A nurse escorted an elderly person in a wheelchair in a hospital in Helsinki in 2006. The Council of Europe has voiced its concern about the limited financial autonomy of Finland’s well-being services counties, which are responsible for organising social, health care and rescue services. (Sari Gustafsson – Lehtikuva)
- Next Article Stubb congratulates Trump for victory in US presidential elections
THE COUNCIL of Europe has expressed its concern about the limited financial autonomy of the well-being services counties in Finland.
The council estimated last month not only that the counties do not have access to sufficiently buoyant and diversified financial re concerning the counties after examining the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in Finland. The examination was launched due to the establishment of the counties, given their status as a second tier of local government at regional level.
As Finland has signed and ratified the European Charter of Local Self-Government, it is bound by the requirements for local and regional self-governance laid down in the charter.
The report also broached on the state of municipal autonomy in the country, noting that it is unclear how local communities would be consulted in the event of obligatory municipal consolidations. Finland, it recommended, should establish a clear and cohesive procedure for consulting local communities in conjunction with obligatory consolidations.
Also Helsinki was highlighted in the report, with the council recommending that the city be granted “special status” as regards to its specificities as the capital city but stopped short of clarifying the nature or practical implications of such a status.
The financial difficulties of counties have been well documented this year, as many of them have resorted to lay-offs and service cuts in a bid to improve their financial position.
Aleksi Teivainen – HT
- Next Article Stubb congratulates Trump for victory in US presidential elections
Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
