Ministerial Working Groups of the Sipilä Government

The Government appointed its ministerial working groups for the Government Programme's strategic objectives and for the reform package. In addition, each strategic objective has a designated minister. In its mid-term review on 25 April 2017, the Government reached agreement on new initiatives in the areas of knowledge, growth, employment, caring and security. The designated ministers for the new functions and key projects are listed in the Government Action Plan for 2017 to 2019.

The Government also has a ministerial working group for internal security and administration of justice and for migration. There is also a ministerial working group on Russia. The President of the Republic and all Government ministers and can participate in these meetings.  The working group handles the coordination and dissemination of information; it is not a decision-making organ. 

Ministerial working groups and ministers responsible for key projects

Employment and competitiveness

The Ministerial Committee on Economic Policy handles matters falling within the scope of the Government’s key objective of ‘employment and competitiveness’. Jari Leppä, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry and Pirkko Mattila, Minister of Social Affairs and Health  are present when necessary, when matters related to the strategic project ‘employment and competitiveness’ are being handled.

Ministerial working group on knowledge and education

Handles matters falling within the scope of the Government’s key objective ‘knowledge and education’.

Composition

Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, Minister of Education, Chair
Mika Lintilä, Minister of Economic Affairs
Jari Lindström, Minister of Employment
Sampo Terho, Minister for European Affairs, Culture and Sport
Anne-Mari Virolainen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development

Ministerial working group on health and wellbeing

Handles matters falling within the scope of the Government’s key objective of ‘health and wellbeing’.

Composition

Pirkko Mattila, Minister of Social Affairs and Health, Chair
Annika Saarikko, Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services
Jari Lindström, Minister of Employment
Anne-Mari Virolainen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development
Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, Minister of Education

Ministerial working group on bioeconomy and clean solutions

Handles matters falling within the scope of the Government’s key objective ‘bioeconomy and clean solutions’.

Composition

Jari Leppä, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry and Kimmo Tiilikainen, Minister for Housing, Energy and the Environment, Chairs
Pirkko Mattila, Minister of Social Affairs and Health
Jari Lindström, Minister of Employment
Kai Mykkänen, Minister of the Interior
Anne-Mari Virolainen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development

Ministerial working group for reforming operating practices

Handles matters falling within the scope of the Government’s key objective ‘digitalisation, experimentation and deregulation’.

Composition

Anu Vehviläinen, Minister of Local Government and Public Reforms and Anne Berner, Minister of Transport and Communications, Chairs
Jussi Niinistö, Minister of Defence
Pirkko Mattila, Minister of Social Affairs and Health
Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, Minister of Education
Antti Häkkänen, Minister of Justice

Ministerial working group on reforms

Handles matters relating to the Government’s administration reforms (health care and social services reform, reducing municipalities’ duties and obligations, regional and central government reforms).

Composition

Annika Saarikko, Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services, Chair in matters related to the health and social services reform and
Anu Vehviläinen, Minister of Local Government and Public Reforms, Chair in matters related to reducing duties and obligations in local government and in reforms in regional and central government
Pirkko Mattila, Minister of Social Affairs and Health
Jussi Niinistö, Minister of Defence
Anne-Mari Virolainen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development
Antti Häkkänen, Minister of Justice ​

Other ministerial working groups

Ministerial working group on internal security and administration of justice

Handles matters relating to the effectiveness and chain of authority of administration of justice and internal security, and to intelligence in particular.

Composition

Kai Mykkänen, Minister of the Interior, Chair
Annika Saarikko, Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services
Jussi Niinistö, Minister of Defence
Antti Häkkänen, Minister of Justice

Ministerial working group on migration

The ministerial working group on migration maintains situation awareness on the asylum seeker situation and monitors integration policies.

Composition

Kai Mykkänen, Minister of the Interior, Chair
Juha Sipilä, Prime Minister 
Anu Vehviläinen, Minister of Local Government and Public Reforms  
Mika Lintilä, Minister of Economic Affairs
Jari Lindström, Minister of Employment
Pirkko Mattila, Minister of Social Affairs and Health
Sampo Terho, Minister for European Affairs, Culture and Sport
Antti Häkkänen, Minister of Justice

updated 29.5.2019