Policy area: North Sweden in the EU
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.
On January 12–13, Europe's eyes turned north when the Swedish government and the European Commission gathered in the north Swedish town of Kiruna for the formal inauguration of the Swedish presidency of the Council of the European Union. By inviting the EU Commission to Kiruna, the government had the opportunity to show a taste of what Sweden has to offer the EU and the rest of the world - as a forerunner in the green industrial transition and a leader in innovative technology, combined with magnificent and resource-rich nature. In connection with the EU Commission's visit, Swedish mining giant LKAB unveiled the news that Europe's largest supply of rare earth metals was discovered in Kiruna. Esrange Spaceport - was inaugurated as the EU mainland's first facility for launching satellites. North Sweden was on site in Kiruna to cover these historic and eventful days.
In the spring of 2023, Sweden holds the presidency of the Council of the EU and the inauguration will take place in Kiruna in northern Sweden – one of the most remote settlements of the EU. North Sweden European Office invited the EU journalists that are going to cover the European Commission's visit to Kiruna to a “Curious on Kiruna’’ event, with stakeholders from northern Sweden who them an introduction to northern Sweden and what the regions has to offer the green and digital transition. The event was a success with noteworthy media from all over Europe who wanted to know more about northern Sweden.
On the 4th of October a kick-off meeting for the new OECD-study will be held, a study which has been initiated by North Sweden and has received funding from the European Commission. The purpose of the new study is to propose strategies for regional development capacity for all the regions comprising the network Northern Sparsely Populated Areas (NSPA). At this Zoom event all relevant operative aspects of the project will be presented and discussed with regional representatives from the NSPA, as well as representatives from the European Commision (DG REFORM) and OECD.
European forum Northern Sweden (EFNS) takes a stand on the European Commission’s proposal to update EU legislation to make EU independent from Russian fossil fuels (REPowerEU). EFNS supports a high-level commitment under REPowerEU but highlights that the climate crisis, the energy crisis, and the war in Ukraine are increasingly placing focus on the green energy transition to a fossil free bioeconomy, where bioenergy offers a key solution to breaking both gas and oil dependency.
04 Apr 2022 NSPA forum 2022 - highly topical conference on northern Europe in the Arctic where many eyes are focused
21 Mar 2022 EU’s commissioner for energy visited northern Sweden
01 Dec 2021 Europaforum Northern Sweden’s position paper on EU’s updated Arctic policy
02 Nov 2021 Northern Sparsely Populated Areas (NSPA) meeting about Arctic policy and the EU Green Deal
15 Oct 2021 EU's new Arctic policy has been presented!
09 Jun 2021 Europaforum Northern Sweden’ position papers on EU's efforts in small labour markets and EU’s green industrial transition
17 Mar 2021 EU Industry Week 2021: Northern Sweden's minerals and batteries crucial to the EU's green deal
03 Mar 2021 New East Coast Line in high-level meeting with the Scandinavian-Mediterranean Corridor
03 Mar 2021 The extension of the European core network corridors from a Nordic perspective
17 Feb 2021 Northern Sweden participates in the debate about the revision of the EU state aid rules
16 Feb 2021 North Sweden’s contribution to the European Parliament's study on transport infrastructure in the EU's low density- and depopulation areas
29 Jan 2021 Potential for world-leading mining industry in northern Sweden according to new OECD study
20 Jan 2021 NSPA in meeting with European Commission about the EU’s Arctic policy
16 Dec 2020 Arctic Futures Symposium 2020
12 Nov 2020 NSPA and the EU Arctic Ambassador on EU Arctic Policy
04 Nov 2020 NSPA universities in meeting with EU Arctic Ambassador
07 Oct 2020 Northern Sparsely Populated Areas steering committee meeting on the EU budget and EU’s Arctic policy
29 Sep 2020 North Sweden welcomes the European Raw Materials Alliance
23 Sep 2020 NSPA in digital meeting with the European commission about future regional policy
17 Sep 2020 State of the union – Northern Sweden a guiding example
18 Dec 2019 North Sweden gathered in force with big regional stakeholder meeting in Brussels
26 Nov 2019 Arctic Shorts - short film night with an arctic theme in Brussels
30 Oct 2019 EU-funded drone projects will streamline reindeer husbandry in Jämtland Härjedalen
16 Oct 2019 EU Arctic Forum 3–4 October 2019
16 Oct 2019 Regional actors participated during European Week of Regions & Cities 2019
15 Oct 2019 Renewable energy transition in sparsely populated areas
26 Sep 2019 Norrbotten rewarded by EU: From three to four-star Reference Site in European healthy aging network
26 Sep 2019 Regional representatives from EU-counties signed declaration in Umeå for social sustainability in EU
18 Jun 2019 European premier of the OECD’s international meeting on mining in Skellefteå
22 May 2019 NSPA Forum in Tromsø, Norge
04 Apr 2019 OECD study: How can Sweden include the Sami population in regional development?
11 Mar 2016 The Europaforum North Sweden XXII in North Sweden, Piteå
07 Mar 2016 Position on Cascading
07 Mar 2016 European Commission visit to northern Sweden
04 Jan 2016 SSAB - A highly specialized steel company
07 Dec 2015 The Connection between Europe and the Arctic
02 Dec 2015 Boliden - one of the world's largest mining and smelting companies
26 Nov 2015 North Sweden premiere a series of articles on Raw Materials in Northern Sweden
26 Apr 2015 NSPA seminar with the OECD in Piteå
23 Mar 2015 NSPA has formally initiated the work with the OECD study
09 Feb 2015 The Future of navigation in the North 2015
11 Dec 2014 Luleå University of Technology in billion EU-investment
24 Nov 2014 NSPA seminar on "Transport infrastructure in the European Arctic"
12 Nov 2014 The Silver Road Corridor - strengthening regional cooperation
10 Nov 2014 The Arctic on the agenda during NSPA’s forum in Bodø
23 Oct 2014 Sustainable mining in Northern Sweden
16 Oct 2014 Smart growth a theme on NSPA side event during Open Days 2014
06 Jul 2014 The Impact of Culture - Creative businesses for sustainable cities
