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The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) is an international cooperation organisation for 150 regions in 24 countries. The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia is a member of CPMR.
The CPMR is divided into six regional commissions. The Baltic Sea Commission consists of the member regions of the Baltic Sea Region from Finland, Sweden, Germany and Estonia. The Secretary-General of the Baltic Sea Commission is Ms. Lucille Ehrhart.
The representative of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia of the Baltic Sea Commission in 2026 is Sari Nurro, member of the regional government, and his deputy is Juha Koskela, 3rd Vice-Chairman of the regional council. In 2027-2029 Juha Koskela will act as the main representative and Sari Nurro as his deputy.
CPMR is one of the most influential regional organisations in Brussels. The GSC is highly networked with EU decision-makers and rapporteurs. The organisation collects proactive information about the EU and influences its policy decisions. It writes and publishes analyses that benefit the member regions and lobbys them effectively.
Its aim is to increase the participation of regions in the debate on EU integration and to reduce competitiveness gaps between key EU regions and peripheral regions. Its areas of activity include the EU's regional development policy, issues related to accessibility and climate change mitigation, maritime and fisheries policy, and energy policy.
CPMR - Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions:
The Baltic Sea Commission's working groups play a key role in preparing the content of CPMR's decision-making. On 17 November 2025, the Provincial Government elected the following members of the working groups of the CPMR Baltic Sea Commission for the period 2026-2029.
- Transport Working Group: Member Juha Koskela and alternate member Sanna Laine
- Maritime Working Group: member Sari Nurro and deputy member Kaarina Kailo
- Energy and Climate Working Group: Esa Aalto, member and Elina Kemppainen, deputy member
- Arctic Working Group: Jouni Jussinniemi, member and Pia Hiltunen, alternate member
The Baltic Sea Commission's Maritime Task Force met in Oulu and visited Raahe on 3-4 June 2024. Read the article Baltic Sea Commission website.
The position paper on the Arctic was adopted by the annual meeting of the Baltic Sea Commission in May 2024. Read position paper
Lucille Ehrhart, Secretary General of the Baltic Sea Commission, visited Northern Ostrobothnia in 2022. The travel report can be read this one.
