Forests are a crucial natural resource in the Northern Sparsely Populated (NSPA) regions. The areas that the NSPA includes have a long history of sustainable forestry, and the forest sector has a central role in the national economies as well as contributing to the climate ambitions of the EU and the European bioeconomy.
On the 11th of September 2025, the NSPA adopted a position on the coming EU Strategy for Sustainable Tourism. The strategy aims to make tourism in Europe more sustainable and competitive, with better digital services, eco-friendly options and smoother cross-border trips, whilst also enhancing the experience for every traveller. The NSPA welcomes the European Commission’s ambition to make Europe the world's leading destination for sustainable and smart tourism, and are eager to contribute to a sustainable, regenerative and inclusive tourism future for all of Europe.
On 11–12 September, the NSPA Forum will be held in Örnsköldsvik, Västernorrland, Sweden. It is the yearly forum that gathers policymakers, officials, and stakeholders from the 14 regions in the network of Northern Sparsely Populated Areas (NSPA), to discuss common interests regarding EU policies of relevance for the European Arctic.
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have adopted a comprehensive policy paper on the Northern Sparsely Populated Areas (NSPA), comprising 14 regions across Norway, Sweden, and Finland. The policy report, funded by the EU and regional governments, recommends enhanced east-west transport infrastructure, comprehensive digital connectivity, and place-based, targeted policies to strengthen regional resilience and economic diversification.
Regional representatives from the CPMR Baltic Sea Commission Arctic Working Group and the Northern Sparsely Populated Areas network are pleased to invite you to a side event of the EU Arctic Forum 2025 to discuss “EU Regional Policy in the Arctic regions: boosting EU competitiveness, clean industrialisation and security”. The seminar will take place on Wednesday 25 June, 15:00- 17:30 in Levi, Lapland.
On February 18th, the network for Northern Sparsely Populated Areas, NSPA, cordially invites to the official launch of the study on the NSPA, conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD, with support from the EU Commission Technical Support Instrument.
In February 2023, the NSPA Steering Committee approved a position paper on the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025–2027 as part of the Comission's consultation on the past, present and future of the EU’s Horizon research and innovation programmes 2014–2027. The NSPA welcomes the Comission's consultation and puts forward its views regarding the future Strategic Plan of the Horizon Europe for the period 2025–2027.
EU Arctic Forum gathered high-level representatives from the EU and Arctic region to discuss recent developments and challenges in the far north.
