Pressrelease 16.2.2016 kl. 17.30<\/p>\n
Today, the Kvarken Council proudly raised Finland and Sweden\u2019s flags outside the Council\u2019s office in Pukinkulma, Vaasa. The Midway Alignment project reached an important milestone when the Finnish government\u2019s Ministerial Committee for Economic Policy decided, at the last moment, to submit the project application to the EU.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are incredibly proud of our cross-border collaboration and this milestone. We have managed to piece together a financing solution that is manageable for the Kvarken region and that was approved by both the Finnish and Swedish governments. I am especially happy about the persistent teamwork shown by civil servants, industry and politicians across country and party borders, says Mr Joakim Strand<\/strong>, Chairman of Vaasa City Council, Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Kvarken Council and the Regional Council of Ostrobothnia<\/p>\n When the intensive work of the last few months was not enough to gain approval from the Finnish government, the region\u2019s politicians had to increase their efforts \u2013 and the last few weeks and hours have been especially taxing.<\/p>\n \u201cWe managed to convince the politicians that the project constituted a win-win situation for all in both the short and long term, and that the project was enormously significant for the entire Northern Europe. Several regional actors on both sides of the Kvarken Strait have taken a large role in the project, and together we can create operational preconditions for the economic life and for interaction between the people via e.g. university cooperation\u201d, tells Mr Olav Jern<\/strong>, Chief Executive of the Regional Council of Ostrobothnia and Board Member of the Kvarken Council.<\/p>\n