The County Governors of Nordland, Troms and Finnmark, Norrbotten, Västerbotten, and Finnish Lapland met in Bodø, Norway, for Governors North 2025.
The Norwegian region of Nordland hosted 25 representatives from the High North Cooperation for the two-day event in June. HNC brings together emergency preparedness and communications experts from the northernmost regions of Finland, Norway, and Sweden.
“We, the County Governors, cooperate—but so do our preparedness and communications experts. They hold monthly meetings to explore how we can collaborate and plan for the future,” said Nordland County Governor Tom Cato Karlsen.
Sharing Experience Beyond Preparedness
During Governors North 2025, the delegates also visited the Armed Forces’ operational headquarters at Reitan and the construction site of the new Bodø International Airport.
Although preparedness, societal security, and crisis management have been the main themes of this gathering, Governors North also facilitates experience-sharing on environmental and climate issues, reindeer husbandry, business development, and municipal planning.
“We have established good and personal relationships across borders. That makes it easier to call a colleague in a neighboring country in times of crisis,” says Karlsen.
High North Cooperation has promoted cross-border collaboration in civil preparedness since 2016.
