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The network project Strategic Management of SDGs in Cities involves six of Finland's largest cities: Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere, Vantaa, Oulu and Turku. The project partners include Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council, the Prime Minister's Office, the Secretariat and National Commission on Sustainable

Healthcare and social welfare are the most extensive local government functions and a central part of the Finnish system of welfare services. Everyone has a fundamental right to healthcare and social welfare services, and local authorities have the statutory responsibility to organise the healthcare

The goal for the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities' immigration policy is to ensure that cities and municipalities can function locally, regionally and internationally. To this end, they need to fully harness the skills of immigrants and see to that Finland's humanitarian

The Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities (AFLRA) has engaged in lobbying at EU level for a long time: the year 2022 marks 30 years since the opening of our Brussels Office. We led the way already before Finland joined the EU. Active lobbying in the EU is an increasingly important

Finland has 18 regions and the autonomous province of the Åland Islands. There are 309 municipalities and cities: 293 in continental Finland and 16 in the Åland Islands. Local authorities cooperate on a voluntary basis in various thematic areas that support regional development, for example in

Local government finances are an important part of Finland’s general government finances. Finnish cities and municipalities have a large degree of autonomy, for example the right to levy taxes and freedom to manage their own finances. The strategic objective of the municipalities’ policy on

Municipal elections are held to elect councillors to municipal councils. The elections take place every four years, and the next municipal elections will be held in 2025. Then Finnish citizens aged 18 or over can choose who they want to represent them in municipal decision-making bodies. Municipal

The Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities has two office locations. Our headquarters are in Helsinki, Finland and we also have an office in Brussels, Belgium. Helsinki office (House of Municipalities) Toinen linja 14 00101 Helsinki, Finland Telephone: +358 9 7711 E-mail: info(at

Membership All Finnish municipalities, in total 309 (2021), are members of the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities — the AFLRA. We also provide services to and cooperate with Finnish hospital districts, regional councils and joint municipal authorities. Administration The AFLRA has

Established in 1994, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) participates in the EU’s legislative process by issuing opinions on affairs handled by the European Commission, Council and Parliament. The CoR brings the voice of local and regional authorities to EU decision-making. Its aim is to

Finland has 309 municipalities (2021). They tend to be small, more than half of them have fewer than 6,000 residents. These small municipalities account for about half of the land area, but only for 15 per cent of the population and for about 10 per cent of all jobs. The smallest municipalities have

The role of local authorities as organisers of employment services will be strengthened in line with the Government Programme. In March 2021, local government pilots on employment will be launched in which local authorities will have responsibility for the service process for jobseekers and for the

A partner in development The Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities (AFLRA) partners with local authorities in development. We undertake research, development and innovation (RDI) activities to promote the modernisation of local authorities and the entire local government sector. We

The new research programme Finnish Local Government in Transition 2025 coordinated by the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities (AFLRA) explores the heterogeneity, dissimilarity and divergent development of Finnish cities and municipalities. The research programme’s objective is

The AFLRA’s Brussels Office brings the views of Finland’s regional and local governments into EU debates and decision making. It seeks to raise the profile of Finnish local authorities and make known the Finnish welfare services and special features of the administrative system. Contact information

Municipalities’ service arranging responsibility and service provision are two different matters. The first means that, by special legislation, municipalities are required to ensure the availability of and the financing for the services. Municipalities have the financial responsibility for the

The Finnish Local Government Act requires that municipalities advance the well-being of their residents and promote sustainable development in their areas. Gender equality, non-discrimination and the observance of human rights are central to well-being and socially sustainable development. As the

A powerful advocate for all Finnish municipalities, the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities (AFLRA) promotes local self-government and the modernisation of municipal services. The AFLRA's core tasks are to advance the interests and development of municipalities and their partner

The strategy of the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities ‘An impactful partner for local government’ outlines the Association’s priorities and goals. It sets out the key measures we intend to take to advance the interests and development of local authorities and to reinvent