Opportunities for Finland

Opportunities for Finland is the joint outlook of the Permanent Secretaries of the ministries on the key questions for the upcoming 2019–2023 government term. The document identifies the main transformation phenomena leading to challenges and opportunities, and designates sets of solutions that will play a significant role during the upcoming government term. The phenomena and solutions are examined in the context of three main purposes, which unite all of the ministries. These purposes are promoting equality, promoting sustainable growth and ensuring a secure and stable society. As a whole, the outlook aims toward achieving a sustainable society in the long term, with a view that extends beyond the electoral term. The central message of the document is that securing the future of the welfare society will require significant reforms in the 2020s. An important goal of the document is to support the next government, particularly in making difficult decisions. The commitment to mitigating climate change requires significant policy measures both in Finland and at the global level, and these must be decided on quickly. Additionally, there is a risk that general government debt will grow to an uncontrollable level due to factors such as changes in the population structure. Both of these challenges also present opportunities. For example, the mitigation of climate change requires solutions and investments at the global level. The document presents 12 outlooks that will provide a knowledge base for election discussions and government formation negotiations. In dealing with all of these issues, it is essential to acknowledge Finland’s numerous links and connections to European and global development trends