Finland faces potential budget cuts as organizations warn of impacts on youth, culture, and sports

As Finland’s government prepares for its budget negotiations this week, organizations across various sectors are anxiously anticipating potential cuts that could have far-reaching impacts. Possible outcomes include the cancellation of festivals and cinemas, increased prices for sports and recreational activities, and diminished support services for the most vulnerable, including marginalized youth.

Anna Munsterhjelmi, head of the youth umbrella organization Allianssi, warns that the proposed cuts may result in a loss of up to 20% of funding for youth initiatives, potentially amounting to a total loss of around 70 million euros. She emphasizes that these reductions would directly affect young people’s daily lives and futures, leading to fewer recreational opportunities and increased social isolation.

Rosa Meriläinen, secretary general of the cultural and arts umbrella group Kulta, deems the proposed cuts particularly excessive, pointing out that the Ministry of Finance has suggested an additional 30 million euro cut for next year, affecting cultural funding. Meriläinen notes that many festivals have already been impacted by previous decisions, and these new cuts could jeopardize the only theatre, cinema, or orchestra in numerous regions, limiting access to cultural experiences.

Juha-Erkki Mäntyniemi, executive director of the development cooperation organization Fingo, indicates that the sector faces a potential 25% reduction throughout the parliamentary term, with three forms of grants at risk of complete elimination. He hopes for further discussions on the matter, as no impact assessments have been presented.

In sports, Taina Susiluoto, CEO of the Finnish Olympic Committee, describes the proposed cuts as unreasonable, projecting that they would threaten organized sports as currently known, leading to sharp increases in participation costs.

Vertti Kiukas, secretary general of the social and health umbrella organization Sosten, reports an anticipated one-third reduction in government funding for organizations, highlighting the risk that essential support services for the most vulnerable may be severely diminished or eliminated entirely.