The NSPA in the European Arctic is an area in the core of growing geopolitical interests and holds resources for Europe’s ability to secure its strategic autonomy in today’s challenging world. Northernmost Europe is of overall increasing importance for the EU’s security policy, green transition and global competitiveness. 

The Forum comes at a particularly timely moment. The European Union is currently updating its Joint Communication on the Arctic, while negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) are contributing to a particularly busy EU agenda this autumn. Against this backdrop, the NSPA Forum will bring together regional and European decision-makers, representatives, and experts to discuss key issues of strategic importance, including EU Arctic policy, security, the environment, and cohesion.

Detailed programme and registration link are coming soon!

Time frame

The NSPA Forum will begin with lunch at 12:00 on Thursday 29 October, and conclude with lunch at 12:00 on Friday 30 October. Local excursion will be organised on Thursday morning.

Thursday, 29 October

09:00 – Excursion
12:00 – Forum officially begins with lunch
13:00 – Start of the Programme
18:00 – End of the Programme
19:00 – Dinner

Friday, 30 October

08:00 – NSPA Steering Committee meeting
09:00 – Start of the Programme
12:00 – Forum ends with lunch

Sessions

The outline for the Forum is discussions at sessions on the following themes:

• The EU’s Joint Communication on the Arctic, including an update on the Communication and the EU perspective, followed by NSPA intervention on its implications for the region.
• The Arctic Communication: geopolitical and environmental perspectives, focusing on the changing geopolitical context in the Arctic, security considerations, climate change and the implications for Arctic cooperation.
• The EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and cohesion policy, including an update on the state of play of the MFF negotiations, the future of the National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs), and the NSPA perspective.
• NRPP negotiations and opportunities for the NSPA region, with a particular focus on the role of cohesion policy and the possibilities offered by the European Competitiveness Fund for strengthening regional development and competitiveness.

Conference Centre and Accommodation

The NSPA Forum will take place at Mustaparta Hotels, Hallituskatu 6 Tornio.

Hotel Booking

Rooms at the conference hotel can be booked until 10 October by contacting: hotel@mustapartahotels.fi or +358400105800.

Please use the booking code: NSPA (Northern Sparsely Populated Areas) when making your reservation.

The room quota includes 49 rooms for the period of 28–30 October.

Accommodation options:

Standard- or Superior room

• For 1 person 119 € per night including breakfast
• For 2 persons 132 € per night including breakfast

Room with a sauna

• For 1 person 145 € per night including breakfast
• For 2 persons 175 € per night including breakfast

Payment:

Due upon check-in or check-out. Invoice option available: please provide the billing details of your organization when making the booking. 

Transport

The Kemi-Tornio airport is 30 km away from Tornio city center. Please contact Tiina Paakkari (tiina.paakkari@eastnorth.fi), if you require transportation from Kemi-Tornio airport upon your arrival. Please make sure to send the transportation request before closing of the registration period and remember to indicate the information of your arrival time.

Cost and Registration

The Registration link, as well as the information on the Conference Fee will be announced soon.

The detailed programme will be made available here closer to the Forum.

If you have any questions on the Forum, please contact tiina.paakkari@eastnorth.fi or unna.lopponen@eastnorth.fi.

Welcome to Tornio, Lapland!