Urban Policy Committee builds a fair partnership

The Urban Policy Committee aims to strengthen the partnership and dialogue between the central government, cities and urban regions. Minister of Local and Regional Government Anna-Kaisa Ikonen chairs the Committee.

At the beginning of its term, the Committee will define the objectives and priorities of urban policy for the entire government term. The Committee promotes the implementation of the urban policies set out in the Government Programme and the regional development decision. The Committee will report on its activities to the Advisory Council on Regional Renewal. The Committee’s term of office will end when the term of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government ends.

The Urban Policy Committee promotes and develops agreement-based cooperation between cities and the central government. The urban policy of Petteri Orpo’s Government is built on a fair partnership between the central government and cities, in which the Committee plays a key role.
 

Broad representation of ministries and cities

The Committee includes representatives from many ministries central to urban policy and cities from different types of urban regions (metropolitan areas, university and university consortium cities, leading regional cities and other regional cities). The members include the 21 largest cities, Kokkola, Kajaani and representatives of regional cities. In addition, the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities is represented.

A secretariat will be appointed for the Committee by a separate decision. The Committee may appoint sub-committees for the preparation of matters. A representative appointed by the regional leaders and the chairperson of the ELY Centre directors are permanent experts in the Committee. Other experts may be consulted too.

The Government first appointed the Urban Policy Committee in 1997. The four-year term of the previous Urban Policy Committee ended in 2023. 

Inquiries

Katja Palonen, Chief Specialist, General Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 071
Olli Voutilainen, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 064 919
Minna Kurki, Special Adviser to the Minister of Local and Regional Government, Ministry of Finance, tel. +358 50 437 2718