30.09.2026
Provincial Governors: The Prime Minister's objective of securing support for northern sparsely populated areas is right
Position of the Regional Governors of Eastern and Northern Finland 29.9.2026
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has today strongly expressed Finland's concern that EU funding will continue to secure special funding for the northern sparsely populated areas of Finland (NSPA).
This must be part of Finland's key objectives for the next EU funding period 2028-34. NSPA funding increases the amount of EU funding received by Finland as a whole and is a critical factor Eastern and Northern Finland special circumstances, and it is not out of other EU funding received by Finland or increases Finland's EU payments.
NSPA funding increases the amount of EU funding for Finland as a whole, the yield with which we can compensate for regional, economic and social differences. This EU cohesion policy aims to reduce regional disparities and strengthen European competitiveness. When Finland and Sweden joined the EU, it was recognised that the long distances, sparse population and harsh climatic conditions of Eastern and Northern Finland required special measures. These permanent handicaps were taken into account in northern sparsely populated areas (Northern Sparsely Populated Areas, NSPA) separate funding, which complements other EU funding received by Finland. The French and Portuguese Overseas Territories (OCTs), among others, are also eligible for comparable separate funding on the basis of adverse conditions.
The provincial leaders of Eastern and Northern Finland are currently in Brussels promoting these same themes.
Further information from the Regional Governors of Eastern and Northern Finland:
Hannu Takkula, tel. +358 400 203 300
vs. Regional Director, Lapland
Heini Utunen
Regional Director, South Savo
Riikka Pirkkalainen
Regional Director, Kainuu
Jyrki Kaiponen
Regional Director, Central Ostrobothnia
Jussi Rämet
Regional Director, Northern Ostrobothnia
Markus Hirvonen
Regional Director, North Karelia
Tytti Määttä
Regional Director, Northern Savonia
