Billions in regional development to be redistributed, says regional leader – “We can no longer talk only about poor eastern and northern Finland”

In Finland, the majority of EU regional development funds still go to Eastern and Northern Finland, even though Päijät-Häme, for example, has the lowest per capita GDP in the country.

Most of Finland’s regional development money still goes to eastern and northern Finland, even though Päijät-Häme in southern Finland, for example, has the lowest per capita GDP in the country.

Gross domestic product (GDP) is the value of all goods and services produced during a year. The latest statistics are for 2022.

– The distribution of regional development funds should be reviewed. We can no longer talk only about poor Eastern and Northern Finland.

According to Pautola-Mol, cohesion policy is needed in all areas. The purpose of cohesion policy is to reduce development differences between the regions and to create the prerequisites for well -being for other people who are lower.

Thus, according to Niina Pautola-Mol, EU structural money should be directed more than the north to southern and western Finland.

-For example, unemployment and exclusion are also serious problems in congested Finland.

Structural funds distributed by the EU to Finland are intended, among other things, to improve employment and social inclusion. Pautola-Mol recalls that most of the country’s population and immigrants live in southern Finland.

– The success of integration is a very important thing.

Two-thirds of aid goes to Eastern and Northern Finland

At present, up to two-thirds of the $ 1.5 billion pot distributed to EU Finland is distributed to northern and eastern Finland.

For example, in the current financial period, Päijät-Häme receives EU support of EUR 28 per inhabitant each year, while in many eastern and northern provinces the amount of support is many times higher. In Kainuu, the corresponding amount per capita is EUR 151. In Lapland, the aid is € 148 per capita.

Finland has a total of EUR 4-5 billion in regional development funds for the current financial period 2021-2027. Funding consists of EU funding, national public funding and private funding. The way funding is distributed nationally is based on a political decision.

– Regional development money is effective if they are targeted to areas with a large number of companies, labor and research and innovation.

The next financial season starting in 2028 is currently being prepared. The Commission must submit a proposal for the EU’s future multi -year financial framework by early July.

– It is a good idea to start discussing the priorities and criteria of future money distribution. It is clear that more will be invested in the strengthening of EU competitiveness and the development of security and defense.

Eastern and Northern Finland reject the redistribution of regional development funds

– GDP has grown throughout the country.

Pirkkalainen emphasizes that Finland receives a significant amount of EU regional development funds through criteria for Eastern and Northern Finland, such as few settlements, remote location and cold climate.

– Finland will continue to allocate the money to compensate for the harm of regional development caused by these circumstances.

Vibrant border regions are an important part of security policy

According to Pirkkalainen, the fact that the regional development money has gained a lot of good results indicates that the aid has been worth paying.

-Kainuu is one of the fastest Lumi-Super computer in Europe, which is updated as an artificial intelligence plant. The investment value of Finnish national super -computers and data centers under construction is at a billion level.

Pirkkalainen will keep the debate on the next program of the next program season. He has unprecedented pressure to cut regional development funding at EU level so that the European Union can finance his new priorities, such as safety and self-sufficiency.

Pautamo-Mol and Pirkkalainen agree that vibrant border areas are an important part of security policy.

– It is important that regional development of the eastern border of Finland is strongly supported, Pirkkalainen emphasizes.

In its own official statement, Finland has suggested that the EU would completely allocate its own funding to the Finnish border provinces, which would be out of the EU regional development policy.