The establishment of the EU Arctic Information Centre in Rovaniemi has taken an important step forward in the European Parliament.

The Parliament’s Budget Committee has approved
the budget proposal drafted by MEP Petri Sarvamaa together with other MEP’s of the
National Coalition Party of Finland for modification of the 2016 budget aiming to
secure permanent funding for the EU Arctic Information Centre.

“The decision to open a budget line for the Arctic Information Centre
is a very important choice that will secure the establishment of the centre in
Rovaniemi and long-term financing for it,” said Deputy Chairman of the Budget
Committee Petri Sarvamaa in a statement.

“We are
delighted that the EU Arctic Information Centre has taken a step forward. A
permanent budget line is a necessary condition for proceeding to decisions in this
matter. Without this there would have been a danger of the project grinding to a
halt in the wheels of the EU machine. There is still a lot of work to be done, but
now we can look ahead again”, says Timo Koivurova, acting director of the Arctic
Centre at the University of Lapland.

Support of member states
needed

“The Finnish MEPs have worked together in the
Parliament for a long time for the Arctic Information Centre to be established in
Rovaniemi, and I am especially happy for the support by my own party, the EPP, and
by the social democrats”, Sarvamaa stated.

“Now we need to
cooperate so that the Centre will get the support of the member states in the
Council.”

“Located in the Arctic areas of the
European Union, Rovaniemi is a natural and central location for the Information
Centre, because the University of Lapland and its Arctic Centre have excellent
connections with all Arctic actors. We hope that the Union will be able to make
open-minded decisions that will be for its own benefit”, Koivurova continues.

Additional Information

Petri Sarvamaa’s
Press Release on the EPP Group website

Research Professor,
Acting Director of the Arctic Centre Timo Koivurova
timo.koivurova [at]
ulapland.fi, +358 40 551 9522

More information on the EU
European Arctic Information Centre initiative.