In Eastern and Northern Finland, the redirection of regional development funds to the defence industry and improving military mobility is being criticised.

The regional councils estimate that the new policies will weaken traditional corporate financing in particular.

The Government reallocated funding to the defence industry and military mobility infrastructure, totaling 300 million euros. The decision raises blood pressure:

“The Commission has asked Finland to use funding to develop military infrastructure. But I don’t think the Commission intended that this money would be taken away from regional development on the eastern border,” says Regional Director Markus Hirvonen from the Regional Council of North Karelia.

Minister of Economic Affairs Sakari Puisto states that the original purpose has changed in that the focus is now on military mobility and the defence industry.

“But of course, they are infrastructure projects in the regions as well and they also serve these regional companies that operate there,” comments Puisto.

The new policy line’s funding will abandon the division into regions, replacing it with four major regions.

Was this a robbery?

“It feels a bit like that in this situation. The European Union has specifically intended this money to develop the vitality, employment and education of the region,” Hirvonen states.

The reduction in funding is estimated to affect, for example, tourism, the food industry and the forest bioeconomy. In the regions of Eastern Finland, there is now a feeling that the speeches and decisions are contradictory.

Source: MTV Uutiset (in Finnish)