23.10.2026
The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia participated in the European Week of Regions and Cities in Brussels
Photo: Max Englund from left, Senior Adviser in European Affairs, North Sweden European Office, Hanna Honkamäkilä, Secretary General of NRPP Preparation for Eastern and Northern Finland, Dr Jorge Núñez Ferrer, Director for Cohesion Policy and EU Budget, CPMR, Tiina Rajala, Development Director, Katja Sukuvaara, Head of International Affairs and Laura Kelhä, Regional Development Manager at the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia.
Representatives of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia participated in the European Week of Regions and Cities 2026 in Brussels on 12-14 October. Organised by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy and the European Committee of the Regions, the event is Europe's largest annual event on regional and urban policy. This year's theme was strong regions, a strong Europe.
The key message of the event was that strong regions are the basis for the success of Europe as a whole. Different European regions face different challenges, ranging from geopolitical changes and demographic trends to skills shortages and securing services. Therefore, the solutions must also take into account the different starting points and needs of the regions.
During the week, representatives of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia participated in several events that looked at the regions and their future from different perspectives. The discussions highlighted the importance of multilevel governance and the need for regional involvement in the preparation of the new programming period. Experiences of effective cooperation models at national and regional level were also consulted.
– European cooperation is built on trust between regions and people. By participating, we make our voices heard when we meet European decision-makers, participate in debates, build relationships and promote interests. During the Week of Regions and Cities, we find and meet partners, learn from each other’s solutions and build joint projects that bring knowledge, investment and jobs to the regions. At the same time, we can explain how the strengths of the northern regions strengthen the competitiveness, security of supply and safety of Europe as a whole, says Development Director Tiina Rajala.
In addition to the event programme itself, the Baltic Sea Region Directors Network met at the EU office in Eastern and Northern Finland on Wednesday 13 October 2026. The network brings together regional development leaders from Finland, Sweden, Poland, Estonia and Germany. The topic of discussion was smart specialisation and interregional cooperation to promote it. European networks offer North Ostrobothnia the opportunity to both highlight the region's perspectives and learn from the experiences of other regions. The meeting was also attended by Rachel Lancry, who works on the territorial cohesion of the European Committee of the Regions.Head of Unit, Committee on European Policy and Budgets (COTER). Rachel brought to the meeting the latest developments in NRPP preparation and heard the latest developments in NRPP preparation in our countries.
Pictured are members of the Baltic Sea Region Directors Network from Finland, Germany and Sweden.
Right to Stay – The right to live and build the future in your area
The European Commission is currently working on a ‘Right to Stay’ strategy to ensure that Europeans can truly live, work and build their future in their home regions. The strategy aims to restore regional competitiveness and economic prosperity by creating local opportunities for work and services. In addition, the strategy aims to promote a place-based and sustainable perspective in order to identify best practices. Right to Stay was one of the themes that rose over the days on a number of occasions.
– It was particularly interesting to hear a panel discussion organised by the European Youth Forum under the theme ‘Right to Stay’, in which young people from all over Europe spoke. The discussion highlighted how Right to Stay is seen as a theme that promotes regional equality, linked not only to accessibility and infrastructure, but also to services, digital connectivity and active citizenship. In their speeches, the panellists stressed that EU cohesion policy can and should increasingly do actions that genuinely support young people's opportunities to stay in their territory and contribute to the development of their territories, says Regional Development Manager Laura Kelhä.
The importance of the northern and arctic regions is emphasised
On Wednesday 14 October 2026, the panel “Towards a secure, sustainable, and prosperous Arctic region” met. The panel brought together actors to reflect on how EU cohesion policy and other mechanisms can better contribute to sustainable growth in the accented region, while strengthening overall security and preparedness. The Arctic region is of key importance for the EU’s resilience, competitiveness and security, as it is rich in critical natural resources, strategic infrastructure and innovation skills.
Denmark, Finland and Sweden are EU Arctic Member States. Close relations with Norway, Iceland, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States will further increase the impact of Arctic developments on Europe's future.
Northern Ostrobothnia is one of the EU's northern sparsely populated areas (NSPA), but it is also one of the growing regions in Finland. Northern Ostrobothnia is rich in renewable energy, strong RDI activities and internationally recognised technology expertise, which contribute to the strategic self-sufficiency and competitiveness not only of Finland but also of Europe as a whole. For example, know-how in 6G and dual-use technologies is increasingly linked to strengthening Europe’s security.
– Northern sparsely populated areas, as well as the Arctic, should not only be seen as the periphery of the EU and as a source of critical natural resources, but rather as part of the EU's strategic core. The focus must be on local communities and their development as part of the vitality and resilience of European regions. The development of the northern and Arctic regions must be done together with the people living here. This is our home, summarizes the head of international affairs Katja Sukuvaara the contribution of the panel.
Thursday 15 October During the Week of Regions and Cities, the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) organised a side event on "Resilience and security of regions". The key message of the event was that resilience is built even before crises, whether caused by climate change or geopolitical situations. Well-functioning telecommunications and logistical connections, energy self-sufficiency, know-how and RDI activities, as well as vibrant communities, strengthen the regions' ability to anticipate and cope with various disruptions and changes in the operating environment. Regional cooperation, a shared and up-to-date situational picture, and strong networks are key building blocks for crisis resilience.
Figure: Ongoing Towards a secure, sustainable, and prosperous Arctic region panel. Northern Finland's voice in the panel was raised by Riikka Pirkkalainen, Regional Director of Kainuu.
Keywords:
county development and financing
