OPEN DAYS 2010: Workshop report
The workshop was opened by Pia Svensgaard who introduced the NSPA network and gave a short description of the regions' characteristics and geographic conditions. The regions of northern Finland, Norway and Sweden have many common circumstances such as sparse population, harsh climate and long distances. This part of Europe is also specifically affected by globalisation, energy-supply, climate change and demographic change. The region is rich on natural resources but has a population density of only 4.9 inhabitants per km2, something that cannot be found in any other part of the European Union.
The NSPA network consists of 14 regions in three countries sharing common circumstances and objectives, working together to raise awareness of the region in the EU institutions, influence EU policy and to provide a platform for best practise.
Pia Svensgaard underlined the region's dependence on a holistic and qualitative approach on regional policy and welcomed a fruitful debate on the needs of NSPA business when it comes to EU policies.
Debate
Toini Løvseth, Policy Manager with Finnfjord AS, introduced the participants to the privately owned company Finnfjord AS in northern Norway that produces ferrocilicon, an alloying element essential in steel production. Finnfjord produces ferrosilicon in an effective and sustainable manner with renewable energies, aiming to be the world's most energy efficient ferrosilicon producer, by taking control of the cost of electricity. Toini Løvseth hence requested visibility of energy efficiency in EU policies as a way of combating climate change. Download Ms Løvseth's presentation here.
Laura Sinisalo, Chairwoman with Nutrinet Oy, emphasized the advantages of conducting business in the field of nutritional therapy in the northern sparsely populated areas. In addition to a high level of education and know-how in medicine, nutrition and food and a trained workforce with good language skills there is a great potential of developing healthcare tourism and healthcare export through ICT. The challenges, on the other hand, lie in financing new areas of business. Download Ms Sinisalo's presentation here.
Jens Kyed, Project Manager with the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprises (NHO) explained the importance of knowledge of the EEA agreement and the EU policies for north Norwegian businesses, since the EU is Norways largest trading partner. The project Nordland Europe Office for enterprise aims to make more enterprises involved in EU funded projects and to higher the level of knowledge about the EEA agreement and the applied rules, hence giving enterprises in the region the possibility to take full advantage of the rights and possibilities provided by the EEA agreement. Download Mr Kyed's presentation here.
Conclusions
Jens Nilsson concluded the seminar by summing up the discussions as follows:
- The seminar provided real cases of successful business in the NSPA, showcasing both advantages and challenges, defining what kind of EU policies the enterprises in the region need.
- There is a reason to see to the energy need for enterprises, making energy efficiency visible in energy policies.
- The regulations on state aid make it difficult for companies with the will to set high goals to meet climate policies.
- Energy efficiency is the most efficient way to save the climate, however this is not visible in EU policies, Toini Løvseth, Policy Manager with Finnfjord AS commented.
More information:
Finnfjord AS www.finnfjord.no
Nutrinet Oy www.nutrinet.fi
Confederation of Norwegian Enterprises www.nho.no/nordland
NSPA Forum, 18-19 April, Sundsvall
13 February 2012
The 4th NSPA Forum will be held on the 18-19 April 2012. The Sundsvall forum will focus on the thematic concentration of the next EU funding period and the opportunities that it brings to the Northern Sparsely Populated Areas.
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.