Transport and communications policy

The Ministry aims

It is the aim of transport and communications policies to promote mobility of information, goods and people and to ensure that people’s everyday life runs smoothly. This aim is pursued by means of legislation.

The advanced legislation also lays the groundwork for generating market-based services and new business ideas.

Key duties of the Ministry

The Ministry of Transport and Communications prepares the political and strategic guidelines and legislation for its administrative branch.

Matters are prepared openly and in collaboration with stakeholders. The Ministry’s mission is to maintain the competitiveness of businesses and to mitigate climate change by taking measures within its own sector.

Well-functioning transport and communications services are among the key elements on which Finnish society is founded. More and more often the raw material for services is information and the transport and communications networks serve as the platform.

Transport and communications policy in the Government Programme

The Programme of Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Government builds a socially, economically and ecologically sustainable Finland. The Programme includes six strategic themes. The responsibilities of the Ministry of Transport and Communications are particularly evident in the following themes: Dynamic and thriving Finland and Carbon neutral Finland that protects biodiversity.

The aims of the transport network development are efficient transport infrastructure, low-emission transport and efficient communications and information exchange. The role of ownership steering in state-owned companies in the transport sector will also be strengthened.

In terms of the transport infrastructure network, it is time to adopt a more systematic approach to long-term planning and development. Accessibility must be ensured in all parts of the country.

The targets for reducing emissions from transport must be in line with Finland’s carbon neutrality targets. Transport emissions account for one fifth of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. Finland is committed to reducing transport emissions by 50 per cent by 2030. This is a step towards carbon-free transport.

The accessibility of high-speed communications connections is a challenge. Networks are a platform for social services and they must be able to meet service needs in the whole country.

The Ministry provides guidance to its agencies

One of the core tasks of the Ministry of Transport and Communications is to guide the sectoral agencies. The agencies under the Ministry’s administrative branch include the Transport and Communications Agency, the Transport Infrastructure Agency and the Meteorological Institute. The Ministry provides guidance for them and makes sure that their performance targets and operations are in line with the Government Programme.

The Ministry is also responsible for ownership steering of Fintraffic Ltd, Cinia Oy, Finnish Rail, Turku One Hour Train and East Railway. The companies have societal duties.

The Finnish Broadcasting Company also falls within the Ministry’s administrative branch. It is steered by an Administrative Council appointed by Parliament.