Minister of Economic Affairs Wille Rydman will attend the European Commission’s Cohesion Forum in Brussels on 11–12 April 2024. The 9th Cohesion Forum will discuss the importance of the European Union’s cohesion policy for the wellbeing of regions and their inhabitants.

The comprehensive reform of the Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration (Integration Act) will enter into force at the beginning of 2025 when the main responsibility for integration will be transferred from the state to municipalities. On 4 April 2024, the Government submitted a proposal to Parliament on changes to the reform based on the Government Programme. For example, the imputed reimbursement period for municipalities and wellbeing services counties would be shortened to strengthen general government finances.

On 21 March 2024, the Government appointed Juhapekka Ristola, Master of Laws trained on the bench, to serve as Director General of the Innovation and Enterprise Financing Department of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment for the period of 1 April 2024–31 March 2029.

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.

Together with 14 other Member States, Finland has published views on the development of the EU Single Market in the coming years. The European Commission and EU Member States agree that the Single Market faces increasing expectations, including due to the digital and green transitions.