The North Finland EU Office aims to improve the competitiveness of the economy and to increase the business opportunities and well-being of the inhabitants of the northern areas of Finland. Together with the regional councils, the office promotes the interests of North Finland in the European Union.

The North Finland EU Office was established in 2002 to secure the interests of the three northern regions – Central Ostrobothnia, Oulu Region and Lapland– in the European Union. In January 2010, also Kainuu region was included among  the regions the office represents. The office promotes the internationalization of North Finland and an increase in communication and partnerships with other European actors.

Our main activity is to shape the contents of the future Cohesion Policy of the EU with special emphasis on securing the viability of the northern, sparsely populated areas and on keeping the Northern Dimension on the EU´s agenda. We also focus on following the EU´s policies on research, transport and energy, as well as information society, and we communicate our position in these policy fields.

We assist North Finland in participating in various funding programmes of the European Commission by providing information services to our regions and by helping the actors there to find international partners for their projects. We also market Northern Finnish know-how to European actors. Our office is participating actively in the work of different EU networks in order to get useful and timely EU information that is of significance to North Finland.

Regional structure
From a European point of view, North Finland has a unique natural environment and demographic structure. The region is amongst the most sparsely populated in Europe, the climate is harsh and distances – both to the main European consumer markets and within the vast region itself – are long. These special conditions are a major challenge for regional development. The Northern way of life is enriched by the unique cultural heritage of the only indigenous people in Europe: the Sami people.

Technology, research and knowledge industry
North Finland stands out from the other European regions in many ways. People in the North are amongst the most highly educated in Europe. The share of GDP per capita spent on research and development is one of the highest in Europe and significantly higher than the average in Finland. The region´s universities rank well in international comparison. The Oulu Region is an internationally known technology centre that has attracted numerous high-tech companies to the area. Oulu has created a new development platform for new innovations and multidisciplinary cooperation as well as a successful operational environment for the international knowledge industry.

Natural resources – basic industry and tourism
The diversity of the natural resources in North Finland and the rich areas of natural beauty are the corner stones of the basic industry and tourism. The northern regions in Finland form a natural, logistical gateway to the vast energy resources in the Barents Region. Natural resources, such as gas, wood, minerals and large natural areas, give a unique added value to the whole of Europe. In addition, the northern forest belt – the “lungs´ of Europe – is a significant capturer of carbon dioxide emissions.

Northern Finland is internationally renowned for its untouched nature. The region´s tourist centres offer visitors many possibilities for activities and recreation. Lapland and Christmas are North Finland´s most important tourism brands that are seen as particularly positive in the eyes of the European consumers.