Project on the centenary of Finland's independence initiated
In 2017, Finland will have been an independent state for a hundred years. The Prime Minister's Office has launched a project to plan engaging and interesting activities to mark the centenary year. The project is to build up shared understanding of Finland's independence and development as a nation, the significance of Finland and Finnishness today, and the nation's future challenges and new direction.
The centenary emphasises Finland's democracy, the inviolability of human dignity and the freedom and rights of the individual, and promotes justice and openness in society. The centennial year also disseminates information on, advances knowledge of and creates conditions for engaged discussion on key values and principles that the pluralistic democracy of Finland is built on.
The centenary commission is chaired by Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen with Minister of Finance Jutta Urpilainen as vice chair. The commission comprises over 60 people representing various sectors of society.
The commission will decide on the general outline of the centenary celebrations. The project's general secretary, who also serves as the secretary of the commission, prepares issues for the centenary board and is the main producer of the centenary celebrations.
The Prime Minister's Office will separately appoint the centenary board, its chair and vice chair. The board will be responsible for the preparation of the programme declation which is to present key aims, principles and themes of the centenary and the way they are to be put into action. The board will also prepare and coordinate the official centenary events, plan the entire programme and direct the realisation of the celebrations and its guidance.
Inquiries: Timo Lankinen, Permanent State Under-Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office, tel. 0295 160 300