Finland promotes open government through eight permanent working areas

The openness of administration is a common value, objective, and development target of public administration.

In Finland, the promotion of openness in public administration consists of  eight permanent working areas:

1. Access to information– access to information principle means the right to obtain information about the activities of authorities.

2. Easy to understand – government texts, services and reforms are clear and understandable.

3. Participation – all those interested have a possibility to participate in the preparatory work and development. Government is responsive to new ideas, requirements and needs.

4. Open procedures–government develops its procedures into more open in all its areas.

5. Governance as an enabler – government supports civil society’s possibilities and tears down barriers to its activity.

6. Open data is available in an open and machine-readable format. Artificial intelligence is used ethically.

7. Communication – Communication is two-way and a key part of all open government work.

8. Trust – Trust is a central goal of open government. It is also an area where the aim is to increase the knowledge base on how trust can be strengthened and assessed.

Four-year action plan

Finland is an Open Government Partnership (OGP) member. Each country promotes the openness of administration through an action plan drawn up as openly as possible. Finland’s fifth open Government Action Plan includes commitments and objectives for 2023-2027. The Action Plan was published on the 5^th of October 2023.

Link to Open Government Partnership website Current and past action plans

The implementation of the Action Plan is supported by a working group consisting of important actors in society from the public sector and civil society. The working group supports the implementation of the commitments of the Action Plan.

The fifth Action Plan commits to making public administration activities more open and inclusive. through three commitments and the related concrete measures.

In accordance with the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) Recommendation on Open Government), work is carried out in Finland in all administrative sectors and at all levels of government.