Action Plan to Implement the Key Projects and Reforms of the Strategic Government Programme for 2015–2019, Update 2016

Action plan to implement the key projects and reforms of the Strategic Government Programme for 2015–2019, update 2016 Government Publications 12/2016 Action plan to implement the key projects and reforms of the Strategic Government Programme for 2015–2019,update 2016 Government Publications 12/2016 Published by DESCRIPTION PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE October 2016 Authors Type of publication Report Commissioned by Prime Minister’s Office Date of appointment Title Action plan to implement the key projects and reforms of the Strategic Government Programme for 2015–2019,update 2016 Abstract The Government action plan is a programme of restructuring. The action plan is an elaboration of the ways and means for achieving the key objectives detailed in the Government Programme. The Government is fully committed to its implementation. This is the Government’s second, revised action plan. Several new schemes have been launched in the area of employment and competitiveness in an effort to create the necessary preconditions for business growth and job creation, particularly in the SME sector. The main milestones, supportive actions and financing of the key projects and reforms are defined in more detail in the Government’s action plan. In the autumn of 2015, the Government decided to make a one‐off appropriation of EUR 1 billion for these key projects in the General Government Fiscal Plan for 2016–2018. This Government action plan will be implemented within the framework of said funding, the existing authorised spending limits and the other provisions of the General Government Fiscal Plan. The action plan for the implementation of the key projects and reforms defined in the Strategic Government Programme involves a large number of extensive operational changes designed to reform Finnish society and underpin the efforts to create favourable conditions for economic growth. This document does not cover the full content of the Government Programme. Its aim is to focus the Government’s collegial efforts on key inter‐administrative measures to follow through the necessary changes with a view to achieving the Government’s vision. The action plan is structured according to strategic priorities. Government‐initiated reforms to improve competitiveness and employment will pave the way for corporate renewal, growth and internationalisation. Competitiveness will be strengthened by a set of coordinated actions to foster entrepreneurship in order to facilitate business. Reforms to unemployment security will encourage people to accept work without undue delay. Labour administration will be overhauled to promote employment more effectively. In the area of knowledge and education, the Government will overhaul education system from comprehensive schools to universities and intensify interaction between educational institutions and working life. These measures will help improve the standard of skills, reduce the number of young people at risk of social exclusion, boost the impact of research and innovation and bolster education exports. In the area of health and wellbeing, steps will be taken to achieve an extensive integration of services, IT systems and information to ensure access to coordinated services. Additionally, substantial reforms will be carried out in the social security system accompanied by a new policy of coordinating services and benefits. By these actions, the Government will consolidate public finances and contribute to a smooth and timely provision of comprehensive services and facilitate the public’s transactions with government agencies. Bioeconomy and clean solutions foresees actions to replace imported fossil fuels by clean domestic energy, promote the use of timber and achieve greater added value. Additionally, bioeconomy‐related research and innovation will be initiated and profitability in the food production sector improved. This will make it possible to achieve the 2020 climate objectives during the current electoral period and create new jobs. Finland’s ambition is to be a pioneer in the bio‐ and circular economy and cleantech. In the area of reform of current practices, the Government’s policy is to do away with unnecessary regulation, streamline administrative procedures through digitalisation and accelerate renewal by means of an experimental approach. At the same time, steps will be taken to improve management and execution. Public services will become user‐oriented and primarily digital. The Government will create a favourable operating environment for digital business. The actions will make people's daily life easier, boost business and improve efficiency in public administration. Reforms are designed to reshape public‐sector services and structures to respond to future challenges. Cutting costs in municipalities, regions and across the entire public sector play a major part in these reforms. The reforms are expected to improve the sustainability of public finances by a total of EUR 4 billion. Aside from the foregoing priorities, the action plan consists of 11 linchpin projects. While highly important, they are not included in the key projects discussed in this report. Keywords priority, government strategy process, key project, government action plan, restructuring programme Publication title and number ISSN ISBN (print) Government Publications 12/2016 2323‐962X Total number of pages Language Confidentiality rating ISBN (PDF) 96 English Public 978‐952‐287‐291‐3 Published by Layout Prime Minister's Office Prime Minister’s Office Publication as a PDF: www.vnk.fi/julkaisut Government Strategic Secretariat Additional information: [email protected] CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................... 9 1 EMPLOYMENT AND COMPETITIVENESS ..................................................................................... 11 Key project 1: Strengthening competitiveness by improving conditions for business and entrepreneurship ............................................................................................................................... 12 Key project 2: Incentive traps preventing acceptance of work will be removed and structural unemployment reduced .................................................................................................................... 24 Key project 3: Company-level bargaining will be promoted and barriers to employment removed 25 Key project 4: Reforming labour administration to support employment........................................ 27 Key project 5: Increased housing production .................................................................................... 31 2 KNOWLEDGE AND EDUCATION .................................................................................................. 33 Key project 1: New learning environments and digital materials to comprehensive schools .......... 34 Key project 2: Reform of vocational upper secondary education ..................................................... 37 Key project 3: Acceleration of transition to working life ................................................................... 40 Key project 4: Improved access to art and culture ............................................................................ 42 Key project 5: Cooperation between higher education institutions and business life will be strengthened to bring innovations to the market ............................................................................. 45 Key project 6: From the youth guarantee towards a community guarantee .................................... 50 3 HEALTH AND WELLBEING ........................................................................................................... 53 Key project 1: Services based on customer needs............................................................................. 54 Key project 2: Health and wellbeing will be fostered and inequalities reduced ............................... 56 Key project 3: Restructuring programme to address child and family services ................................ 57 Key project 4: Home care for elderly people will be developed and informal care enhanced for all age groups .......................................................................................................................................... 59 Key project 5: Employment opportunities for people with impaired capacity for work .................. 61 4 BIOECONOMY AND CLEAN SOLUTIONS ...................................................................................... 63 Key project 1: Towards coal-free, clean and renewable energy in a cost-efficient way ................... 64 Key project 2: Wood on the move and new products from forests .................................................. 65 Key project 3: Breakthrough of the circular economy and clean solutions ...................................... 68 Key project 4: Economically viable food production, balanced trade and thriving bioeconomy ..... 72 Key project 5: Nature policy based on trust and fair means ............................................................. 75 5 DIGITALISATION, EXPERIMENTATION AND DEREGULATION .......................................................... 77 Key project 1: Public services will be digitalised ................................................................................ 78 Key project 2: A growth environment will be created for digital business operations ..................... 81 Key project 3: Streamlined regulation ..............................................................................................

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