The Northern Sparsely Populated Areas (NSPA) was established as collaborative network in 2004 to raise awareness of the common issues and circumstances facing these regions within EU institutions, to influence EU policy and to provide a platform for best practice. The NSPA includes the four northernmost counties of Sweden (Norrbotten, Västerbotten, Jamtland-Härjedalen, and Västernorrland), the seven northernmost and eastern regions of Finland (Lapland, Northern Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, Kainuu, North Karelia, Pohjois-Savo and South-Savo) and northern Norway (Finnmark, Troms and Nordland).

The northern sparsely populated areas (NSPA) of Finland, Norway and Sweden are becoming increasingly important to the geopolitical and economic interests of these countries and the European Union (EU). The NSPA regions are located on the periphery of Europe and are part of Europe’s gateway to the Arctic and eastern Russia. A changing climate, access to hydrocarbon and mineral resources, and shifts in relations with Russia are changing the political and economic landscape. The sustainable development of these regions is crucial to managing such strategic risks and opportunities

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