Finland

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry oversees rural policy in Finland and chairs the Rural Policy Council. The Council is responsible for leading and outlining national rural policy. It has 34 members representing diverse sectors, including administration, business, civic activities, advisory organisations, and research, reflecting the cross-sectoral nature of rural policy. The Council meets around four times a year. 

The Council is supported by a Rural Policy Secretariat which prepares discussions and executes rural policy initiatives, while Thematic Networks focus on specific areas of rural policy.

The Rural Policy Programme 2021–2027 is an action plan for Finland’s national rural policy, led by the Rural Policy Council in broad cooperation with various stakeholders. The programme outlines three strategic focal points: interdependence, environmental justice, and a new knowledge-based economy. These cut across five key themes: sustainable use of natural resources, supporting rural actors in sustainable transition, strengthening competitiveness and vitality, ensuring smooth everyday life, and fostering inclusion and community. 

The programme includes 73 concrete measures related to the five key themes, which are evaluated every two years. The Rural Policy Programme is not a funding programme, but a tool for guiding rural policy and ensuring rural issues are integrated across sectors.

Rural development responsibilities in Finland are coordinated through a multi-level governance system led by the Rural Policy Council. The Council unites representatives from government, business, civil society, and research to integrate rural issues across policy areas. 

It has six core tasks: supporting decision-makers, preparing and implementing national rural policy guidelines, overseeing the development and monitoring of the Rural Policy Programme, and advocating for key rural policy projects. Additionally, the Council promotes research and knowledge on rural areas and helps coordinate national and regional development and EU rural and regional policies, ensuring alignment across governance levels.

Regional Councils – statutory, joint municipal authorities in each region – play a crucial role in coordinating regional development measures, including the implementation of EU co-financed programmes. Each Regional Council includes a regional cooperation group tasked with overseeing development initiatives, and many also have a specific rural development section. 

The Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centres) are state administrative agencies operating under the Finnish government at the regional level and responsible for implementing government policies. They coordinate and allocate EU funds, particularly from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (CAP-EAFRD) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), European Social Fund (ESF+) and Just Transition Fund (JTF), to support business development, infrastructure projects, and environmental sustainability in rural areas.

The National Broadband Competence Office (BCO) is a specialised organisation established by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, and the Agency for Rural Affairs. Its objective is to promote and facilitate the development of high-speed broadband infrastructure and services across Finland.

The office provides advice on the use of EU and national funding for broadband projects, including programmes such as the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and other national broadband schemes.

In Finland, rural proofing is a structured process used to assess the impact of national policies on rural areas before their implementation. Since 2009, Finland has applied a participatory Rural Impact Assessment (RIA) method to foster dialogue on rural development among stakeholders and evaluate how proposed policies, regulations, or initiatives will affect rural communities. The RIA method includes tools and guidelines that enable policymakers to systematically evaluate rural impacts, ensuring rural concerns are integrated into policymaking.

To strengthen this process, in 2022 the Ministry of Justice introduced new guidelines for including rural proofing in general impact assessments for law drafting, while the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry provides additional guidance that is specific to rural impacts. 

The Rural Policy Council, rural policy networks, and the Island Committee further support rural proofing by offering expertise and assessing legislative impacts on rural areas.

Data collection and analysis to inform rural policymaking are managed by institutions such as Statistics Finland and the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) which provide comprehensive data on rural demographics, economic trends, and environmental conditions. 

In 2018, the Finnish Environment Institute introduced a geospatial urban-rural classification system, dividing Finland into seven regional categories, including rural centres and sparsely populated rural areas. This classification, independent of municipal boundaries, enables detailed statistical analysis and is widely used in studies and reports that guide decision-making in rural policy.

Additionally, the Rural Policy Programme monitors rural development outcomes through evaluations conducted every two years, using the collected data to assess the effectiveness of policies and measures. 

The Rural Network offers statistics and results of CAP-funded rural development on its project register. 

The Finnish Rural Parliament is a national event that engages rural communities in policymaking and promotes Finland's diverse rural areas. It brings together people from villages, cities, and government to discuss rural issues and influence national policy. The event, first launched in 2017 and held again in 2021 and 2024, is coordinated by the National Rural Policy Council and organised in collaboration with local, regional, and national actors.

The Finnish Village Action Association (Suomen Kylät) serves as a cooperative and advocacy body for village associations, Local Action Groups (LAGs), and neighbourhood associations across Finland. It promotes rural development and enhances residents' living conditions and well-being through events, training, and projects. 

The association works closely with the parliament, various ministries, and key organisations to influence rural policy. Funded by government grants, project funding, and membership fees, the Association supports grassroots initiatives, providing advice and representation for rural communities at the national level.

The Finnish Rural Network (NRN),also known as Finland's CAP Network, is a nationwide network supported by the Finnish Rural Network Unit. The NRN connects farmers, rural developers, entrepreneurs, researchers, and policymakers to exchange knowledge and best practices. 

The network supports capacity building and innovation by organising events, workshops, and training sessions. It also communicates information about the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and provides service packages for organising training and international events, supporting stakeholders in enhancing their skills and fostering international collaboration.

In 2022, the Finnish Rural Network and Agrihub-network launched the ‘Maaseutuverkosto’ platform to enhance information exchange and networking. This platform allows users to participate in discussions, find and organise events, and access resources such as research publications and market information. It aims to improve collaboration among rural developers and bring regional insights to a national audience, supporting effective rural development across Finland.

In 2023, Finland's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Rural Policy Council, and Finnish Rural Network launched an online platform to support the Rural Vision in Finland. The platform consolidates key information about the Finnish countryside, including over 30 years of rural policy experience, practical project examples, and future policy suggestions. 

It features five main sections on: the basics of Finnish rural areas; policy framework; role of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP); practical project examples; and future policy suggestions. The website is regularly updated to showcase Finland's progress and to serve as a resource for national and EU-level discussions on rural development. 

LEADER, a key component of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), drives local rural development through 53 Local Action Groups (LAGs) in Finland, selected by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. These groups provide funding, advice, and activities to support business and development projects that strengthen rural areas and ensure agricultural continuity.

LEADER’s bottom-up approach also supports urban areas and fisheries through 10 Local Fisheries Action Groups (FLAGs) in mainland Finland and one in Åland island, promoting local fisheries livelihoods.