Western Finland

Welcome to the structural funds website and the section on Western Finland. Here, you will find news and current issues related to the EU’s 2021–2027 regional and structural policy programming period, as well as information about the regional priorities of funded development measures and funding applications in Western Finland.

EU regional and structural policy funding in Western Finland

The allocation of funding is guided by the Innovation and Skills in Finland 2021−2027 programme, which includes measures of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and the Just Transition Fund (JTF). The programme will receive approximately EUR 1.9 billion in EU funding, of which EUR 0.3 billion will be allocated to Western Finland.

The area of Western Finland encompasses the regions of South Ostrobothnia, Central Finland, Pirkanmaa, Ostrobothnia and Satakunta. In the case of funding from centres for economic development, transport and the environment (ESF+, ERDF business funding and JTF), Western Finland also includes the regions of Central Ostrobothnia and Southwest Finland.

In Western Finland, regional and structural policy funding is handled by six parties: the Regional Council of South Ostrobothnia, the Regional Council of Central Finland, the Council of Tampere Region, the Regional Council of Ostrobothnia, the Regional Council of Satakunta and the Central Finland Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment.

ERDF funding and JTF funding are granted by both the regional council and the centre for economic development, transport and the environment. The division of duties will be agreed in greater detail in each region’s cooperation group.