They represent the Norrbotten Region in Stockholm and Brussels.
To pursue issues where the Norrbotten Region does not have its own right to decide, the region has offices in both Stockholm and Brussels. There, employees represent the region's interests in everything from infrastructure to forestry.
As regional development manager, Region Norrbotten is responsible for issues related to infrastructure, business and the cultural industry. Within these areas, there are many issues where the region does not have its own decision-making power. This applies to legislation, or investments in infrastructure such as the expansion of train lines.
Some of these decisions are made by the Riksdag and the government. Other decisions are made at the EU level. In matters where the region does not have its own right to decide, attempts are instead made to influence decisions so that they promote development in Norrbotten.
– We have a responsibility towards the companies and the population of Norrbotten to ensure that those who are to make the decisions actually have an accurate picture of what is needed. It may happen that we want to influence the government to invest more in infrastructure, for example. Then we must convey that opinion to the government in some way and ensure that they know our position on, for example, the Norrbotten Line, says Janus Brandin, Regional Development Director at Region Norrbotten.
Janus Brandin is Regional Development Director at Region Norrbotten.
Work that makes a difference
Advocacy is a long-term effort that in many cases can take several years to implement. Region Norrbotten has a list of prioritized issues where one should work actively to influence other bodies to make decisions that are beneficial for Norrbotten's development (see below).
– The word advocacy can sometimes carry negative connotations, but it is really about conveying a point of view or opinion on a certain matter to the people who will make the decision. It is work that is not very visible to the outside world but that makes a big difference for, for example, business investments and infrastructure initiatives, says Janus Brandin.
Julia Hansson works at the North Sweden European Office in Brussels.
Norrbothnia Railway
The Norrbotten Line is an example where Region Norrbotten and several other organizations have worked for many years to make the investments a reality. There, lobbying at the EU level has been one of the keys to the investment. Since the late 90s, the four northernmost regions (Norrbotten, Västerbotten, Västernorrland and Jämtland Härjedalen) have had a joint office in Brussels.
Their task is to influence the European Commission, the European Parliament and Swedish representatives through various networks at the EU level. The office is called the North Sweden European Office.
– What is unique about our office is that we represent a large part of Sweden's geography down here in Brussels and that we work with a diversity of issues within the framework of business, academia and politics. An important goal is to increase interest and knowledge of our regions at the EU level and also send information home so that the regions can get involved, says Julia Hanson, communications and office manager at the North Sweden European Office.
Requires cooperation
Julia Hanson is originally from Boden and has been the office's coordinator since 2018. She is also responsible for monitoring the Citizens' EU policy area, which focuses on tourism, equality, civil and democracy, public health and culture issues. In Brussels, she and five other colleagues employed by the four regions work to represent their common interests.
The issues that the North Sweden European Office monitors at the EU level are also jointly managed by the regions within a cooperation forum called Europaforum Norra Sverige.
– The cooperation between our regions works very well and there are many other offices here in Brussels that are interested in us and how we work. To be heard in the Commission, you have to cooperate, as our regions have understood. The fact that our politicians do this across party lines on issues that have a clear EU dimension means that we at North Sweden can present common positions from all over northern Sweden to the EU's various actors. This gives our messages more power, says Julia Hanson.
"We have a responsibility towards the companies and the population of Norrbotten," says Janus Brandin.
At least ten years of employment
In 2021, which was the EU's "European Year of Rail", the European Commission decided that the Norrbothnia Line up to Luleå, further to Narvik and down towards Oulu on the Finnish side should be included in Europe's core network corridors. Thanks to this decision, it will also be possible to part-finance the project with EU funds. Following the EU Commission's decision, the Swedish government has in turn accelerated work on the Norrbothnia Line and decided that the construction should be included in the upcoming national infrastructure plan.
– This would not have happened by itself, I am absolutely convinced of that. It is a job that has been going on for at least ten years where we have worked to influence the European Commission to make it part of the national grid. It is a success story even if it took a long time, says Janus Brandin.
Sven Jonsson is a strategist at Region Norrbotten's Stockholm office.
Stockholm office
In addition to the cooperation office in Brussels, Region Norrbotten also has an office in Stockholm that is shared with the four northernmost regions, Umeå Municipality, Umeå University and Skellefteå Kraft. Of the four regions that share the office, it is currently Norrbotten and Västerbotten that have people placed in the Stockholm office.
The office premises consist mainly of meeting rooms that can be used by the actors behind the office. Unlike his colleagues in Brussels, Sven Jonsson is employed directly by Region Norrbotten.
An opportunity to work for the home county
He is originally from Piteå and has a long career as a civil servant behind him and has both been a political expert in the Riksdag during the 90s and worked at the Government Offices during the coalition government. Most recently, he comes from a role as an economic policy advisor at Skogsindustrierna. When Region Norrbotten opened the office in Stockholm, he saw the opportunity to contribute.
– I always feel like I'm from Norrbotten and this was an opportunity to work for my home county. For me, it's pretty much about advocacy. Seeing what decisions are being made that could be important for Norrbotten. The network that I've built up over many years is an asset there, says Sven Jonsson.
"It is important that there is a political decision at the bottom because I represent Norrbotten in every meeting," says Sven Jonsson.
Twelve questions are especially important
For Sven Jonsson, it is important to emphasize that as a civil servant, he represents issues that politicians have decided on and consider to be strategically important for Norrbotten.
– It is important that there is a political decision at the bottom because I represent Norrbotten in every meeting. Even though my overall responsibility is to work with advocacy issues, most people actually work with advocacy in one way or another. You do this by participating in meetings or when you write various submissions to authorities or ministries. We constantly influence for the good of Norrbotten, but here we have twelve issues that politics considers to be especially important, says Sven Jonsson.
Clear politicians in Norrbotten
At the time of our visit, he is working on preparations for a seminar on the EU Commission's climate package, Fit for 55, and how it may affect the forest industry. The seminar, which is primarily aimed at members of parliament, will involve both the Brussels office and representatives of the forest industry.
– In Norrbotten, the politicians are quite clear: they want us to be able to continue to use the forest and use it for climate-smart products. The regions in the north do not share the EU's view of using the forest as a carbon sink where you just leave it standing. What we want to draw the attention of the Riksdag to is how we in northern Sweden view the various political proposals from the EU Commission and what they can lead to for us, says Sven Jonsson.
Politicians who sit in the Riksdag are an important target group for Sven Jonsson at the Stockholm office.
The pandemic has been an obstacle
The joint Stockholm office was started in 2019 and for much of the project, the pandemic has been an obstacle to conducting work as usual. The project runs until summer 2022.
– We are only at the beginning of the collaboration and I feel that we will be able to achieve even more in the future. There are many issues where the four regions think alike and on the points where we have the same goals, I think we should cooperate, says Sven Jonsson.
Text: Yours
Photo: Yours and North Sweden European Office
The region's twelve impact issues, as decided by the Regional Development Committee in December 2021
High quality of life in attractive living environments
- Flexible and permissive application of shore protection
- Introduction of regional/local natural resource fees
- Fast and transparent permit processes for nature-based activities
- Coordination of Norrbotten's regional physical planning
- Increased cultural support for the establishment of stages and technology for dance, theater and music
Sustainable transport and accessibility
- Broadband expansion to all households and businesses
- Rapid completion of the entire Norrbothnia Line
- Double track on the Malmbanan
- Connection of the Haparanda Line to the Finnish railway network
Smart, sustainable innovations and entrepreneurship
- Sustainable forestry for climate-smart development
- Secure energy supply for continued development and green transition
Flexible and well-functioning skills supply
- Removing obstacles to cross-border commuting