Making European Space in Spatial Planning in Northern Finland

The article explores European integration in northern Finland. It examines the discursive side of the European integration process by investigating the interplay between European‐level spatial policies and regional territorial practices. Spatial planning is often portrayed from an instrumentalist view as a technical, evidence‐based policy. However, spatial planning is highly political and an effective way of space making: As an inclusive and/or exclusive action, it (re‐)defines spatial relations and (re‐)produces spatial scales. Thus, spatial planning is considered here as a central part of the European integration process through which the regions are spatialized as part of Europe. The empirical analysis shows that polycentrism is the main spatial idea underlying the reorganization of European space. The adaptation to European policies manifests itself through the subjectification, rescaling and relocation of the region.