Programme

Theme of the conference: The importance of Nordic cooperation in the North, with focus on transport infrastructure

Programme 12 February 2025

12.00-13.00 REGISTRATION AND LUNCH 

13.00-14.00 INTRODUCTION AND THE LARGER PERSPECTIVE

  • Introduction
    Co-chairs Pat Cox, European Coordinator for the Scandinavian-Mediterranean TEN-T Corridor and Catherine Trautmann, European Coordinator for the TEN-T North Sea Baltic Corridor
  • Welcome to the Forum
    Roberto Maiorana, Director General and Helena Eriksson, Regional Director Northern Region, Swedish Transport administration
  • Introduction of Programme
    Pat Cox and Catherine Trautmann
  • Welcome to Luleå
    Carina Sammeli, Mayor, municipality of Luleå
  • EU TEN-T Transport, climate and competitiveness
    Pat Cox and Catherine Trautmann
  • The Platform North initiative, background and future development
    Helena Eriksson, Swedish transport administration
     

14.05-16.30 NORDIC COOPERATION IN PRACTICE

  • Panel discussion
    Transport ministers: Andreas Carlson, Sweden, Jon-Ivar Nygård, Norway and Jarkko Saarimäki, Director-General of the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, Finland.
    Moderating: Pat Cox and Catherine Trautmann
  • Facilitating cross-border infrastructure planning
    Anna Lundgren, Senior Research Fellow, Nordregio
  • Prioritized measures in Platform North
    • Joint transport plan, Jussi Huotari, Lapland ELY-center
    • Financing, Lotta Rönström, North Sweden European Office
    • Information platform, Trine Lise Hornaes, Norwegian public Road Administration
  • Comments and reflections
    Moderating: Helena Eriksson, Swedish Transport Administration

16.30 End of todays´ meeting, Pat Cox and Catherine Trautmann

17.00 CLOSING DAY 1

19:00 CONFERENCE DINNER

Programme 13 February 2025

08.00–08.10 REFLECTIONS FROM DAY 1, Pat Cox and Catherine Trautmann

08.10-09.00 THE INDUSTRIAL GREEN TRANSITION

The green transition in northern Nordics Industry

  • Outokumpu, sustainable stainless steel production, Petri Mure, Head of Sustainable Products & Operations
  • Stegra, fossil-free steel production, Luisa Orre, Chief Procurement Officer
  • Accelerating industrial symbiosis at Umeå Eco Industrial Park, Karin Måwe, Project and process manager
  • Lofoten green islands transit 2030, Private and public cooperation for a green transition, Laura Johanne Olsen, Manager
  • Sustainable transport corridors and energy hub- Bodø Energi/Fjuel Bodø, Öystein Wik, Strategy director

09.10-09.50 MILITARY MOBILITY AND TRANSPORT PREPAREDNESS

  • Nordic transport preparedness cooperation (NTPC), Hannu Hakkarainen, Chief Advisor for Transport System Services, Finnish transport and communications agency and Otto A. Breivik, Head of Civil Protection and Emergency Preparedness, Bane NOR SF
  • Measures improving military mobility, P-O Norell, Lieutenant colonel, Swedish armed forces

09.50-10.20 COFFEE

10.20-11.45 SHORT STATEMENTS: HOW CAN WE USE PLATFORM NORTH?

What synergies and possibilities can you see regarding Platform North from your perspective?

First panel: Voices from cross-border Councils

  • Kvarken cooperation, Mathias Lindström, Director
  • Felles Council – joint council for Tröndelag and Jämtland/Härjedalen, Anna Halvarsson, Director
  • North Calotte Council, Glenn Berggård, Chairman
    Comments and reflections from audience

Secon panel: Voices from cross-border initiatives

  • New North project, Transport, Logistics and Security of Supply, Paula Qvick, Director of Planning, Regional Council of Lapland
  • KONNEKT, Enhancing Education and Competence within transportation and infrastructure, Trond Andersen, Manager
  • International Test Arena for Railway Technology, Preben Sæthre, National Programme Manager Europe’s Rail Norway, Norwegian Railway Directorate
    Comments and reflections from audience

Third panel: Voices from regional politicians

  • Marianne Dobak Kvensjø, Regional Council of Nordland, Norway
  • Åsa Ågren Wikström, Region Västerbotten, Sweden
  • Sakari Seppänen, Regional Council of Kainuu, Finland
  • Jonas Andersson, Chairman of Northern Sparsely Populated Areas (NSPA)
    Comments and reflections from audience


11.45–11.55 CONCLUDING COMMENTS, Pat Cox and Catherine Trautmann

11.55–12:00 SUMMING UP THE CONFERENCE, Helena Eriksson, Swedish Transport Administration

12.00 CLOSURE AND LUNCH