The NSPA Steering Committee visited Brussels 12.-13.3.2024. The programme included meetings hosted by The East & North Finland EU Office, The North Sweden EU Office, and The North Norway European Office as well as visits to DG Regio, DG Grow, DG Environment, and NATO.

At the Steering Committee meeting on Tuesday, we discussed cohesion and artcic policy while polishing The NSPA positions on regional policy, the green transition, and sparse population. These topics were also discussed with Committee of Regions representatives Nicolas Brookes and Xavier Dutrenit. This discussion highlighted listening to the residents of the area and trust as the core of cohesion policy. We also went over NSPA’s long term goals and developments.

On Tuesday, we also received an update on the OECD study, which examines the situation, challenges, and potential of the NSPA region. According to the study, the central strengths of the area are its natural resources and landscapes, innovative mindset, as well as the efficiency of activities.

At DG Regio, we met the Head of Unit Anna Wagner and Director Nicola Michelis. This exchange emphasized the continued need for funding in the NSPA region as well as the region’s increasing significance for the EU and for the green transition. One of the biggest challenges faced by the area is the demographic shift. More experts from diverse fields are needed in the area.

With the representatives from DG Grow, we discussed forestry policy. According to the DG Grow repsresentatives, the Commission is currently focused on the circular bioeconomy and active forestry.

On Wednesday, we turned our attention to the future, as Senior Advisor Eerikki Vainio from the East & North Finland EU Office presented the updated situation of the NSPA brand. He higlihted the idea that the challenges faced by the NSPA can go hand in hand with its strengths and potential: a region facing unique challenges can also generate unique solutions with an innovative approach. The presentation went over the results of “The Future of NSPA” survey and workshop. They have concluded that the NSPA network is seen as an active and necessary network in the EU. In the future, the activities of the network could be enhanced by broadening its perspective, increasing its visibility, and by networking with regional actors and EU institutions.

The meeting with DG Environment began with East & North Finland EU Office’s Senior Advisor Veera Ylipieti’s presentation regarding the NSPA’s position on environmental and forestry issues. She emphasized the NSPA’s expertise in forestry and forest protection as well as the socioeconomic roles forests play in the region. Furthermore, she discussed the European forest monitoring regulation proposed by the Commission and pointed out its challenges, such as data security risks and administrative burden. After Ylipieti’s talk, we discussed the ways in which forests can be protected and conserved without endangering the livelihoods of forest owners.

After this, we had a conversation with Special Envoy for Arctic Matters at the European External Action Service (EEAS) Clara Ganslandt regarding geopolitics in the NSPA region. The discussion highlighted the increase in the strategic significance of the area caused by the changing geopolitical situation and the effects of climate change. According to Ganslandt, the NSPA should continue spreading awareness and increasing the visibility of the area. She stated that despite the increase in general interest, out-dated perceptios of the regions are still present in Europe. Moreover, security can be improved in the area by the EU by investing in infrastructure, dual-use technologies, as well as in expertise and innovation. The vibrancy of the area is therefore a matter of security.

The final visit on the Steering Committee’s agenda was the one to NATO Headquarters, where we continued discussing security and geopolitics with experts from the Nordic delegations. We focused on the significance of the new member states (Finland & Sweden) in the current security situation. Furthermore, we discussed east-west infrastructure plans and military mobility in the NSPA region.