Save the date! NSPA Forum 2024 in Bodø

The Northern Sparsely Populated Areas (NSPA) network wishes to welcome you to the NSPA Forum of 2024, from 12th to 13th of September. This year’s event will take place in Bodø, the first European Capital of Culture north of the Arctic Circle.

The Northern Sparsely Populated Areas (NSPA) network wishes to welcome you to the NSPA Forum of 2024, from 12th to 13th of September. This year’s event will take place in Bodø, the first European Capital of Culture north of the Arctic Circle.

NSPA Forum preliminary program: 

Wednesday 11/9 – For those arriving early 

20.00: Dinner and possible cultural activities 

 

Thursday 12/9: 

09:00 – 11.00: Boat/RIB-trip to Saltstraumen – the heaviest maelstrom in Europe 

11.30 – 12.30: Lunch 

12.30 – 19.00: Program: 

  1. Welcome speach and introduction of the day

v/ Svein M. Eggesvik, County President Nordland 

  1. Bodø 2024: Presentation of the European Capital of Culture-project and Ung 2024, and how they have succeeded in involving youths in the project. In addition, Kiruna and Oulo will / can present their plans of becoming European Capital of Culture
  2. The OECD- study – recommendations and planning of the publication

V/ Stefano Barbieri, OECD and Jouni Ponnikas, Kainuu / chair of the steering group 

  1. Geopolitics, infrastructure and transport in Arctic Europe

v/ TBC 

  1. EU and Arctic

v/ Representatives from DG Mare, European External Action Service and perhaps the European Parliament 

  1. NSPA Steering Group Meeting and NSPA Working Group Meeting

 

20.00: Dinner and beer tasting at Restaurant Bådin (local brewery), and cultural event 

 

Friday 13/9: 

09.00 – 10.15: Rebranding NSPA – finalizing workshop 

v/ NSPA working group 

10.15 – 10.30: Coffee break 

10.30 – 11.00: Arctic Race – a possibility for cross-boarder cooperation in Arctic Europe? 

v/ Knut Eirik Dybdahl, Arctic Race of Norway 

11.00: Presentation of a North Nordic project named Team Nordic Arctic 

v/ ProTromsø, Business Oulo and Umeå municipality  

11.30 – 12.00: Summary, conclusions and take-aways. 

12.00: Lunch and return home 

 

More information about the program and registration will come before the summer. We can already disclose that we will give an update on outcome from the newly finished OECD study “Support to the implementation capacity of sustainable green development in the European Arctic Northern Sparsely Populated Areas (NSPA)”

Do not hesitate to contact us for further information:

Nils Kristian Sørheim Nilsen, North Norway European office, nilnil@nfk.no

Janni Ekrem, North Norway European office, janekr@nfk.no

09 Apr 2024