Reijonen (p.m.) and Markku Eestilä (Cod.)

Development Director of the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region Päivi Keisanen highlighted the importance of EU regional and structural policy for Eastern and Northern Finland. In Finland, European European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (ERDF)s have been allocated to counties for the 2021-2027 programming period. Keisanen emphasised the long-term development of Eastern and Northern Finland in the changed geopolitical situation and the need for peace at work. The Government Programme requires an entry that secures the future of regional and structural policy in Eastern and Northern Finland also during the funding period starting in 2028.

Regional Director of Central Ostrobothnia Jyrki Kaiponen stressed the importance and opportunities of the green transition.
– The national objective is to make Finland a world leader in the hydrogen and circular economy, zero-emission energy systems and other climate and environmental solutions. Eastern and Northern Finland can accelerate solutions that reduce emissions both in Finland and elsewhere in the world. The green transition and related investments require the production of renewable energy and the strong development of the main grid, especially in the regions of Eastern and Northern Finland.

Regional Director of North Karelia Markus Hirvonen opened up the changed geopolitical situation, as well as the spill-over effects of the Russian invasion and threats to economic development, in particular to the regions along the eastern border.

– The main impacts relate to logistics. The closure of the Saimaa Canal caused a significant crisis, as the businesses had to find new transport routes in a fast schedule. At the same time, the transmission capacity of the railway lines in Karelia and Savo and the number of wagon fleets are not sufficient to meet the need.
The number of trucks needed would be tens of thousands, so logistical problems cannot be solved in cooperation with rubber wheels. Second, national defence has risen strongly to the regional development agenda. The whole country inhabited principle has gained new ground when a vibrant region is seen as a security policy issue.

Government Programme Objectives for Eastern and Northern Finland 2023-27

Additional information: Region Mayor Markus Erkkilä, tel. +358 40 685 4045

Figure:
The people and elected officials of the Regional Assemblys of Eastern and Northern Finland gave their greetings to Members of Parliament and Members of the European Parliament on 23 February.