Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centres) have handled their tasks well, albeit with room for improvement in the steering system and agency structure, states a newly published external evaluation report on the agency entity comprising the ELY Centres.

Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine creates uncertainty for the international economy and has broad multiplier effects. Rising prices weaken consumers’ purchasing power, increase production costs and reduce willingness to invest. On the other hand, projects related to circular economy, digitalisation and clean energy solutions are progressing quickly in the regions.

The European Commission has approved the EU regional and structural policy programme, Innovation and Skills in Finland 2021–2027, and Finland’s partnership agreement among the first in the whole EU. The programme promotes the vitality, employment and wellbeing of the regions. The partnership agreement describes the strategic direction and mutual coordination of different funds.

The Government has granted regional councils, which serve as regional development authorities, a total of EUR 33 million for regional development and promotion of contractual cooperation between the central government and regions. The funding is also intended for measures that improve the resilience of regions in the changing operating environment and in anticipation of future structural changes.

In a report commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, likely future outlooks for regional development in Finland have been examined through four different scenarios. According to these scenarios which extend to 2040, regional development may be globally selective, concentrated on raw materials and tourism, patchwork-like or balanced.