TwinReg strengthens cooperation between Helsinki-Uusimaa and Harju County
Through the TwinReg project, the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region and the Union of Harju County Municipalities have strengthened joint regional planning and explored solutions to everyday cross-border challenges. The project’s final seminar in Tallinn on 22 October brought together policymakers, regional development professionals, researchers, businesses and experts to discuss its findings and the future of cooperation.
People travel between Helsinki-Uusimaa and Harju County for work, studies, family and services. Despite these close connections, regional planning and services have largely been developed separately. Funded by the Interreg Central Baltic Programme, TwinReg has strengthened cooperation in strategic planning, identified bottlenecks in cross-border services and compared models for long-term cooperation. The project supports the objectives of the letter of intent signed by the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region and the Union of Harju County Municipalities in 2022.
“The project’s most important outcome is a clearer overall picture of the current state of cooperation between Helsinki-Uusimaa and Tallinn–Harju, and the steps towards a more permanent and continuous way of working together, potentially even through a European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC),” says Mari Siivola, Director of Regional Planning in Helsinki-Uusimaa Region.
The seminar highlighted the importance of understanding the cross-border region from residents’ perspectives. For many, it already forms a shared space for everyday life. Developing cooperation therefore requires identifying situations where differences in national practices or service systems make daily life more difficult.
Seamless connections strengthen regional attractiveness
Transport connections were one of the final seminar’s key themes. Discussions explored the significance of Rail Baltica and a potential Helsinki–Tallinn link for regional development. Speakers also emphasised that major transport projects need to be accompanied by joint planning and effective cooperation.
Cooperation can also be deepened using existing connections. Better coordination of services, stronger networks, and regular dialogue between authorities can make cross-border activities easier.
The seminar also highlighted the potential for Finnish-Estonian cooperation to attract investment, talent and innovation. Shared challenges in areas such as the economy, services and security provide further reasons to seek solutions together.
Next steps: a joint forum and an action plan
Sakari Saarinen, Project Manager and Senior Adviser at the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region presented proposals for future cooperation. These included a phased approach, starting with a flexible cooperation network to strengthen regular dialogue, shared working practices and trust between organisations. A more permanent structure, such as a European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation, could be considered later. An EGTC is an EU legal instrument that enables the establishment of a permanent cross-border cooperation structure.
A clear shared message emerged from the TwinReg final seminar: Helsinki-Uusimaa and Harju County already share many characteristics of a functional cross-border region. Governance and cooperation structures now need to reflect how people, businesses and organisations operate in practice.
“The project has laid the groundwork for closer cross-border cooperation that would strengthen our joint advocacy at European and national levels and provide a platform for development work. The next steps are to establish a regular cooperation forum and develop a shared vision and an action plan. There is now momentum for deeper cooperation, and we must seize it,” says Saarinen.
TwinReg
TwinReg runs from 1 June 2025 to 30 November 2026. The lead partner is the Union of Harju County Municipalities, and the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region participates as a project partner.
For more information, please contact:
Sakari Saarinen
Senior Adviser
sakari.saarinen@uudenmaanliitto.fi
International transport, nature impact assessment of transport, project administration and funding programs, Scandria Alliance, drones, project TRACER-X.
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