The event, held on September 17–18 in Oulu, featured a meeting of the Working Group on Economic Cooperation (WGEC) on the first day, followed by a conference hosted by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) the same afternoon and on the second day. Participants from across Europe discussed pressing regional issues, with a focus on the green transition, regional development, and cross-border collaboration.
The Working Group on Economic Cooperation (WGEC)-meeting consisted of presentations on hydrogen’s potential for driving green growth and attracting skilled people to Barents region. Challenges such as energy transport and the need for infrastructure improvements were raised.
The European Committee of the Regions (CoR)-conference focused on how Northern Regions can contribute to the EU’s growth and sustainability. As the event concluded, there was a shared sense of urgency around several critical issues: the need for sustainable energy solutions, attracting talent to rural areas, and ensuring the Arctic remains a priority in EU policymaking. There was broad agreement that while local solutions are essential, they must be backed by stronger national and European support. Attendees called for better alignment between local voices and decisions made in Brussels, as the North continues to play a key role in Europe’s sustainable future.
The event brought together important stakeholders from across Europe, including Finland’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Wille Rydman, who delivered a keynote speech on the role of cohesion policy in addressing geostrategic challenges. Mirja Vehkaperä, Chair of the Oulu City Board, and Emil Boc, Mayor of Cluj-Napoca in Romania, were among the prominent figures leading discussions on regional development. The conference also featured insights from Peter Hauk, Minister of Food, Rural Affairs, and Consumer Protection from Baden-Württemberg, Germany, and Nicola De Michelis, Deputy Director-General at the European Commission’s DG REGIO.
