Region Norrbotten's report presented in Brussels: ‘Can't risk jobs going elsewhere’

Last year, Region Norrbotten's report on the social benefits of industrial transition received a lot of attention, including from the Swedish government. Now we have taken it to the EU level.

On the morning of 5 March, 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 major industrial projects.

”We cannot risk the jobs created in the transition ending up elsewhere in the world and Europe going from being a producing to a consuming continent”, said Sofie Eriksson.

Sofie Eriksson (S), Member of the European Parliament, had invited to the meeting.

Last year, Region Norrbotten launched a report in which the consulting firm McKinsey & Company analysed the socio-economic impact if the major industrial projects in Norrbotten succeed. Among other things, it showed that the investments in Norrbotten, would mean significant gains for Sweden as early as 2030:

• GDP increase of between 2-3 per cent
• SEK 15-35 billion in increased tax revenue
• SEK 100 billion in increased export value
• 20 000 new jobs
• a significant reduction in carbon emissions

The English-language report presented in Brussels can be found here.

This report has now been launched in Brussels before a packed room at the European Parliament. The timing is carefully chosen. This summer, the new Commission will propose a budget for the years 2028-2034. This spring, talks and negotiations are underway on which policy areas the EU should focus on.

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 surrounding industrial investments to function. Without functioning communities, the projects will not succeed. Johannes Sundelin (S), chair of the regional development committee in Norrbotten, presented the report in Parliament. He explained what we need in order to realise the social benefits identified in the report.

”Sweden is one of the countries with the lowest national debt. At the same time, we have municipalities with the highest levels of debt in the EU, partly because they have invested in these industrial projects. This is where cohesion policy and the role of the EU become very important for us”, said Johannes Sundelin.

From left: Mikael Janson, North Sweden European Office, Johannes Sundelin, Region Norrbotten and Katri Kulmini, MEP representing the finnish Centre party.

Katri Kulmini, a member of the European Parliament from the Finnish Centre Party, is a member of the Renew Europe group. She said that parts of Finland have similar conditions to northern Sweden. Kulmini emphasised the importance of functioning communities for the success of industrial investments.

”Local, regional and national politicians need to make communities liveable, liveable and workable, with good public services”, she said.

The breakfast meeting was organised by the North Sweden European Office in Brussels and MEP Sofie Eriksson (S). Region Västernorrland also participated with its examples of industrial investments and green transition. The European Commission's Directorate-General for Growth also participated.