Finland’s multi-sectoral policy vision for rural areas for 2040
- Rural Pact
- Rural Revitalisation Platform
- Resilient rural areas
- Prosperous rural areas
- Connected rural areas
- Stronger Rural Areas
A new report from the Finnish government lays out its vision for the country’s rural areas for 2040, together with a number of strategic objectives and recommendations for renewing rural vitality.
Image by alekseystemmer from Getty Images Pro
Finland is among the most rural countries in the EU, with rural areas that are home to nearly 1.5 million people and 35% of its businesses. A policy report – now available in English – from the Finnish government sets out a vision for these areas for 2040, identifying their distinctive characteristics, strengths and challenges.
By then, Finland aims to have rural areas that:
- are digitally and physically accessible,
- renew the economy,
- are sustainably vital,
- are creative in their services, and
- have faith in the future.
The report is a key strategic document that will help with the drafting of Finland’s National and Regional Partnership Plan (NRPP). It emphasises rural areas’ significant potential for strengthening well-being, the economy and comprehensive security, and describes their current state and the factors driving change in these areas.
Reaching the 2040 vision
To realise this potential and renew rural vitality, several cross-sectoral objectives and recommendations are detailed – linked to accessibility; economic renewal; local operating conditions, well-being and confidence; rural knowledge; and rural policy planning.
For instance, the report recommends implementing rural proofing as part of the national preparation for the next EU funding period, ensuring cross-administrative coordination and making broader use of existing rural development structures.
It also proposes establishing a national rural observatory so that rural knowledge is systematically compiled and analysed. Other recommendations include narrowing the digital divide between rural and urban areas, improving access to basic public services, and strengthening the social economy.
Developed in consultation with around 2 400 stakeholders, the report is the third of its kind, with previous ones published in 1993 and 2009. It aligns with several ingredients outlined in the policy briefing ‘Making the Rural Pact happen in Member States’.
Finland’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry submitted a national political commitment to the Rural Pact earlier this year, aligning the country with the shared goals of the EU’s rural vision. Explore the Finnish country page to discover inspirational initiatives and actions that contribute to advancing the Rural Pact.
For more information on how rural areas’ challenges and opportunities can be tackled via the NRPPs, browse resources from the recent Rural Pact Policy Lab on anchoring rural areas in the NRPPs.
The upcoming High-level Rural Policy Forum on 3-4 November 2026, organised by the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU and the European Commission, will delve further into the topic of integrated national strategies. Express your interest to participate by 17 August 2026.