Government launches work to reduce excessive regulation and administrative burden

All Finnish ministries will begin to apply the ‘one-in, one-out principle’ in order to lighten the administrative burden on companies. According to the principle, Government-proposed increases in regulatory burdens on companies must be matched by equal reductions in regulatory burdens elsewhere. The work will begin immediately after the start of Parliament’s spring session.

In addition, the Government has set a target of abolishing at least 300 norms that are harmful to companies and citizens. Interest groups, administrative bodies and parliamentary groups are requested to propose norms that could be abolished or streamlined. 

The ‘one in, one out principle’ implements the Government’s objective that the administrative burden on companies arising from national legislative amendments will not increase during the government term. The progress towards the target will be monitored on an annual basis. Monitoring will be based on the Government’s burden reports, with the help of which the Government will decide on the necessary measures to reduce the administrative burden. 

An intersectoral steering group appointed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will guide and coordinate the objectives on reducing the administrative burden and deregulation. Mika Nykänen, State Secretary to Minister of Employment Arto Satonen, will chair the group while Lassi Noponen, Special Adviser to Minister of Economic Affairs Wille Rydman, will serve as vice-chair. The term of the steering group will continue until the end of February 2027.

The steering group will review future legislative projects and identify those where the burden on companies could be reduced or regulation otherwise streamlined (deregulation). The ministerial working group on employment and entrepreneurship will outline the steering group’s work.

An expert network operating under the steering group will be responsible for drafting the burden reports. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has developed a regulatory burden calculator to prepare the burden assessments required for reporting. The calculator can be used to estimate the direct administrative burdens and official fees imposed on companies in euros.

The ‘one in, one out principle’ is a continuation of a pilot by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment conducted in 2017–2023. In the future, the principle will apply to all ministries.

Inquiries:

Anu Laitinen, Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 295 047 164, [email protected]
Tiina Haanpää, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 p. 295 047 063, [email protected]