Members of Finnish Parliament Joakim Strand (RKP) and former Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari (SDP) actively participated in the Järnvägsforum Norr (Railway Forum North) 2024 conference held in Sundsvall, Sweden, on April 18–19. The event brought together 250 leading decision-makers, business leaders, and opinion leaders to discuss infrastructure development in Northern Sweden and the Northern Nordics. Participation of the Swedish Minister for Infrastructure underscored the importance of the event for cooperation in the northern region.
Skinnari and Strand focused their speeches on strengthening infrastructure development and security policy cooperation in the Nordic countries. They advocated for the Nordic Connector project – a fixed link over the Kvarken and its positive impacts – and emphasized the significance of cooperation and regional growth opportunities.
Growth is in the North, but do the capitals hear the voice of the regions, does the EU hear it? they asked together
Ville Skinnari spoke at the event about comprehensive security and logistic solutions needed to enable the green transition in the Nordic countries. He emphasized that with our NATO membership, we must strengthen our regional cooperation and invest more in cross-logistic connections, which are crucial for both our security and our economy.
– The Kvarken region is a pioneering region with real cross-border cooperation and project implementation to promote regional growth – a true model region, which should be utilized not only at the Nordic level but also at the European level. Twin city thinking needs to be further multiplied.
– For example, the Nordic Connector project – that is, the work to achieve a fixed connection – connects and promotes not just the specific area, but the impact area is much larger, and the momentum is now!
– It is time that our highest decision-makers in our capitals and the EU recognize this need and the opportunities it brings for growth and development in Northern Europe, Skinnari continues.
Joakim Strand, who also serves as the Kvarken Council’s Vice-Chairman, focused on the role of infrastructure as the region’s economic backbone.
– Nordic Connector is not just a project; it is our gateway to the future, where we strengthen east-west connections and create new growth opportunities for the whole of Northern Europe, Strand said.
– Currently, advancing the development project requires that the highest-level decision-makers in our capitals understand the need and its future impacts and are ready to internalize how this could affect the growth and development of Northern Europe.
– We are ready to answer any questions and promote dialogue at all levels so that we can build a more sustainable and vibrant future together, the representatives stated.
Watch and listen to the presentations HERE.
Ville Skinnari spoke at the event about comprehensive security and logistic solutions needed to enable the green transition in the Nordic countries. Photo: Maria G Nilsson.
Joakim Strand focused on the role of infrastructure as the region’s economic backbone. Photo: Maria G Nilsson.
The Kvarken Council is a Nordic cross-border cooperation platform for three Ostrobothnian counties in Finland and the regions of Västerbotten and Västernorrland in Sweden. Together they form the Kvarken region.
The most democratic multi-level governance structure in the Nordic countries. The first fully Nordic EGTC area. We promote all types of cross-border cooperation with the ambition to develop our region to become as good as possible for future generations. The Kvarken Council is one of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ official cross-border cooperation bodies.