The Board of the North Savo Region: NSPA Funding must be permanent, not temporary
03.06.2026
Sanna Kauppinen (left), Sakari Pääkkö, Vesa Linnanmäki, Tuula Väätäinen, Teija Itkonen-Brilli and Kari Riihola
The Board of the North Savo Region considers it essential that Finland resolutely defends funding for the sparsely populated northern areas (NSPA) in the EU's next multiannual financial framework.
NSPA funding is based on Finland and Sweden's 1994 accession agreement, which recognises the structural disadvantages and special conditions of Eastern and Northern Finland.
The board demands that the Finnish government recognise the significance of NSPA funding as permanent structural financing.
— Finland must uphold its commitments and decisively advocate in negotiation tables for the retention of NSPA funding with sufficient pressure, says Chair of the Regional Assembly Tuula Väätäinen.
Chair of the Regional Board Vesa Linnanmäki reminds that NSPA funding has strengthened the viability of sparsely populated northern areas for 30 years.
— Funding could reach up to 500 million euros in the next programming period, but the Commission proposes its removal. Our message to the government is clear: this does not work for East and North Finland.
The Board of the North Savo Region was on a working visit to Brussels on 1–2 June to influence EU's future funding decisions. Finnish members of the European Parliament also broadly support East and North Finland's view on retaining NSPA funding along a long-term strategic line.
Tuula Väätäinen
Chair of the Regional Assembly
Vesa Linnanmäki
Chair of the Regional Board
Teija Itkonen-Brilli
1st Vice-Chair of the Regional Assembly
Kari Riihola
2nd Vice-Chair of the Regional Assembly
Sakari Pääkkö
1st Vice-Chair of the Regional Board
Sanna Kauppinen
2nd Vice-Chair of the Regional Board
