EU Currents: Repairing The Past, Charging Up For The Future
Over the past several years, Finland has sought to position itself as a powerhouse of green energy, capitalizing on stores of cobalt and nickel, the two most important materials for driving the production of batteries for sustainable purposes. Finland’s efforts are especially important in driving the European Union’s strategies for building up a significant battery infrastructure. As Europe seeks to be the world’s first carbon neural continent by the year 2050, advancements in these technologies are being sought throughout the continent, with some of the most promising advancements being made in Finland.
Finland’s strategy to take the lead in battery production within the EU goes back to January 2021, when the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment launched Battery Strategy 2025. At the forefront of the plan were several objectives: Fortifying Finland’s role in battery manufacturing and recycling, minimizing carbon footprint, strengthening the battery ecosystem, providing for sustainable economic growth, new job creation and the regeneration of businesses.
However, on the other side of this breakthrough of technology, push for environmental sustainability and economic growth, the Sámi people of Lapland and Arctic Finland have often found themselves at odds with the actions taken to accomplish the noble goal of establishing a carbon-neural battery supply chain within the EU.
Traditionally, the Sámi people are a semi-nomadic people, whose livelihoods are closely intertwined with the herding of reindeer that live throughout their homeland, part of a tradition that goes back for thousands of years. In late 2021, the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was petitioned by 17 members of the Sámi community. The petition stated in part that the state had “…violated their rights to take part in the cultural life of a community.” --as the actions to commence exploration for mining of raw materials for battery production were done without respect to how the Sámi community might have been affected.
It was concluded that the Sámi had rights to pursue their livelihoods within their lands, and that the Finnish government had violated those rights. Recommendations were made suggesting that in the future, the Finnish government would be more proactive in engaging with the Sámi community on future exploration projects, with the understanding that environmental, social and cultural impacts must be completely and transparently addressed.
So, what is next for the relationship between the Sámi community and the Finnish government? On December 4th, 2025, the Sámi Truth and Reconciliation Commission released their final report, working alongside the Sámi Parliament and the Skolt Sámi Siida Council. Even with this report, which has been an ongoing part of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s goal for addressing the impact of the past, there are those that say that the work is far from finished. The Sámi Parliament has encouraged the government to keep a key support system available for the Sámi community beyond 2025. The scheme known as Uvjj-Uvja-Uvja is set to run out of funding at year’s end, as it is tied to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The importance of this program lies in its place as a resource for the Sámi to unpack the experiences tied to the revelations brought about through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, thusly, the Commission’s final report cannot be the end of the story of reconciliation between the Sámi and the Finnish government. The Sámi Parliament’s acting President Tuomas Aslak Juuso summarized the importance of the program by stating that the Finnish government needs to: “…take responsibility for the mental well-being of the Sámi people and to ensure the necessary funding so operations can continue uninterrupted.” Additionally, Anni Koivisto, the Sámi Parliament Secretary of Social Affairs and Health highlighted the fact that the program is successful because the Sámi people “…can actually use it and feel at home in it.”
What is important for Finland to keep balanced is not only the ambitious climate goals of the nation and the greater EU community, but also the concerns of an ethnic minority that is suffering from a degradation of their livelihood, mostly due to the existing climate concerns that Finland’s battery scheme is seeking to alleviate. Given that both parties are fighting the same enemy in climate change, Finland has enhanced impetus to play their part as a standard-bearer in the EU’s battery scheme, but future activities to expand the program must be made with the Sámi community in mind.
As it stands, with the conclusion of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission just around the corner, Finnish parliament will continue to work alongside the Sámi to address all grievances and concerns addressed in the wake of the full report from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission through the Spring of 2027. Looking back at the original goals of the Battery Strategy, it laid out a central theme of promoting “sustainable and responsible business” and ensuring that batteries are “part of the solution, not part of the problem.”
With an eye towards continuing the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Finland is doing their part to ensure that sustainable business models remain at the top of the agenda for Finland’s fledgling battery industry. With the possibility of 15 billion euros worth of investment in the domestic battery industry, projected economic impact in the Gross Domestic Product is estimated to be as high as 64 billion Euros. This number could be even higher if infrastructure and supplies from Finland can proliferate the global marketplace.
Balancing the needs and desires of the Sámi community, attracting investment in carbon-neural battery projects and continuing the pillars of work outlined in the Battery Strategy will benefit all of Finland, the European Union and could drastically open the global market for renewable energy sources, paving the way for a carbon-neutral future.
