Membership associations

The memberships of the WFA regional councils in international organisations

WFA is presented though it’s regional councils in the following European interest groups:

AEBR AER BSSSC CPMR EIRA ERISA Fedarene Kvarken MittNorden

AEBR, Association of European Border Regions

The AEBR acts on behalf of all European border and cross-border regions. Its aims are: to promote understanding of the problems, opportunities, tasks and projects characteristic of these regions; to represent their overall interests in national and international parliaments, authorities, institutions and other bodies; to initiate, support and coordinate cooperation between them throughout Europe (creation of a network); and to exchange know-how and information in order to formulate and coordinate common interests on the basis of the various cross-border problems and opportunities, and to provide adequate solutions. Ms Ann-Sofi Backgren, a member of the Regional Council of Ostrobothnia, is the WFA’s member on the AEBR board. For more information on the organisation:: http://www.aebr.net

AEBR’s member is the Regional Council of Ostrobothnia. The contact person is
Ms Varpu Rajaniemi, Director of Regional Development
tel. +358 6 320 6541, e-mail: varpu.rajaniemi@obotnia.fi

AER, Assembly of European Regions The AER is a political organisation of the European regions and the representative of their interests at the European and international levels. Its mission is to bring together the regions of Europe and to allow them to participate in the construction of Europe and European integration. The AER currently has 250 regional members from 25 countries, as well as 12 inter-regional members. In 2000, the General Assembly of the AER was held in Seinäjoki, being hosted by the Regional Council of South Ostrobothnia. For more information on the organisation:
http://www.are-regions-europe.org

All WFA regions are members of the AER, with the exception of the Regional Council of Ostrobothnia. The contact persons are:

Mr Asko Peltola, Region Mayor, Regional Council of South Ostrobothnia
tel. +358 20 124 4101, e-mail: asko.peltola@etela-pohjanmaa.fi
Mr Ari Koskinen, Vice Director, Regional Council of Central Finland
tel. +358 40 595 0002, e-mail: ari.koskinen@keskisuomi.fi
Mr Pentti Hämäläinen, Director, Regional Promotion, Council of Tampere Region
tel. +358 3 2481 260, e-mail: pentti.hamalainen@pirkanmaa.fi
Mr Juha Sandberg, Development Officer, Regional Council of Satakunta
tel. +358 2 6204 341, e-mail: juha.sandberg@satakunta.fi

BSSSC, Baltic Sea States Sub-regional Cooperation

The mission of the BSSSC is to continue building a strong Baltic Subregion and to be an important player in post-Nice Europe. In meeting this task the overall goals of the BSSSC are to:
- help build the Baltic Sea Region - to make it a model European Region;
- participate actively in the transformation processes in Europe which aim at creating stable foundations for peace, freedom, democracy and prosperity;
- be instrumental in strengthening decentralisation processes by supporting the establishment of strong, efficient and democratic regional authorities.
The BSSSC works towards those goals by:
- promoting closer cooperation between regions of the BSR;
- being instrumental in formulating a coherent Baltic Sea policy at the regional level;
- presenting the interests of the Baltic Sea regions to national governments, as well as to the European Commission and other European and international organisations;
- participating in the vital discussion on the future shape of the European Union.

Baltic Sea States Sub-regional Cooperation aims to help build the Baltic Sea Region - to make it a model European Region, to participate actively in the transformation processes in Europe and to be instrumental in strengthening decentralisation processes by supporting establishment of strong, efficient and democratic regional authorities. The main focus of the organisation is on the fields of environmental protection, regional development, the economy, tourism, youth and education, civic society and quality of life. More information Marjatta Vehkaoja from the Regional Council of Ostrobotnia, Vaasanpuistikko 20 B, PL 174, 65101 Vaasa, tel. +358 6 320 6500. More information: http://www.bsssc.com

All the Regional Councils of WFA are members in the BSSSC. The contact persons are:

Mr Timo Urpala, Development Manager, Regional Council of South Ostrobothnia
tel. +358 20 124 4111, e-mail: timo.urpala@etela-pohjanmaa.fi
Mr Martti Ahokas, Director of Spatial Planning, Regional Council of Central Finland
tel. +358 14 652 220, e-mail: martti.ahokas@keskisuomi.fi
Mr Pentti Hämäläinen, Director, Regional Promotion, Council of Tampere Region
tel. +358 3 2481 260, e-mail: pentti.hamalainen@pirkanmaa.fi
Ms Varpu Rajaniemi, Director of Regional Development, Regional Council of Ostrobothnia
tel. +358 6 320 6541, e-mail: varpu.rajaniemi@obotnia.fi
Mr Jukka Moilanen, Director of Spatial Planning, Regional Council of Satakunta
tel. +358 2 620 4310, e-mail: jukka.moilanen@satakunta.fi

CPMR, Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe

The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe promotes a more balanced and polycen-tric development model for the European union by supporting the regions in strengthening their financial, social and regional cohesion. More information: http://www.cpmr.org

The Regional Council of Ostrobothnia is a member in CPRM. The contact person is:
Mr Olav Jern, Region Mayor, Regional Council of Ostrobothnia
tel. +358 6 320 6527, e-mail: olav.jern@obotnia.fi

EIRA, European Industrial Regions Association

The European Industrial Regions Association aims to promote sustainable development in the re-gions by balancing industry, knowledge and services. The activity priorities of the organisation are the industrial structures and transition to the post-industrial era and knowledge-based economy. More information: http://www.association-reti.org

The Council of Tampere Region is a member of EIRA:
Ms Elina Suojanen-Nirvi, Manager, International Cooperation,
tel. +358 3 248 1245, e-mail: elina.suojanen-nirvi@pirkanmaa.fi

ERIS@, European Regional Information Society Association

European Regional Information Society Association promotes universal access to ICT-based ser-vices and applications in the regions with a view to generating new employment opportunities, im-proving quality of life and addressing the challenges of structural adjustment, social inclusion, eco-nomic cohesion, democratic decision making and sustainable development in less favoured regions. More information: http://www.erisa.be

The Council of Tampere Region is a member of ERIS@. The contact person is:
Mr Pentti Hämäläinen, Director, Regional Promotion, Council of Tampere Region, Member of ERISA board
tel. +358 3 2481 260, e-mail: pentti.hamalainen@pirkanmaa.fi

Fedarene, European Federation of Regional Energy and Environmental Agencies

The European Federation of Regional Energy and Environmental Agencies aims to facilitate the development of inter-regional partnerships and thereby encourage the exchange of experience and the transfer of know-how and technology. It lobbies the European institutions on behalf of regional and local communities concerning relevant energy and environmental issues. It also promotes the regional dimension in debates concerning energy, the environment and sustainable development. Fedarene offers help for regions in developing their capacity to take action and assisting them in the creation of energy and environmental organisations. Ms Henna Virkkunen, the Vice Chairman of the Regional Board of Central Finland is a board member in the organisation. More information: http://www.fedarene.org

The Regional Council of Central Finland is a member of Federene. The contact person is:
Mr Martti Ahokas, Director of Spatial Planning, Regional Council of Central Finland
Tel. +38 14 652 220, e-mail: martti.ahokas@keskisuomi.fi

Kvarken Council

The Kvarken Council is a Nordic cross-border cooperation association for the Ostrobothnian regions in Finland and for Västerbotten and Örnsköldsvik in Sweden. The Council focuses on the promotion of food production, cooperation between universities, travel and environmental issues. The Council is financed partly by the Interreg III A programme. Allan Blom, from the Regional Council of Ostrobotnia, is the president of the Kvarken Council. More information: http://www.kvarken.org

The contact persons for the council are:

Mr Olav Jern, Region Mayor, Regional Council of Ostrobothnia
tel. +358 6 320 6527, e-mail: olav.jern@obotnia.fi
Mr Timo Urpala, Development Manager, Regional Council of South Ostrobothnia
tel. +358 20 124 4111, e-mail: timo.urpala@etela-pohjanmaa.fi

MittNorden

The organisation of MittNorden (Central North) has members from Finland, Sweden and Norway. The main aim of the MittNorden committee is to promote societal development on the basis of the historical and cultural unity of the partner regions and their common interests in the field of regional development. This aim is pursued by means of a strategy whose main elements are renewable energy sources, an east-west traffic zone, culture, and youths and children. The common profile is based on the “Green Zone of the North”. The committee was established in 1977.

The partner regions are South Tröndelag and North Tröndelag in Norway, Jämtland and Västernorrland in Sweden, and Central Finland and South Savo in Finland. In the committee, the Regional Councils are responsible for representation and funding. The Nordic Council of Ministers provides financial support for border-region cooperation. In addition, the EU grants support under the Interreg III A-programme for activities involving Norway and Sweden. More information:
http://www.mittnorden.net

The contact persons are:
Mr Olav Jern, Region Mayor, Regional Council of Ostrobothnia
tel. +358 6 320 6527, e-mail: olav.jern@obotnia.fi
Mr Seppo Rinta-Hoiska, Manager of Spatial Planning, Regional Council of South Ostrobothnia
tel. +358 20 124 4103, e-mail: seppo.rintahoiska@etela-pohjanmaa.fi
Mr Martti Ahokas, Director of Spatial Planning, Regional Council of Central Finland
tel. +358 14 652 220, e-mail: martti.ahokas@keskisuomi.fi