Green transition in focus when new EU meeting is held in Kiruna

The EU's interest in Kiruna and northern Sweden continues. In January, the Swedish presidency opened in the city. Now it's time for the European Committee of the Regions to experience Sweden's northernmost municipality.

On 27–28 April, over 70 local and regional leaders from all EU member states will gather in Kiruna to discuss opportunities and challenges related to the green transition in sparsely populated areas. The Norrbotten Region and Kiruna Municipality are hosting the EU visit.

– We are very proud and happy to welcome the EU Committee of the Regions in Kiruna, says municipal councilor Mats Taaveniku (S).

The European Committee of the Regions (ECR) is the voice of regions and municipalities in the EU. It represents local and regional authorities and advises on new legislation that has implications for regions and municipalities.

EU funds important for Norrbotten

To a large extent, it is through EU funds that northern Sweden has been able to build up the tourism industry, invest in the transition of the mining and steel industries, expand broadband and other infrastructure, invest in research and innovation and other things that today's wave of success rests on. They have an important function to fulfill in order for Norrbotten to cope with the challenges that follow the green transition.

Work will soon begin on setting the framework for how the EU's various funds will be used after 2027.

– EU funds are tools that are important for Norrbotten. The committee can represent the regions' interests in a better way if they take our perspectives into account, says regional councilor Glenn Berggård (V).

Need for continued EU investments

In Kiruna, the European politicians will visit the LKAB mine, the ice hotel in Jukkasjärvi and the Esrange space center, and meet representatives from Kiruna Municipality. They will gain insight into both how our county can contribute to a stronger EU, and the challenges that we need continued EU investments to meet.

– The visit gives us the opportunity to tell how Kiruna contributes to the green transition through our business sector and at the same time increase knowledge within the EU about our local conditions with an urban transformation, our national minorities and not least the great need for labor to enable the transition, says Mats Taaveniku.

The meeting on 28 April will be opened by Minister for Civil Affairs Erik Slottner and will conclude with the adoption of the Kiruna Declaration on achieving a green and just transition. The Kiruna Declaration calls on the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of the European Union to take into account the specific situation of areas with geographical and demographic challenges.

– The adoption of the Kiruna Declaration is a recognition of our unique challenges and strengthens us for our future work, says Berggård.