Dialogue meeting with Intergroup 174
A couple dozen MEP:s are behind the work carried out by the "Intergroup Mountain, Island and Sparsely Populated Regions", or "Intergroup 174". The group is a cross-party, cross-country unofficial coalition, and it represents sparsely populated areas, island - and mountain regions across Europe.
The key objective of the group is to promote and defend the interests of Europe's islands, mountain and sparsely populated areas at the European level, to ensure the EU institutions are made more aware of the issues and challenges facing these regions, and that the new Article 174 of the Lisbon Treaty is taken fully into consideration in future EU legislation.
It is noteworthy to observe that all involved parties agree that the focus ahead must be to promote these regions strong sides, and highlight how these regions can contribute to growth and development in the EU.
All regional policy must take the Europe 2020-strategy into consideration, and the Intergroup 174 will therefore work towards the territorial dimension being included in the EU 2020 strategy. Currently, neither the relation to regional authorities nor multilevel governance is mentioned in the strategy.
Additionally, the group will work strongly towards promoting the special interest of remote and rural areas and island communities in relation to the future EU cohesion policy.
This autumn, the fifth cohesion report will be presented. The report will include DG REGIO's views on the future regional policy. During the first half of 2011 the first draft of the EU's regional policy post 2013 is expected. Towards this, the Intergroup 174 will work actively, presenting concrete policy proposals. More specifically, this will include positions and propositions concerning both vertical and horizontal levels of governance. For the NSPA, this process is rather testing. Our main challenge is to become more specific in terms of articulated interests and priorities. On an EU level, the policy making process is intensifying. To be able to participate in the dialogue, and defend and promote the interest of the northern region, the NSPA might have to speed up its work accordingly.
The European Parliament Intergroup 174 has taken its name from the new provisions of Article 174 of the Lisbon Treaty, which states that in its efforts to promote economic, social and territorial cohesion, the Union shall pay particular attention to regions which suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps such as the northernmost regions with very low population density and island, cross-border and mountain regions.
NSPA continues dialogue on sustained investments in the high north of Europe
23 January 2012
On the 8th December, the NSPA network met with director general Dirk Ahner, European Commission, to discuss and clarify what the proposals of the regulations on cohesion policy post 2013 signifies for our regions.
Open Days 2011: Demographic change in the NSPA
18 October 2011
The NSPA seminar and reception on 11th of October 2011, attracted up to 130 registered participants from the NSPA regions. The NSPA seminar focused on demographic change from a young perspective and three young politicians from the three countries of the NSPA gave their view on the topic.
More than 80 stakeholders assembled for NSPA Forum in Kuopio
30 September 2011
NSPA Forum in Kuopio on the 22 September assembled more than 80 stakeholders to discuss the next EU funding period and the opportunities of the Northern Sparsely Populated Areas.
Open Days 2011: Meet your NSPA colleagues
07 July 2011
The NSPA network invites you to a short seminar and networking reception on Tuesday 11 October at 18.00. The short seminar will focus on the demographic change and how the NSPA regions can attract more young people. After the seminar a networking reception will follow.
NSPA Forum, 22 September in Kuopio
16 May 2011
The NSPA Forum in Kuopio focuses on the next EU funding period and the opportunities that it brings to the Northern Sparsely Populated Areas. Attendees are actors from the EU institutions and the NSPA region.
Continued investment in the high north crucial for Europe
02 February 2011
Today political representatives from the Northern Sparsely Populated Areas in Finland, Sweden and Norway met with the European Commission to highlight the importance of continued investment in the regions.
Successful gathering in Tromsø
27 January 2011
Over 70 stakeholders from the three countries gathered in beautiful Tromsö on 18-19 January to exchange views and agree on the NSPA response to the 5th Cohesion Report.
NSPA Forum, 18-19th January 2011, Tromsø
29 October 2010
The forum aims to agree a joint political position for the NSPA-region concerning the 5th Cohesion Report. Attendees will be actors from the EU institutions and the NSPA region.
OPEN DAYS 2010: Workshop report
19 October 2010
Read more about the workshop Northern Sparsely Populated Areas – Strong Specific and Promising on 5th October in Brussels.
OPEN DAYS 2010: Meet your NSPA-colleagues!
17 September 2010
Welcome to the NSPA Open Days cocktail in Brussels on Tuesday 5 October at 16:30.
OPEN DAYS 2010: Register for the NSPA workshop
06 July 2010
We hope you would like to participate in our event and learn more how the experience and resources from the North can contribute to a prosperous and sustainable Europe.
Dialogue meeting with Intergroup 174
12 May 2010
The European Union’s future policy on territorial cohesion was on the agenda when the "Intergroup Mountain, Island and Sparsely Populated Regions" on Tuesday 4th May invited to a dialogue meeting in the European Parliament. The NSPA was invited to present how the NSPA positions itself for the future EU regional policy. Mr. Stein Ovesen, director of North Norway European Office, reports from the meeting.
OPEN DAYS 2010: Northern Sparsely Populated Areas - strong, specific and promising
27 April 2010
The network will arrange a workshop during this year's Open Days showcasing the added value that the NSPA region brings to Europe.
NSPAs unique cooperation praised by DG Regio
28 January 2010
A political delegation from northern Finland, Norway and Sweden has presented its political position on the future cohesion policy to Mr Dirk Ahner, Director General at DG Regional Policy, European Commission.
NSPA Forum 15 December in Kiruna
11 November 2009
This first ever forum for the NSPA region aims to agree a joint political position for the NSPA-region concerning the future cohesion policy for 2014 onwards.
Barents cooperation and energy efficiency in focus at NSPA seminar
09 October 2009
The two seminars organised by the NSPA at Open days both had a good turnout and made way for many discussions and networking opportunities. See the event report and presentations.
Strong, specific and promising - NSPA publish report as basis for joint position for the future of the region
21 September 2009
The report Northern Sparsely Populated Areas Foresight 2020, produced by Nordregio and commissioned by the NSPA network, has now been published. The dialogue continues in the region to create a joint position using the report as a basis.
Register for Open Days workshops
06 July 2009
Registration is now open for the Open Days workshops. The NSPA network together with Iceland are organising two workshops on Tuesday 6th October.
NSPA and Iceland at Open Days
03 April 2009
NSPA together with Iceland will participate in this year’s Open Days.
Green Paper on Territorial Cohesion
27 February 2009
NSPA submits viewpoints for the Consultation on the Green Paper on Territorial Cohesion to European Commission DG Regional Policy.
Comments on the Baltic Sea Strategy
31 December 2008
The NSPA network submits its comments on the Baltic Sea Strategy.