Editorial: Vantaa’s Objectives for the Government Programme

After the parliamentary elections in spring 2023, Finland will get a new government. The City of Vantaa has its own objectives, which aim to influence the outlines of the future Government Programme. We are involved in cooperation with the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland’s six largest cities and the C21 cities. We need close cooperation between the state and large cities in order to achieve the objectives, which are important to Vantaa and society as a whole!

Large cities support our country’s competitiveness and economy, and they create the most effective solutions for the digital and green transition. The Government should strengthen cities and avoid reforms that weaken the economy and investment capacity of these growth drivers. The three major cities in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area already produce 37% of Finland’s gross domestic product.

Like the entire Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Vantaa is still growing, and this is thanks to foreign-language speakers. The expenses caused by population growth and foreign-language speakers must be better taken into account, and cities must be guaranteed a sufficient share of the tax base to finance their growth investments. Finland cannot afford to fail at integration.

Municipalities need the legal and financial preconditions to be able to organise services effectively even in situations of change. At the beginning of the year, we underwent a major administrative change with the start of the wellbeing services counties, and municipalities will become responsible for employment and economic development services in 2025. Cities are now focusing on issues that will drive Finland forward: growth, competence, vitality and the development of the entire region.

The Helsinki Metropolitan Area needs more professionals in early childhood education, education, social services and healthcare. The proportion of young residents is significantly higher in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area than in Finland on average, but there are fewer student places. This is not right. The number of student places must be increased close to workplaces. In addition, we need opportunities for continuous learning so that the long-term unemployed can also find employment.

Our goal is to complete the Vantaa Light Rail in 2028, and the state should contribute to its funding. The Vantaa Light Rail would be an important part of the rail network and transverse connections in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. Mobility of the workforce and sustainable transport are guaranteed by means of public transport. There could be housing for up to 60,000 people along the Light Rail line, creating new business opportunities. 

The Light Rail connection would also improve the accessibility of Helsinki Airport. The airport is vital for the whole country: 140,000 jobs are linked to it. In order to improve our competitiveness, the Government should promote the development of the airport area as a centre of international business and competence.

The development of the main railway line connection to Helsinki Airport and the planning of the Airport Rail Link and the Finland Railway (Suomirata) must also be promoted in order for the airport and its connections to grow into a major Finnish travel centre of an international scale.

In addition, it is essential for national security to strengthen the security, safety work and preparedness of the metropolitan area.

Ritva Viljanen, Mayor

^{This article was published in Residents' magazine 1/2023. Read the other articles on the resident magazine home page!}