Former minister Kari Häkämies to review roles of Finland’s regional councils

Finland’s Ministry of Finance has commissioned a review of the roles and functions of the country’s 18 regional councils, with former minister and county director Kari Häkämies set to lead the assessment, Yle reports.

The councils, funded by member municipalities, are legally mandated to focus on regional development and planning. Häkämies, who retired in 2024 after serving as director of the Southwest Finland Regional Council, will examine potential overlaps with municipal tasks and propose alternative structures.

Work begins in August, with conclusions expected by late November. The timing surprised many regional directors, as the announcement came just before the peak summer holiday period.

“Every year, the state drops some surprise in the middle of summer,” said Markus Hirvonen, director of the North Karelia Regional Council. He noted that implementing any changes would require legislative amendments, with parliamentary elections due next spring.

Regional directors had already prepared a joint vision for the councils’ future role, published last week, proposing greater responsibility for regional growth policies. Minister for Local and Regional Government Anna-Kaisa Ikonen stated the review is not about reducing the number of councils but assessing their place in a rapidly changing administrative landscape.