Ministerial committees and working groups
The Government has four statutory ministerial committees with different areas of responsibility:
- the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy
- the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs
- the Ministerial Finance Committee
- the Ministerial Committee on Economic Policy.
These statutory ministerial committees are chaired by the Prime Minister. A government plenary session may appoint extraordinary ministerial committees as needed.
In addition to the ministerial committees, ministerial working groups may be set up to address a specific issue or set of related issues. The ministerial working groups and their tasks and members are decided in connection with the government formation talks, but they can also be agreed on later in the government term.
Appointment of general secretaries and secretariats for ministerial working groups at the government plenary session on 7 September 2023 (in Finnish)
Change in the composition of a ministerial working group and the tasks of ministerial working groups made at the government plenary session on 21 September 2023 (in Finnish)
The Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy prepares important aspects of foreign and security policy and other matters concerning Finland’s relations with other states, key internal security issues and important matters pertaining to comprehensive defence.
Joint meetings between the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy and the President of the Republic have become established practice. The meetings usually take place on Fridays after the presidential session.
The Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy is chaired by the Prime Minister. Other members include the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Defence and a maximum of four other ministers designated by the Government. Any other minister designated by the Government to consider matters within the sphere of authority of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs is also a member of the Committee. When the matter in hand relates their responsibilities, the Minister of the Interior also attends the meetings. On the same basis, any other minister may also attend and participate in the Committee’s proceedings.
The public officials of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs serve as the Committee’s secretariat. The Government Communications Department is in charge of the Committee’s communications. A press release is usually published after the Committee meetings.
The Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs is the central tool for managing Finland’s EU policy. It discusses EU matters that are important politically, economically, legally or otherwise. The Ministerial Committee agrees Finland’s policy guidelines in advance of gatherings such as European Council meetings, other meetings of the heads of the Member States, meetings of the Council of the EU and informal meetings of ministers.
The Committee’s agenda also includes other EU-related policy matters that require political-level discussion. Effort is made to time the discussions so that Finland can effectively influence the EU preparatory work and decision-making at an early stage.
The Prime Minister chairs the Committee. Other members include the minister designated by the Government to consider matters within the mandate of the Prime Minister’s Office, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the minister designated to consider matters of foreign trade, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, the Minister of Economic Affairs and, where necessary, other ministers that may be designated by the Government. The minister within whose mandate the matter in hand falls is also a member of the Committee. Any other minister may also take part in the consideration of the matter.
The Committee on European Union Affairs does not make formal decisions. The aim of the minister presenting a matter is to get the support of the Ministerial Committee for the policy being proposed, or otherwise to generate discussion on a particular EU issue. The Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs usually meets on Friday mornings.
The Government EU Affairs Department serves as the Committee’s secretariat and the Government Communications Department is in charge of the Committee’s communications. The agenda is published on the Government’s website before the meeting. After the meeting, public documents related to the meeting and a press release on the guidelines adopted by the Committee are published.
The Ministerial Finance Committee prepares matters of major economic significance or which otherwise require the opinion of the Committee. As in government plenary sessions, discussions follow an itemised agenda drawn up within the ministries.
The Prime Minister chairs the Committee. Other members include the Minister of Finance and two other ministers, one of whom is designated by the Government, and the other is the minister within whose mandate the matter in hand falls. If necessary, the Government may designate a maximum of six other ministers as members of the Committee. If a minister has been designated to consider matters within the mandate of the Ministry of Finance, that minister also becomes a member of the Committee.
The Ministerial Finance Committee usually meets at 13.00 on Thursdays. The Committee has a quorum with three members present. One of the members present must be from the Ministry of Finance.
A government plenary session may deviate from an opinion issued by the Ministerial Finance Committee. A ministry, however, may not make a decision that deviates from the opinion of the Committee; in such cases, the matter would need to be presented for consideration by a government plenary session.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance or a public official from the Ministry of Finance designated by the Permanent Secretary serves as the secretary of the Ministerial Finance Committee.
The Government Communications Department is in charge of the Committee’s communications. The decisions which the Committee present to the ministries to get their support are published with appendices on the Government’s website after the meeting. Information on matters presented to the Government for support is provided after the government plenary session.
The Ministerial Committee on Economic Policy discusses matters related to macroeconomic development, general economic policy measures, the main outlines of the general government spending limits, and other economic policy measures, to the extent determined by the Prime Minister. Meetings of the Ministerial Committee on Economic Policy are usually held on Tuesday mornings.
The Prime Minister chairs the Committee. Other members include the Minister of Finance, any other minister designated by the Government to consider matters falling within the mandate of the Ministry of Finance, the Minister of Economic Affairs, the Minister of Employment and a maximum of four other ministers designated by the Government.
Director-General of the Ministry of Finance's Budget Department serves as the secretary of the Ministerial Committee on Economic Policy. The Government Communications Department is in charge of the Committee’s communications. A press release is often published after the meeting.