Region Norrbotten's report to Brussels: "Don't risk jobs ending up somewhere else"
Last year, Region Norrbotten's report on the societal benefits of industrial restructuring received a lot of attention, including from the government. Now we have taken it to the EU level.
On the morning of March 5, MEP Sofie Eriksson (S) hosted a meeting in the European Parliament, where Norrbotten and northern Sweden were in focus. It was about the EU's green transition and the regional conditions for the success of our large industrial projects.
- We cannot risk that the jobs created in the transition end up somewhere else in the world and that Europe will go from being a producing to a consuming continent, said Sofie Eriksson.
MEP Sofie Eriksson (S) had invited the meeting.
Big wins for Sweden
Last year, Region Norrbotten launched a report where the consulting firm McKinsey & Company analyzed the socio-economic impact if the large industrial projects in Norrbotten succeed. It showed, among other things, that the investments in Norrbotten could mean significant profits for Sweden as early as 2030:
- GDP growth of between 2-3 percent
- SEK 15-35 billion in increased tax revenue
- SEK 100 billion in increased export value
- 20 new jobs
- a significant reduction in carbon emissions
The English-language report now presented in Brussels can be found here. here.
This report was launched in Brussels in front of a packed hall of the European Parliament. The timing has been chosen with care. In the summer, the new Commission will propose a budget for the years 2028-2034. It is now in the spring that discussions and negotiations are underway about which policy areas the EU should focus on.
Cohesion policy central
One of these areas is the EU's cohesion policy. It is usually described as the Union's regional policy. Cohesion policy is a prerequisite for the communities around industrial investments to function. Without functioning communities, the projects will not succeed either.
The chairman of the Regional Development Committee in Norrbotten, Johannes Sundelin (S), presented the report in parliament. He explained what we need to be able to realize the societal benefits that the report has identified.
- Sweden is one of the countries with the lowest national debt. At the same time, we have municipalities that are burdened with the highest levels of debt in the EU. They are indebted, among other things, because they have invested in these establishments. That is where cohesion policy and the EU's role become very important for us, said Johannes Sundelin.
Katri Kulmini said that parts of Finland are facing the same challenges as Norrbotten.
Functioning societies are required
Katri Kulmini, a member of the European Parliament and a member of the Finnish Centre Party, is a member of the Renew European Party Group. She spoke about how parts of Finland have similar conditions to northern Sweden. Kulmini stressed the importance of functioning communities for the success of industrial initiatives.
- Local, regional and national politicians need to make the places possible to live, reside and work in, with good public services, she said.
The breakfast meeting was arranged by the North Sweden European Office in Brussels, and MEP Sofie Eriksson (S). In addition, Region Västernorrland participated with its examples of industrial investments and green transition. The European Commission's Directorate-General for Growth also participated.
Text: Dan Wergelius, Sara Stylbäck Vesa
