Rovaniemi’s vision is to be the world’s most attractive and enjoyable Arctic city by 2040.
Rovaniemi City Council convened on Monday, 16 February 2026, to consider, among other matters, the city’s most important single document: the city strategy.
In the strategy, the council defines the municipality’s long-term objectives for its operations and finances. The purpose of the strategy is to guide all municipal decision-making, planning, and development.
Rovaniemi’s vision is to be the world’s most attractive and enjoyable Arctic city by 2040. The city’s values are bold, humane, safe, and close to nature.
The strategy includes four main objectives:
- Smooth everyday life, pleasant surroundings, and nearby nature are at the heart of our daily lives
- We provide children and young people with a safe everyday life and a bright future
- We offer an inspiring environment for entrepreneurship and work
- We enjoy high-quality leisure time in an Arctic city of events
The flagship projects for the current council term 2026–2029 are:
- Strengthening higher education and cooperation to enhance regional vitality
- Improving transport connections along Highway 4
- Implementing the Travel Centre project
- Improving the availability of affordable housing
- Increasing the attractiveness and comfort of the city centre
- Developing the Muurola and Lower Kemijoki area
- Enhancing the sustainability and year-round nature of tourism
“The strategy brings together a shared vision across council group lines. It is not merely an administrative document, but about choices that are visible in residents’ everyday lives, services, and living environment. The real work begins now, and the objectives must be integrated into budgets, projects, decision-making, and implementation,” says City Council Chair Eemeli Kajula.
Preliminary position on amendment to the rules of the Village Development Foundation
The council also considered a proposed amendment to the rules of the Rovaniemi Village Development Foundation, for which the foundation had requested the city’s preliminary position.
The foundation plans to abolish its supervisory board, which currently consists of the Rovaniemi City Executive Board.
The council’s preliminary position was that the supervisory board may be abolished and its duties transferred to the foundation’s board of directors.
According to the council’s preliminary position, the rules must stipulate that the local branches of the political parties represented in Rovaniemi City Council shall nominate the members of the board of directors, in a balanced manner from within the foundation’s area of operation. In addition, the amendment to the foundation’s rules will continue to require the support of the City of Rovaniemi as the founding body.
The council voted on an amendment proposal by the National Coalition Party and the Christian Democrats, which would have meant that the foundation’s rules would not be changed. The proposal was rejected by 34 votes to 15 (2 abstentions).
The foundation holds significant investment assets, from which it distributes grants for village development.
All decisions of the City Council meeting will be published on the city’s website.
The council will convene next on 23 March 2026.