03.06.2022
Jussi Ylitalo, Chairman of the the Board of the Regional Regional Assembly in Brussels, highlighted the importance of the transport network for Finnish freight and passenger transport
Jussi Ylitalo, President of the the Board of the Regional Regional Assembly, participated in the event Turning the ambition of the new EU Arctic Policy into a reality, which was held in Brussels on Wednesday, 1 June 2022.
In October 2021, the EU published a Joint Communication on Arctic Policy. The event focused in particular on the implementation of the Communication and examined the need to integrate Arctic issues into EU policy and to maintain the Arctic as a low-tension region.
In his speech, Jussi Ylitalo, President of the the Board of the Regional Regional Assembly, highlighted the importance of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) for Finland's freight and passenger transport, Finland's sustainable forest policy, and the importance of Arctic shipping and its challenges in the EU's green transition.
In his speech, Ylitalo emphasises that through the forest industry, Finland has the opportunity to achieve climate goals while strengthening the economy and employment. The forest industry in Finland has already distanced itself from fossil fuels and considers it important to continue to reduce emissions. However, the EU's forest targets challenge Finnish forestry and industry, as the EU's targets for forests are largely focused on restoration, conservation and afforestation.
The Bothnian Arc is an internationally significant logistical centre in northernmost Europe and the Barents region. Logistics in the region has traditionally been oriented towards freight transport, but passenger transport in the region has also been growing strongly.
We have launched the vision work for the future of the Bay of Bothnia TEN-T core network corridor in cooperation in cooperation with the core network stakeholders in northern Sweden, says Ylitalo and continues: The result of the co-development will be a vision and strategy for the future of the transport system in the Bothnian Arc.
The EU's climate targets and rules are a challenge for northern shipping. Finland is the only country in the world whose ports can freeze completely in winter. Finnish business sector depends on icebreaking in the winter. Finally, Ylitalo emphasises that competitiveness must be taken care of, as climate-friendly industrial products must be brought to the world in a cost-effective manner.
MEP Pierre Karleskind, Tomas Mörtsell from Västerbotten region, responsible for regional development in the region, Montserrat Riba from Catalonia Regional Board and Vice-Rector Ketil Eiane from Bodø University in Norway participated in the debate.
The event was organised by the European Parliament's Searica intergroup and CPMR's Baltic Sea Commission.
Jussi Ylitalo's speech can be found here link
Additional information: Jussi Ylitalo, President of the the Board of the Regional Regional Assembly, tel. +358 45 160 6466
