The EU’s new Arctic strategy at the heart of the Northern Security and Economy Forum

EU Arctic Ambassador Claude Véron-Réville and Bank of Finland Governor Olli Rehn to give keynote speeches at the Northern Security and Economy Forum in Oulu, 11-12 November 2026

The fourth edition of the Northern Security and Economy Forum will be held at Oulu City Hall on 11-12 November 2026, for the first time as an international event conducted in English. The forum brings together decisionmakers from state organisations, municipalities, cities and higher education institutions, representatives of comprehensive security stakeholders, and business leaders from Finland and abroad.

The forum’s keynote speech, The EU Arctic Strategy in a New Geopolitical Era, will be given by the EU Arctic Ambassador and Special Envoy, Claude Véron-Réville. On 20 October, the European Commission published a new Arctic strategy (Europe’s Northern Neighbourhood: A New Strategy for the Arctic). The strategy emphasises preparedness, the protection of critical infrastructure and Europe’s ability to operate in Arctic conditions. These themes align closely with the forum’s discussions on military mobility, dual-use technologies and societal preparedness. The second keynote, Economic Security and Strategic Resilience in Europe, will be given by Bank of Finland Governor Olli Rehn.

On the second day, the discussion turns to Northern investment potential. According to a study commissioned by the Lapland and Oulu Chambers of Commerce, the investment potential of Northern Finland, Northern Sweden and Northern Norway totals as much as EUR 331.1 billion, of which Northern Finland accounts for EUR 159.4 billion. The study’s findings will be presented at the forum by Juuso Rönnholm, CEO of the Oulu Chamber of Commerce, and Olli Rainio, CEO of the Lapland Chamber of Commerce. A panel discussion will explore how this potential can be turned into real investments. Participants include representatives of Nokia, Holiday Club Resorts, the Municipality of Ii and NIHAK, the regional development organisation of the Nivala-Haapajärvi area.

The Northern Security and Economy Forum is organised by the City of Oulu, the Council of Oulu Region and the University of Oulu in cooperation with the Prime Minister’s Office.