Government Integration Programme emphasises employment, personal responsibility and obligations

The Government of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has drawn up a Government Integration Programme for 2024–2027. The programme includes 32 measures based on the Government Programme. Integration policy is based on the learning of Finnish or Swedish, employment, familiarisation with Finnish society and compliance with its rules.

The Government adopted the programme in its session of 16 January 2025.

The objectives of integration during the government term are:

• integration in Finland through work
• immigrants to take more responsibility for their integration with an increased focus on obligations
• combating the emergence of parallel societies
• integration is in the interests of the whole family.

“In accordance with the Government Programme, we will impose obligations on immigrants to increase their own responsibility for integration. On this basis, changes will be made not only to integration services but also to the conditions for granting a permanent residence permit and citizenship. In addition, obligations will be introduced in the benefits system,” says Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen.

The resources for the integration system will be allocated more efficiently. The position of immigrant mothers will be improved and efforts will be made to raise the employment rate. The integration of children, young people and beneficiaries of temporary protection will be promoted in particular. Along Finnish, opportunities for integration in Swedish, will be ensured at the same time.

Monitoring indicators have been defined for the Integration Programme

The Government Integration Programme monitors the employment, level of education, language skills and use of social benefits of immigrants. Other objectives of the Programme, such as integration in Swedish, are also monitored.

The implementation of the Programme will be funded within the limits of the Budget and the General Government Fiscal Plan. The Government Integration Programme has been prepared in cross-sectoral cooperation. At the level of public officials, the preparation was guided by a cooperation group on the promotion of integration.

In accordance with the Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration, the Government decides on the national development of the promotion of integration by drawing up a Government Integration Programme. It defines the objectives and measures for promoting integration during the government term.

Inquiries:
Anna Bruun, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 048 254
Maria Paaso, Special Adviser to the Minister of the Interior, [email protected] (requests for interviews with the Minister of the Interior)