Programme of Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Government 10 December 2019 INCLUSIVE AND COMPETENT FINLAND – a socially, economically and ecologically sustainable society Publications of the Finnish Government 2019:33 Publications of the Finnish Government 2019:33 Programme of Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Government 10 December 2019 Inclusive and competent Finland – a socially, economically and ecologically sustainable society Helsinki 2019 WAN E S CO IC L D A PEFC-certified B R E O L The wood used to make N this printing paper comes from sustainably managed, monitored forests. PrintedPrinted matter 1234 5678 PEFC/02-31-151 www.pefc.fi 4041-0619 ISBN printed 978-952-287-813-7 ISBN PDF 978-952-287-811-3 ISSN printed 2490-0613 ISSN PDF 2490-0966 Layout Government Administration Unit, Publications Photos Page 30: Sakari Piippo / Finland Promotion Board Page 54: Laura Kotila / Prime Minister’s Office Page 73: Customs Page 95: Juho Kuva / VR Group Page 127 and 140: Suvi-Tuuli Kankaanpää, Keksi / Ministry of Social Affairs and Health Page 160: Pia Inberg, Keksi / Finland Promotion Board Helsinki 2019 Contents Government statement to Parliament concerning the Programme of Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Government (appointed 10 December 2019) ......... 5 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................ 7 1.1 Our pledges to citizens on policy reforms .............................................................................................. 11 2 Finland as a sustainable economy .......................................................................................................... 13 2.1 Taxation in a changing world ............................................................................................................................. 22 3 Strategic themes ..................................................................................................................................................... 32 3.1 Carbon neutral Finland that protects biodiversity ......................................................................... 33 3.1.1 Housing policy................................................................................................................................................... 49 3.2 Globally influential Finland .................................................................................................................................... 59 3.2.1 Policy on Europe .............................................................................................................................................. 70 3.3 Safe and secure Finland built on the rule of law .............................................................................. 79 3.3.1 Strengthening the rule of law ............................................................................................................ 89 3.3.2 Defence policy ................................................................................................................................................... 98 3.4 Dynamic and thriving Finland ............................................................................................................................ 104 3.4.1 Transport network development ................................................................................................... 118 3.4.2 Agriculture ............................................................................................................................................................. 128 3.5 Finland built on trust and labour market equality ......................................................................... 138 3.6 Fair, equal and inclusive Finland ....................................................................................................................... 151 3.6.1 Restructuring of health and social services ......................................................................... 163 3.6.2 Reforming social security ...................................................................................................................... 166 3.7 Finland that promotes competence, education, culture and innovation .............. 173 3.7.1 Youth, culture and sport .......................................................................................................................... 185 4 Governance .................................................................................................................................................................. 191 4.1 Management of the strategic Government Programme ......................................................... 192 4.2 Parliamentary committees ..................................................................................................................................... 193 4.3 Strategic ministerial working groups ......................................................................................................... 195 4.4 Ownership policy ............................................................................................................................................................. 195 4.5 Best public administration in the world ................................................................................................... 196 4.6 Government’s communications strategy ................................................................................................ 198 Annexes ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 199 Annex 1. Summary of discretionary changes in permanent expenditure ..................................... 199 Annex 2. One-off future-oriented investments ............................................................................................................ 201 Annex 3. Spending limits rule ........................................................................................................................................................ 202 Annex 4. Work to combat the grey economy ................................................................................................................. 204 Annex 5. Measures to combat international tax evasion and aggressive tax planning ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 206 Annexes and entries in meeting minutes .................................................................................................. 207 Annex 6. Entries in meeting minutes ...................................................................................................................................... 207 Annex 7. Memo of the working group on Europe regarding the key themes of Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union ........................................................ 210 Annex 8. Ideas of the working group on transport to develop land use, housing and transport ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 212 Annex 9. Fostering democracy ...................................................................................................................................................... 213 Annex 10. Impacts of benefit increases ................................................................................................................................ 215 Annex 11. Tables, Annex 1 .................................................................................................................................................................. 216 Annex 12. One-off future-oriented investments, tables, Annex 2 ............................................................ 223 Government statement to Parliament concerning the Programme of Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Government (appointed 10 December 2019) The Programme of Prime Minister Antti Rinne’s Government, entitled 'Inclusive and competent Finland – a socially, economically and ecologically sustainable society', was submitted to Parliament in the form of a Government statement (VNT 1/2019) on 6 June 2019. The President of the Republic accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Antti Rinne’s Government on 10 December 2019 and, on the same occasion, appointed the new Government led by Prime Minister Sanna Marin. Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Government has adopted the same programme 'Inclusive and competent Finland – a socially, economically and ecologically sustainable society' as its Government Programme. 5 1 Introduction INCLUSIVE AND COMPETENT FINLAND – A SOCIALLY, ECONOMICALLY AND ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY Climate change, globalisation, urbanisation, the ageing of the population and technological development are all transforming Finland and the world perhaps faster than ever before. This transformation offers great opportunities for the development of our country, but it also creates insecurity and concerns about what lies ahead. In the midst of this transformation, we need policy measures that offer people a sense of security and hope for a better future. Uncertainties in the workplace and in business activities, concerns about the fate of the globe and how our children will live, and growing