Regional Council of Kymenlaakso

The Regional Council of Kymenlaakso is a statutory joint municipal authority responsible for regional development, regional spatial planning and regional interest promotion. Kymenlaakso region consists of Kouvola- and Kotka-Hamina subregions and it is located in South-East Finland.

The Regional Council is responsible for the elaboration of the Regional Program and co-ordination of the programming process. The Regional Program is a document which defines the main priorities for regional development. Different stakeholders carry out projects which aim at achieving the defined goals. The Regional Council is able to co-fund these projects via European Union Structural Fund Programs. The Regional Program is a guideline for all authorities dealing with regional development funding.

Regional Spatial Planning takes into account national land use guidelines and foster their application at a regional level. The Regional Plan acts as a guideline for land use plans on the municipal level as well as for bigger individual land use projects.

The Regional Council, together with other regional stakeholders, promotes the interests of the region in the national decision making. Interest promotion on the European Union level is carried out in co-operation with the Helsinki EU Office in Brussels and within an international organization, the Conference of Maritime Peripheral Regions (CPMR).

International co-operation of Kymenlaakso region focuses on the Baltic Sea Region. Important tools for the co-operation are the various EU funding programs.

Kymenlaakso Summer University is a part of the Regional Council. It operates throughout the year providing adult education services. The Summer University offers Open University education and many other forms of continuing education. It organizes various regional and cultural seminars and lecture series.