Survey launched to strengthen vitality of Eastern Finland

A working group consisting of State Secretaries has launched a survey to evaluate the impacts that Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine has on Eastern Finland and possible measures to increase the vitality of the region. The survey will be carried out as part of the working group’s report on strengthening the vitality of Eastern Finland.

Based on the decision of the Ministerial Working Group on Preparedness, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment appointed a working group of State Secretaries on 2 June 2022. The working group will evaluate and prepare proposals for measures to strengthen the vitality of Eastern Finland by 16 August, including ways to use funding for cooperation with neighbouring areas.

“We will hear from a broad base of stakeholders about the views and proposals to strengthen the vitality of Eastern Finland. The survey is a key part of our groundwork,” says Ann-Mari Kemell, Chair of the working group of State Secretaries. 

Survey explores views on changes in Eastern Finland’s regional economy and proposals to increase vitality

The problems caused by the war in Ukraine are estimated to be still largely ahead, and their extent is not yet clear. Initially, the direct impacts are mostly felt in Eastern Finland, but other regions are also affected to a varying degree.

The survey asks respondents to answer the following questions:

1. What are the most significant changes in your operating environment since the start of the war in Ukraine? (If possible, justify with statistical, research or other data.)
2. What are the new sources of vitality in Eastern Finland?
3. Describe the three most effective solutions for increasing the vitality of Eastern Finland, including justifications.

Please submit your answers no later than 21 July 2022 via the website Lausuntopalvelu.fi. If submitting the response via the Lausuntopalvelu.fi website is not possible, you can also send it to the registry of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment at [email protected]. Please use the register number VN/16546/2022 in the response.

Inquiries:
Marjukka Aarnio, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 150
Helinä Yli-Knuutila, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 146