Guidance and direction

1. A joint strategy guides and supports the work
2. Agencies and state-owned companies
3. Principles and practices of guidance

1.  A joint strategy guides and supports the work

One of the Ministry’s core responsibilities is guiding its branch of government. The Ministry ensures that its agencies and state-owned companies receive strategic, efficient and coordinated guidance and direction.

The Ministry drafts legislation and prepares policy and strategy decisions for its field of activity. The agencies are tasked with implementing the decisions.

Work across the government branch is built on collaboration and information sharing. The agencies work closely with stakeholders, as well as international and EU partners.

A joint strategy for the Ministry’s branch of government sets out the key priorities for the coming years. It guides and supports the work of the entire branch. Implementing the strategy ensures societal impact and effectiveness, and efficient delivery of the Government Programme’s objectives. The joint strategy also sets out the principles for carrying out the activities and policy preparation.

2. Agencies and state-owned companies

The agencies operating in the Ministry’s branch of government are the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom, the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency and the Finnish Meteorological Institute.

The state-owned companies under the Ministry's ownership steering are Traffic Management Company Fintraffic Ltd, Arctia Ltd, Airport Rail Ltd, West Railway Ltd and East Railway Ltd. The Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle) also falls within the Ministry’s branch of government, but it is overseen by an Administrative Council appointed by Parliament.

3. Principles and practices of guidance

The goal of agency guidance is to ensure clear roles and responsibilities.  Each agency has a multi-year performance agreement that sets out operational targets based on the joint strategy.

The Ministry carries out ownership steering of state-owned companies in line with the Government Resolution on Ownership Policy, good governance practices, and the Ministry's own ownership steering principles.

The companies are expected to operate efficiently and profitably. They should be able to invest in growth, maintain a sound financial structure and meet their performance and dividend targets.

Companies under the Ministry’s ownership steering have public service obligations defined in legislation or their articles of association.