Reform Project for Regional Administration

Regional State Administrative Agencies (AVI) and Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY) started operating on 1 January 2010

As of 1 January 2010 the Regional State Administrative Agencies (AVI) and the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY) will be in charge of all tasks in the regions that belonged to the state provincial offices, employment and economic centres, regional environmental centres, environmental permit agencies, road districts, occupational health and safety district offices. All the staff and matters pending of these offices and agencies will be transferred to the new agencies and centres. Most of them will operate in the same premises as before. For more information and contact details, please go to www.avi/en and www.ely-keskus/en, accessible as of 4 January 2010.

The Reform Project for Regional State Administration (ALKU)

The Reform Project for Regional State Administration (ALKU) was launched in the summer of 2007 to make the roles, duties, steering and regional division of all regional state administrative authorities clearer. The reform, which draws on Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen’s second Government Programme, aims to enhance the citizen and customer orientation of regional administration as well as to increase efficiency and productivity in its functions. The term of the project is from 29 June 2007 to 31 December 2009.

The legislative proposals on reforms in regional administration endorsed by Government were presented to Parliament in April 2009. The parliament endorsed the legislative provisions for reforms in regional administration as outlined in the report by the Administration Committee in November 2009.

On 20 November 2009 the President of the Republic approved new legislation governing regional state administration. The bills enter into force on 1 January 2010. The Government issued decrees on the Regional State Administrative Agencies and on the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment on the same day. The Government will present a report to Parliament on the implementation and execution of the reform in regional administration. Various proposed amendments to legislation related to the functions of regional authorities are still in progress in Parliament, involving altogether 215 acts and around 1,200 provisions.

• Project in a nutshell (September 2009)
• Project's presentation (30 March 2009)
• ALKU website in Finnish and in Swedish

All state provincial offices, employment and economic centres, regional environmental centres, environmental permit agencies, road districts and occupational health and safety districts will be phased out and their functions and tasks will be reorganized and streamlined into two new regional state administrative bodies: the Regional State Administrative Agencies (AVI) and the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY).

There will be six Regional State Administrative Agencies and 15 Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment that will all start operating on 1 January 2010. The new administrative structure will also form a backdrop for future changes in regional state administration.

By bringing together regional development functions, the reform will enhance the executive powers of the regional councils as authorities in developing the regions. The regional councils will be granted statutory responsibility for key planning and pre-emptive tasks in the regions. The effectiveness of the regional strategic programmes vis-à-vis regional state authorities will be enhanced. To better organize collaboration between the regional councils, the whole country will be divided into cooperation areas to deal with inter-regional issues. 

The Regional State Administrative Agencies foster regional parity by executing all legislative implementation, steering and supervision functions in the regions. The agencies strengthen implementation of basic rights and legal protection, access to basic public services, environmental protection, environmental sustainability, public safety and a safe and healthy living and working environment in the regions.

The Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment foster regional development by implementing and developing government activities in the regions. The centres promote entrepreneurship, labour market functioning, competence and cultural activities, ensure safe and smooth transport operations, a healthy environment and sustainable use of natural resources in the regions and are in charge of functions related to labour force immigration.

• What’s new

The new regional state administration will open on 1 January 2010

On 20 November 2009 the President of the Republic approved new legislation governing regional state administration. The Government issued decrees on the Regional State Administrative Agencies and on the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment on the same day.

Maps of head offices and branch offices (in Finnish)

The legislative provisions endorsed

On 11 November 2009 Parliament endorsed the legislative provisions for reforms in regional administration as outlined in the report by the Administration Committee. The bills are due to enter into force on 1 January 2010.

The legislative provisions on reforms in regional administration presented to Parliament

The Government endorsed the legislative provisions on reforms in regional administration on 23 April 2009. The purpose of these legal instruments is to create a legislative framework for the operation of new government authorities in regional administration. The acts will enter into force on 1 January 2010.

Ministerial working group discussed regional divisions and organisation of the regional administration reform

The Ministerial Working Group for Public Administration and Regional Development discussed on 18 November 2008 proposals put forward by the auxiliary working groups of the Reform Project for State Regional Administration, and outlined first plans for further preparations. The Ministerial Working Group will continue discussing the proposals made by the auxiliary working groups of the Reform Project on 3 December 2008.

Press release 18 Nov. 2008

The interim report completed

The interim report was completed on 31 March 2008. The Ministerial Working Group for Public Administration and Regional Development discussed the report in April.

The interim report includes:

• Proposals and possible alternatives for the duties of regional administrative authorities
• Devolution of the duties of central government to regional and local administration
• Reduction of regional administrative authorities and the changes in regional divisions as well as the new state regional authorities
• Proposals for other measures related to the implementation of the new administrative structure.

The interim report is available in Finnish.

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