Finnish ministries to scrutinize welfare regions with financial difficulties

The Finnish ministries are preparing to place certain welfare regions facing financial difficulties under special scrutiny. This involves initiating extra discussions with these areas, led by the Ministry of Finance. According to Helsinki Sanomat, the welfare regions to be closely monitored include Lapland, Kanta-Häme, Vantaa–Kerava, East Uusimaa, and Central Finland, which have reported the highest accumulated deficits relative to their populations.

Ville-Veikko Ahonen, head of the welfare region control department at the Ministry of Finance, stated that no decisions have yet been made regarding which regions will have detailed discussions about their circumstances. The ministries responsible for overseeing welfare regions—Finance, Interior, and Social and Health—are currently considering which areas must clarify their situations with the ministry, with a decision expected in the coming weeks.

Ahonen mentions that welfare regions are economically divided into two categories: one group maintains a reasonable economic situation due to effective change programs, while another group faces significant accumulated deficits. Ten areas currently meet the criteria for assessment procedures. Discussions with selected areas will focus on avoiding these assessment procedures, which serve as a means for the ministry to push for budget cuts.

So far, none of the regions have entered an assessment procedure, which evaluates their ability to meet their obligations. Ahonen emphasized that discussions may also highlight the limitations that an assessment procedure could impose on a region’s autonomy. Meanwhile, Jan Tollet, the leader of Central Finland’s welfare region, expressed confusion regarding the classification of their area under “special scrutiny,” urging stakeholders to remain patient as regions continue their reforms.