My Oulu: Luleå and Oulu are ready for a joint Northern Agenda
The Municipality of Luleå and the City of Oulu have been collaborating for over 25 years. Mayors Ari Alatossava and Carina Sammeli meet again this week in Luleå. Photo: Anne Laurila
Jaa sosiaalisessa mediassa:
Oulu City Board is visiting Luleå, Sweden this week. Key themes of the visit include skills, attractiveness, and cross-border cooperation in energy and transport infrastructure development. The broad outlines of the cities’ collaboration are defined in a cooperation agreement, which will be updated during the visit. The largest cities in the Bothnian Arc are ready for a joint strategic program for the Northern regions, but national governments need to be involved.
When assessing the results of cross-border cooperation, it is essential to keep the time perspective in mind. Progress has sometimes been slow, but the current situation is different—and for a clear reason.
“The Municipality of Luleå and the City of Oulu have been collaborating for over 25 years. In today’s challenging geopolitical landscape, strengthening our cross-border ties has never been more vital”, says Carina Sammeli, Mayor of Luleå.
Sammeli believes that continued investment in international cooperation, such as the Bothnian Arc network led by Luleå and Oulu or the Arctic Mayors’ Forum, is essential. These international networks help cities gain visibility and ensure their voices are heard.
“These collaborative platforms contribute to our regions remaining resilient, innovative, and visible, while amplifying the values, goals, and interests of our communities and striving to ensure they are both heard and considered”, Sammeli says.
Oulu City Board Chair Mirja Vehkaperä shares Sammeli’s view and explains why Oulu and Luleå collaborate so naturally.
“Nordic labor market, skills development, invest-in activities, leveraging the potential of arctic in hydrogen development, logistics and research and development projects bind the interests of states and regions across borders”, says Vehkaperä.
The themes highlighted by Vehkaperä align with the Northern Agenda, initiated by the City of Oulu. The Northern Agenda was presented to Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo in early February. The action plan, developed under the leadership of Finland’s Prime Minister’s Office, includes input from Oulu and some perspectives from Luleå as well.
Finland and Sweden now have their own development programs for the Northern regions. The Finnish Northern Agenda states that Finland will take the lead in preparing a joint strategic program for the three Nordic countries. This strategy would also benefit regions in Sweden and Norway, as challenges such as skills, labour availability, accessibility, infrastructure and clean energy investments are common to all.
Oulu and Luleå are ready to contribute the work for joint cross-border northern agenda designed in good collaboration between cities, regions and governments.
“Our message is loud and clear: the North provides growth, security and cooperation for the prosperity of both Finland and Sweden. Oulu and Luleå can provide perspectives and examples at regional, national, and international levels”, emphasizes Oulu Mayor Ari Alatossava.
Framework for future
When Luleå’s City Board visited Oulu a year ago, discussions focused on logistics and the Bothnian Arc rail connection. This week, Oulu’s City Board is making a reciprocal visit to Luleå—though not yet by train, despite the completion of the Laurila–Tornio–Haparanda railway electrification project a month ago. Establishing passenger rail connections from Oulu to Luleå and onward to Stockholm is a shared priority for both cities and just one example of what they aim to achieve through cooperation.
“Luleå and Oulu update the cooperation agreement to drive joint positive development and working together for sustainable growth and increased attractiveness in our shared region”, says Sammeli.
According to Alatossava, the timing of the update is ideal.
“The timing for updating the cooperation agreement couldn’t be better. Both cities are making rapid progress for example in the hydrogen economy and green energy transition. We must also raise the bar for our own goals and bring the governments of Finland and Sweden even more closely on board to support us”, he states.
The agreement between the cities is updated every four years. By the time Luleå’s delegation next visits Oulu, the joint Northern Regions Agenda may have taken a step forward.