Ministry of Justice, Finland

Finnish Minister of Justice concerned about a lower level of openness in the EU

16.05.2012

Minister of Justice Anna-Maja Henriksson is worried that the reform of the EU Regulation on access to documents may lead to restrictions to openness. Minister Henriksson has sent a letter concerning this to Michael Cashman, Member of the European Parliament, who is rapporteur in the on-going review of the matter in the European Parliament. The other rapporteur is Anneli Jäätteenmäki.

Producer of the e-service for citizens' initiatives has been selected

15.05.2012

Solita Oy has been selected as the producer and system supplier of the electronic service for launching citizens' initiatives. Competitive bidding for procurement of the system was carried out as so-called open bidding.

National Action Plan on Fundamental and Human Rights available as an online publication

11.05.2012

The National Action Plan on Fundamental and Human Rights, adopted by the Finnish Government in March, is now available as an online publication in Finnish, Swedish and English.

The Finnish Government adopted a National Action Plan on Fundamental and Human Rights

22.03.2012

De facto implementation of fundamental and human rights is vital. This is the starting point for the new action plan that the Government adopted in its session today. The objective of the National Action Plan on Fundamental and Human Rights 2012-2013 is to concretise the provision of the Constitution according to which the public authorities shall guarantee the observance of fundamental and human rights. The National Action Plan focuses on concrete projects that promote this objective.

Amendments to the Constitution enter into force in the beginning of March

28.02.2012

Amendments to the Constitution of Finland enter into force on 1 March 2012. The key amendments relate to the clarification of the division of powers between the highest state organs, i.e. between the President of the Republic and the Government, which shall have the confidence of the Parliament. Provisions on Finland's membership in the EU and on the citizens' initiative have been added to the Constitution.

English translation of the Housing Companies Act published

23.01.2012

An unofficial English translation of the Housing Companies Act has been published. The translation is available free of charge in the database of Finnish acts and decrees Finlex.

Citizens' initiative will be introduced in the beginning of March

12.01.2012

A new form of participation on the state level, citizens' initiative, will be taken into use in Finland on 1 March 2012. It offers citizens a possibility to have their initiative considered by the Parliament. The objective of the new system is to promote free civic activity.