For those who want an overview of EU’s cohesion policy, EU’s regional policy, in northern Sweden, a summarised version of the report by Europaforum Northern Sweden (EFNS) is now available. EFNS is a political network that brings together Sweden’s four northernmost regions in order to safeguard northern Sweden’s interests and influence EU policy. The purpose of the report is to further contribute to knowledge and understanding of cohesion policy from a regional perspective.

The report explains why and how a strong cohesion policy remains crucial for regional development capacity, thereby contributing to a stronger EU. Given its strategic location in the European Arctic, the report also highlights how EU support has contributed to local and regional development through an analysis of the opportunities and challenges facing northern Sweden. The shorter version of the report provides an overview of areas such as:

• Infrastructure: Describes how EU support has been crucial for the transport system, digital infrastructure, and broadband expansion, including investments in the Port of Luleå, “Mittstråket”, and broadband expansion in Västernorrland.
  
  
• Innovation: Clarifies how cohesion policy has been of significant importance to increase innovation capacity and harness growth potential in northern Sweden. Examples include investments in the regional game development hub Arctic Game, the Processum Biorefinery Cluster, and the space industry.
  
  
• Capacity Building & Collaboration: Highlights how long-term and targeted efforts have been made to mobilise local and regional stakeholders, support innovation in the public and private sector, and to promote business growth and more effective use of public resources. The Academy North collaboration and the regional platform BizMaker are examples of such initiatives.
  
  
• Skills & Employment: Shows how EU investments in initiatives such as vocational adult education (Yrkesvux), learning centres (Lärcentrum), and Move up North. These efforts have contributed to new collaborations and methods to strengthen lifelong learning and to make people, companies and organisations better equipped for a changing labour market.
  
  
• Cross-Border Cooperation: Demonstrates how Interreg programmes such as Green Flyway have been crucial for research and innovation, which has resulted in the emergence of new products and services that can compete on both national and international markets.

Conditions and Challenges for Northern Sweden

Since Sweden joined the EU in 1995, cohesion policy has been crucial for northern Sweden. The region, which is part of the European Arctic, is rich in natural resources and supports the green transition through strong enabling conditions. At the same time, northern Sweden faces challenges such as long distances, sparse populations, and an economy sensitive to global market fluctuations.

EU support through cohesion policy is therefore central to meet these challenges and to maximise opportunities. These instruments carry low costs in comparison to the significant socio-economic gains they can create.

Local Impact and Sustainable Development

Cohesion policy has also enabled smaller municipalities and organisations to participate in EU projects, increasing local engagement and legitimacy. The combination of financial support and strategic governance has contributed to sustainable development.

The investments have not only created growth but have also historically contributed to a safer and more stable Europe. For northern Sweden, with its long distances to markets and small tax bases, continued EU support remains a decisive factor.

The report primarily focuses on describing the long-term development created in northern Sweden across several programming periods, illustrated through concrete projects. In summary, the report shows that cohesion policy has provided – and can continue to provide – northern Sweden with tools for development and strengthened competitiveness for the benefit of the entire union

/Fanny Rosell

Read the short version of the report in English here.

Read the full report in English here.

Read the full report in Swedish here.

Read EFNS’s views on the future of cohesion policy (in Swedish) here. 

Read more about EFNS here.

Image source: Pixabay