Search

22.1.2025 | Handbook on Lifelong Guidance is an easy-to-use tool for all professionals involved in lifelong guidance.

19.5.2025 | Minister of Economic Affairs Wille Rydman and Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio appointed a new Team Finland Executive Group on 16 May 2025.

15.1.2024 | Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centres) have handled their tasks well, albeit with room for improvement in the steering system and agency structure, states a newly published external evaluation report on the agency entity comprising the ELY Centres.

1.9.2022 | The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has granted municipalities EUR 3 million to develop guidance and counselling services for immigrants. The subsidies were awarded to 21 projects implemented by municipalities, which aim to improve the integration and employment of immigrants. 

30.4.2026 | The security situation in the Middle East affects the operation of Finland's missions and VFS application centres in the region. The availability of services may be temporarily limited.

17.8.2026 | Wellbeing services counties have introduced over 600 new operating models to speed up access to care, streamline services and expand the opportunities for using digital services. These reforms were implemented under the Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland.

18.6.2021 | An audit commissioned by the Ministry of Employment and the Economy of grants made by Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centres) for SME development projects has been completed. The audit sought to provide information on the guidance, oversight and reporting of financing granted due to the COVID-19 epidemic. It was conducted by BDO Audiator Ltd for the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.

4.6.2021 | The Competence centre for sustainable and innovative public procurement KEINO is a key national operator in promoting sustainable and innovative procurement. According to an evaluation published on 4 June 2021, the Competence centre successfully brings together key operators and competencies in the sector.

7.10.2021 | The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has allocated EUR 3 million in discretionary government grants to a new Centre of Expertise for Social Enterprises in accordance with the Government policy outlined in its mid-term policy review. Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen signed the funding decision.

2.7.2021 | The aim of the new centre of expertise for social enterprises is to increase the number of social enterprises in Finland and to promote the employment of people with partial work capacity at the same time. From 2 July to 31 August 2021, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will organise a call for applications for a discretionary government grant to establish a centre of excellence and for its network-based activities.

22.12.2025 | The timing and content of health checks at child health clinics and schools, and in student healthcare and oral healthcare will be regulated in future by government decree. Upper secondary level student health checks and preliminary health examinations for compulsory military service will be combined, and an electronic health questionnaire will be introduced.

7.5.2021 | In its mid-term policy review, the Government decided to set up an expert unit to support the creation and growth of social enterprises. The centre of expertise’s operations will be network-based and funded by both the working capacity programme for persons with partial working ability and the European Social Fund. The aim is to organise a call for applications to enable the centre to start operations in October 2021.

22.9.2025 | The Government proposes to update legislation on children and young people’s health checks. Under the proposal, the timing and content of health checks in child health clinics, school and student healthcare, and oral healthcare would in future be regulated in a government decree instead of an act. The health check in student healthcare at upper secondary level would be combined with the pre-conscription health examination, and an electronic health questionnaire would be introduced. 

6.8.2026 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health proposes EUR 15.0 billion in appropriations for its Ministry and branch of government in 2027. This is about EUR 128 million more than in the 2026 Budget.

12.3.2025 | The last projects of the Catch the Carbon package of climate measures ended at the end of 2024. The implementation of the knowledge and climate change resilient solutions produced in the package of 180 measures will continue and be further intensified through cooperation in different parts of the country. The processes to support this include the activities of the National Climate Unit of the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centres).

18.12.2024 | The structures and responsibilities for organising employment services will be reformed at the turn of the year. As a result of the reform, the responsibility for organising employment and integration services will be transferred to municipalities and employment areas formed by municipalities. The role of the central government will focus on guidance, development and the nationwide functioning of the employment service system.

9.3.2026 | EU ministers will convene for a meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council in Brussels on 9 March. Minister of Social Affairs and Health Wille Rydman will represent Finland at the meeting.

28.5.2025 | The Ministry of Education and Culture has prepared a programme to advocate equity and non-discrimination in early childhood education and care, in schools and in educational institutions. The measures will be carried out over the 2025 to 2027 period.

23.12.2025 | The strategy aims to develop the social economy and social entrepreneurship and to improve the operating conditions of social enterprises in Finland.

21.11.2024 | At its meeting on 19 November 2024, the ministerial working group endorsed the submission of the updated roadmap under the EU Digital Decade 2030 programme to the European Commission. The ministerial working group also resolved to re-evaluate the transparency of critical infrastructure information and held discussions on legislation for the reform of regional state administration.