Description of the National Rural Policy of Finland.

1. Rural Policy Council

2. Teksti
PERSPECTIVE
Rural areas cover
95 %
of the country.
Population density
18,01 pers/km2
…in SPA:s
(68% of total land areal)
2,52 pers./km2
Population in
rural areas approx.
31%
(1,6 milj. Finns)
Part-time residents approx.
2,1 milj.
(multilocal residency prevalent)
Of all SME:s approx.
30 %
in rural areas

3. Teksti
Multilocal dwelling prevalent.
On the left: change in number of year-round residents.
On the right: change in number of part-time residents.

4. Teksti
4
1960-70 / -81
Urbanisation
Village Action
movement
Researchers
1988
Rural
Development
Project
+
Institutionalisa
tion of Village
Action
1995-2015
1st-5th Rural
Policy
Committee
(YTR)
and
Rural Policy
Programmes
2021
Rural Policy…
(7th Rural Policy
Programme
is being
prepared). Key
themes: place-
based policy and
sustainable
development.
Structural changes in the 1970’s launched the need for a national rural policy with holistic
view and organisation. The National Rural Policy is bound to both the Regional Policy and
the EU Rural and Regional Policy.
2016-2020
Rural Policy
Council,
led by minister
in charge of
Rural Policy
(6th Rural Policy
Programme)

5. The countryside forms an inseparable
part of the national prosperity and society.
The countryside is a good living environment
that supports entrepreneurship and creativity.
The material, social, cultural and
ecological basis of the countryside is important
for all of Finland.
Vision of the Countryside in 2020:

6. The Council
Chairperson: Jari Leppä,
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry
Secretary General
Vice Secretary Generals
Senior Officer Rural Affairs
35 Organisations;
24 Umbrella Organizations:
Local and Regional Authorities,
Social- and Healthcare NGO’s,
Advocacy org., Federations
(Research i., Enterprises, Youth,
Womens), Leader-groups & Village
Action.
2 Regional State Authority
entities
9 Ministries
Secretariat
25 Organisations;
Secretary General (Ministry)
Christell Åström
Vice Secretary Generals
• Administration (Hanna-Mari
Kuhmonen/ Ministry of
Economic Affairs &
Employment)
• Citizens’ (Petri Rinne/SYTY)
• Research (prof. Hilkka Vihinen,
Luke)
Thematic Networks 2017-2019
• SPA
• Identity Based Network
• Citizens’ participation &
Wellbeing
• Competences & Employment
• Vital environments
Communications
Senior Officer Rural Affairs
Antonia Husberg
+ thematic networks
Research-group
• Thematic Networks
• Rural R&D-projects
2019:6, 2018:4
RURAL POLICY COUNCIL
Appointed by the Government
(2016-2020)
RURAL POLICY PROGRAMME
Budget (national)
2018: 2 Milj. €, 2019: 3 Milj. €
inkl. Island Policy
and state funding for Village Association.

7. CURRENT ISSUES
Rural-Urban debate,
regional development
(Rural Policy, Island Policy,
Policy for Cities and Regions)
Sustainable development
in rural context and
rural-urban context
Multiple dwelling
Place-independency
Women in Rural Areas
-Smart Villages,
Vital rural towns,
Everyday life and services,
Entrepreneurship,
Citzens’ participation,
Partnership,
Rural Proofing
Parliamentary Group
on the development of SPA
Development of
communication
MAIN EVENTS
Puurobaari (Porridge-bar)
& Info-spots @Parliament
Kumppanuuspäivä
(Partnership -day)
Maaseutuparlamentti 2020
1st-3rd of October in Kurikka,
South Ostrobothnia
(Rural Parliament)
+ 2 1/2 days
+ 1000 participants
+ 20+ Workshops
+ 5+ Roundtable-talks,
+ 10+ Excursions,
+ Rural Harvest Fair
+ Partnership Expo
+ Declaration
+ SDG commitments
+ Rural Policy Council, Rural Network,
Village Action SYTY, Agricultural
producers & Forestowners MTK
+ 40 organisations
+ 150 volunteers
Thematic seminars
and events
Vaste preparation of future of RP
with research-based strategic
group, partnership-talks, open
participation and working group
for 2021-2027 programme.
KNOWLEDGE
of Rural Questions
and Situation
Rural Barometer 2020
(the evaluations of RDP)

8. Teksti
SUPPORTING
GOOD EVERYDAY LIFE
IN RURAL AREAS
AND BETTER POLICYMAKING
- TOGETHER