Management and organisation of the Prime Minister’s Office

The Government EU Affairs Department ensures that the system for coordinating EU policy functions well, and that Finland's EU policy is consistent. The Department prepares EU affairs for the Prime Minister and the Minister for European Affairs, and serves as the secretariat for the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs. It prepares meetings of the European Council, directs the Committee for EU Affairs and participates in the work of preparation sections. A representative of the Government EU Affairs Department is present, as a member of the Finnish delegation, at all Council meetings.

The Government EU Affairs Department is responsible for issues concerning the amendment of EU Treaties and the coordination of matters related to basic treaties of the European Union. It also covers other treaties and international obligations handled by the EU. In addition, the Department is responsible for any horizontal and institutional matters of key importance to the EU's development and handles certain appointments to EU institutions.

Duties relating to state ownership steering are handled in the Ownership Steering Department within the Prime Minister’s Office. The department is responsible for state ownership policy, the ownership steering of state-owned companies, the expansion of the ownership base, ownership restructuring arrangements, share investments, the coordination of ministries' ownership steering procedures and inter-ministerial cooperation.

The Department is responsible for long-term social policy foresight and planning and the Government’s analysis, assessment and research activities. It also coordinates the national implementation of sustainable development, handles Government’s strategy work, prepares the Government’s action plan and reports on Government policy. It also serves as secretariat for the Government's strategy sessions and meetings of permanent secretaries. The department has two units: the social policy planning unit and the Government policy unit.

The Government Communications Department is responsible for the Prime Minister's and the Government's communications, the external and internal communications of the Prime Minister’s Office and coordination of the Government's EU communications.  The Department provides information on Government decisions and is in charge of communications management and planning in emergency conditions. It also handles the coordination and development of central government communications. In addition, the Department is responsible for the ministries’ joint intranet.

The Government Administration Department is responsible for the government's and its ministries' common administrative and specialist services. It also assumes responsibility for issues that are deemed to be part of the general discharge of duties within the mandate of the Prime Minister's Office and do not fall within the mandate of another department or unit.

The Department is responsible for the management, coordination and development of the government’s and its ministries' common practices and procedures. In addition, it provides joint services and promotes shared organisational culture.

The Government Administration Department is headed by a director general. The Department is divided into four divisions.

• Translation and Language Division
• Internal Communications and Information Support Division
• Information Management and ICT Division
• Premises and In-house Services Division

The Governmental Affairs Unit is responsible for arranging government plenary sessions and presidential sessions and for supporting the Government in organising its talks and evening sessions. 

The Unit  

• coordinates the work of the Government and Parliament 
• assists in changes of Government and supports the activities of the Government 
• submits the Government Annual Report
• develops decision-making procedures within the Government
• supports the Council of Regulatory Impact Analysis
• is responsible for legislative planning within the Government.

The Unit also handles tasks related to legislative drafting and decision preparation, preparations for the granting of honorary titles by the President of the Republic, and tasks related to public recognition. Other areas of responsibility include matters related to the implementation of the Emergency Powers Act and certain issues concerning Åland.

The Preparedness Unit oversees joint security and coordinates security services for the Government and its ministries. Its responsibilities include compiling the Government’s shared situation picture and conducting cross-administrative comprehensive security analysis, coordinating the management of incidents and ensuring the Government’s joint preparedness for incidents and emergencies.

The Preparedness Unit consists of the Security Group, the Preparedness Group and the Government Situation Centre. The Preparedness Unit is led by the Director of Government Security.

The Human Resources Unit is responsible for personnel-related matters at the Prime Minister's Office at all stages of an employment relationship. At Government level, the unit is responsible for the harmonisation of personnel policy guidelines and practices and for matters related to skills development and occupational healthcare. The unit also provides secretarial services for senior management.

The Finance Unit at the Prime Minister’s Office is responsible for financial and operational planning, finance and travel management, and centralised guidance and support in procurements. The unit is responsible for steering, developing and coordinating the ministries’ joint operational and financial planning, finance management, procurement and travel administration. The Finance Unit provides centralised support and guidance to other ministries concerning procurements and travel.

The unit is also responsible for matters related to granting party subsidies and for overseeing and coordinating joint data protection for the Government and its ministries.