The Finnish Presidency of the European Union and the Committee of the Regions.
Date: 2006-06-30
Institutions: European Committee of the Regions
Subjects: European Committee of the Regions, Finland, Presidency of the Council of the EU

The Finnish Presidency
of the European Union
and the 
Committee of the Regions

            
Michel Delebarre

President of the
Committee of the Regions

On 1 July 2006 Finland will take over the Presidency of the European
Union  for  the  second  time  in  eight  years.  The  previous  Finnish
presidency was remembered for the particular impetus it provided in
the area of justice and home affairs by way of the Tampere programme. 
With  the  Austrian  Presidency  having  succeeded  in  preparing  the
ground for compromise on two highly controversial issues, namely the
Services Directive and the Financial Perspective, we are confident that
Finland  will  once  again  take  forward  certain  issues  that  are  of  high
relevance for European citizens.
The  Committee  of  the  Regions,  as  the  voice  of  local  and  regional
authorities in the European Union decision-making process, will back
the  Finnish  Presidency  in  such  efforts.  In  particular,  the  Finnish
Presidency will be able to draw on the support of the very dynamic
Finnish delegation to the Committee of the Regions, which represents
19 regional councils and 431 municipalities of Finland. This will also
be  their  Presidency,  and  I  am  convinced  that,  as  well  as  bringing
Europe  to  their  own  constituencies,  they  will  also  be  excellent
ambassadors of the experience,  the culture and the convivial life style
in Finland to other EU Member States.
The  Committee  of  Regions  will  place  a  particular  focus  on  the
involvement of the local and regional level in the Lisbon Strategy. This
involvement  will  be  monitored  via  an  interactive  platform  with  the
participation of 50 local and regional players from all over Europe. An
OPEN DAYS event will also be held in Brussels from 9 to 12 October
2006 under the theme of investment opportunities for public-private
partnerships.  The  Committee  of  the  Regions  will  examine  the
practical applications of the Lisbon Strategy on a number of occasions:
the CoR Bureau meeting to be held in Turku on July 7 will therefore
be  devoted  to  globalisation  and  innovation,  while  the  EDUC
Commission will meet in Helsinki on 28 and 29 September to discuss
“the importance of basic education in the promotion of innovation
and  competitiveness  of  regions  and  cities”  and  the  COTER
Commission  in  Tampere  on  11  and  12  December  to  discuss  the
“urban future of Europe”. As regards future activities under the third
objective of the cohesion policy, the CoR will be holding an external
meeting  in  Inari  on  the  subject  of  “the  importance  of  cross-border
cooperation in the Baltic region”.
In addition to the initiatives mentioned above, the Committee of the
Regions will press for a European Union which is more effective, more
social, more transparent and more practical. We are calling for a better
recognition of the subsidiarity principle, that is an improved legislative
governance  through  upstream  consultation  of  local  and  regional
authorities and a clearer allocation of tasks between decision-making
bodies  at  European,  national  and  the  local  and  regional  levels.  It
follows from this that we all need the Constitution. Therefore we can
only welcome the fact that the Finnish Parliament refused to stall the
constitutional debate and, on 12 May, voted in favour of the European
Constitutional  Treaty  with  a  crushing  majority.  This  is  a  very
encouraging development at a point when the debate on the future of
Europe is drawing to a close and there is a need to resume action again.

2

Risto Koivisto

Chairman of the 
Finnish delegation to the
Committee of the Regions

As  we  all  know  the  European  Union  is
currently  going  through  a  very  critical
phase.  One  of  the  major  problems  is
people's  disaffection  with  the  European
Union,  not  so  much  with  the  Union's
fundamental  objectives  as  with  day-to-day  decision-making. The  majority  of
EU laws and decisions are implemented at local and regional level. One way to
boost European citizens' confidence in the Union is to give local and regional
authorities a greater say in making decisions that concern them, in other words
by strengthening the position of the Committee of the Regions. 

The Finnish parliament has adopted a positive approach in the deliberations
now  under  way  on  the  ratification  of  the  Constitutional  Treaty  so  as  to
demonstrate  its  support  for  the  way  forward  mapped  out  in  the Treaty. The
Finnish  delegation  to  the  Committee  of  the  Regions  welcomes  the  fact  the
Committee is given an enhanced position in this process. This means that the
scope  for  regions  and  cities  to  have  a  voice  in  EU  decision-making  will
continually improve. However, the delegation feels that it is important to pay
attention to the development and quality of the Committee's consultative work,
as this will determine the effectiveness of its input.

The Finnish delegation believes that one of the key goals should be to step up
cooperation  between  the  Committee  of  the  Regions  and  other  European
organisations  which  promote  the  interests  of  local  and  regional  government.
This would make for more efficient use of resources and boost the impact of the
stands taken by local and regional authorities. Furthering cooperation between
the Committee of the Regions and the Council of Europe's Congress of Local
and Regional Authorities is particularly topical given the steps now being taken
to forge closer links between the European Union and the Council of Europe in
other areas.

In preparing for the presidency, Finland has devoted special attention to finding
ways of improving public confidence in the EU. Finland wishes to highlight the
importance of tangible achievements in areas where the EU can deliver more
effectively than Member States acting alone. The people of Europe want sensible
decisions, not declarations.

Key issues on the agenda during the Finnish Presidency will be the future of
Europe,  globalisation,  improving  competitiveness,  ageing  population,  climate
change and security. In justice and home affairs the focus will be on assessing the
Hague Programme. With regard to the way the EU operates, Finland will strive
to  improve  the  transparency  and  effectiveness  of  decision-making  and  the
quality of lawmaking.

The  Committee  of  the  Regions  was  the  first  of  the  EU  bodies  to  produce
documents addressing the Northern Dimension. There will be further focus on
this  policy  area  during  the  Finnish  Presidency.  The  Northern  Dimension  is
closely linked to cooperation between states in the Baltic Sea region and EU
policy  towards  Russia,  the  development  of  which  is  both  very  timely  and
necessary.

During the Finnish Presidency the Finnish delegation to the Committee of the
Regions will endeavour to make the presidency's representatives aware of the
Committee's  objectives  and  also  encourage  their  willingness  to  implement
them.

The Finnish delegation has good working relations with its national permanent
representation to the EU, as is certainly the case for many other delegations as
well. These  contacts  could  be  used  as  a  platform  for  developing  cooperation
between  the  European  Union  and  the  Committee  of  the  Regions.  Such
cooperation would serve as an important channel for promoting the interests of
local and regional authorities at EU level.

       
THE FINNISH COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS DELEGATION
The Finnish Delegation consists of 9 members and 9 alternates

Members 

Risto ERVELÄ (ALDE)

Chairman of the Regional Council of Southwest Finland

Pauliina HAIJANEN (PPE)

Member of the Board of the Regional Council of Southwest Finland

Auli HYVÄRINEN (ALDE)

Member of Keminmaa Municipal Council

Risto KOIVISTO (PSE)

President of Tampere Regional Council

Veikko KUMPUMÄKI (PSE)

Member of Lapland Regional Council

Elina LEHTO (PSE)

Mayor of Lohja

Antti LIIKKANEN (PSE)

Member of Rovaniemei City Council

Britt LUNDBERG (ALDE)

Member of the Government of Åland

Jyrki MYLLYVIRTA (PPE)

Mayor of Mikkeli

Alternates

Carina AALTONEN (PSE)

Member of Åland Parliament

Markus AALTONEN (PSE)

Member of Seinäjoki City Council

Minerva KROHN (sit.)

Member of the Board of Uusimaa Regional Council

Markku MARKKULA (PPE)

Member of Uusimaa Regional Council

Ossi MARTIKAINEN (ALDE)

Member of the Regional Council of Pohjois-Savo

Håkan NORDMAN (ALDE)

Chairman of Vaasa City Council

Irma PEIPONEN (PSE)

Chair of Varkaus City Council

Lea SAUKKONEN (PPE)

Deputy member of Helsinki City Council

Heini UTUNEN (ALDE)

Member of Jyväskylä City Council

OPEN DAYS 2006 – European Week of Regions and Cities

The OPEN DAYS 2006 - European Week of Regions and Cities
is  the  biggest  annual  event  in  the  EU  regional  policy  calendar.
This  year  it  will  involve  135  regions  and  cities  from  all  over
Europe that are grouped into 14 conglomerates.
Among  the  135  regions  and  cities,  there  are  7  partners  from
Finland:

- Turku-Southwest  Finland  (conglomerate  Competitiveness

and Innovation in Northern Europe)

- North Lapland-Oulu (Competitiveness and Innovation in

Northern Europe)

- South  Finland  (Competitiveness  and  Innovation  in

Northern Europe)

- Tampere Central Region (Competitiveness and Innovation

in Northern Europe)

- West  Finland  (Competitiveness  and  Innovation 

in

Northern Europe)

- Helsinki & Uusimaa Region (Lisbon Regions Network)

- East Finland (Sustainable Energy Regions)

Between  9  and  12  October  2006,  some  3000  regional
development experts will be able to choose between 110 sessions,
seminars  and  workshops  held  in  Brussels.  This  year,  special
emphasis  will  be  put  on  public  and  private  investment  in
European regions and cities aiming to pursue the growth and jobs
agenda. This is why public and private sector organisations and
financial institutions will be actively involved as well.
The European Week of Regions and Cities is a great occasion to
exchange  know-how  in  the  field  of  programme  preparation.
Broad  partnership  with  many  financial  bodies,  banks,
entrepreneurs  and  investors  from  both  the  public  and  private
sectors will provide a rich platform for networking. The OPEN
DAYS  2006  will  also  highlight  best  practice  in  regional
development  programmes  and  the  new  cohesion  policy
approach. 

3

         
Prime Minister 
Matti Vanhanen 
on the Finnish Presidency 
of the European Union

European competitiveness depends on our ability to respond to the
challenges  of  globalisation  and  demographic  change.  Our
population  is  aging  rapidly  over  the  coming  decades.  This  has
major  implications  on  the  European  growth  potential,  labour
productivity  and  supply  of  labour  force.  We  need  to  improve
labour  productivity  and  raise  the  employment  rate.  Increasing
labour  productivity  requires  the  improved  quality  and  better
organisation of work. This, in turn, will encourage employees to
remain in working life longer. We will also continue the debate on
the balance between flexibility and security at work.

Combating climate change 
The  environment  agenda  will  also  be  demanding  during  our
Presidency. Combating climate chance will remain a key priority
for the EU and Finland.
We will endeavour to make progress towards the goal of achieving
global agreement on how to take the UN climate regime forward
when the commitments under the Kyoto Protocol come to an end
in 2012.  
Key  tasks  in  this  respect  will  be  the  preparation  for  and
participation in the meetings of the UN Framework Convention
on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol (Nairobi, November
2006).  Issues  relating  to  climate  change  will  also  feature
prominently  in  a  number  of  third-country  summits  as  an
opportunity to keep up the momentum created in Montreal last
year.
The review of the Emission Trading Scheme will also be initiated
during our Presidency.

New impetus for an Area of Freedom, Security and Justice 
If  citizens  are  asked  where  the  EU  should  do  more,  combating
terrorism and serious cross-border crime as well as citizens’ access
to justice are among the top priorities.
The  Hague  programme  has  its  roots  in  a  process  started  in
Tampere European Council in 1999 where we set the main goals
and  principles  for  an  Area  of  Freedom,  Security  and  Justice. We
will  take  this  programme  further  during  our  second  EU

Finland’s second six-month EU Presidency was launched on 1

July 2006. This is a big challenge and opportunity for us and
we  will  give  it  our  best  effort.  The  plan  is  to  take  the
European agenda forward as smoothly and efficiently as possible.   
We will concentrate on tackling Europe’s current challenges such 
as  security,  globalisation,  demographic  change  and  maintain-
ing  economic  welfare.  Delivering  concrete  and  visible  results  in
these  areas  is  key  to  strengthening  citizens’  confidence  and  trust 
in the EU.
I am of the opinion that if the EU wants to improve its approval
rating,  it  also  needs  to  demonstrate  openness,  effective  decision-
making and better regulation. Finland will pursue these objectives. 
By targeting and improving the efficiency of Union level action,
the EU can be brought closer to its citizens. It is important that the
Union is capable of taking rational and efficient action instead of
focusing on issues that should be handled at national or local level.
Let me highlight some of the issues that we will tackle during our
Presidency.

Enhancing competitiveness
Europe’s ability to take the lead in global competition and improve
the Union’s competitiveness is a top priority for us. Key themes in
this  area  are  the  completion  of  the  Internal  Market,  innovations
and energy. European competitiveness will also be discussed in the
informal meeting of the Heads of State or Government in Lahti in
October.
We see innovation policy as a key element in increasing Europe’s
competitiveness. We will concentrate on developing a broad-based
innovation  policy.  Emphasis  will  be  on  creating  markets  and
fuelling demand which encourages innovation. 
Energy is also a central theme related to competitiveness. We will
organise  preparatory  discussions  for  spring  2007  when  the  first
energy action plan and the Commission’s annual strategic energy
review will be discussed. Particular emphasis will also be placed on
the external dimension of energy. We have observed that there is a
need for closer cooperation among Member States in pursuing the
Union’s objectives. 

4

          
Presidency.    Our  main  goal  in  this  field  is  to  make  a  political
analysis of what we have achieved so far and where we still have
problems that need to be addressed. 
This analysis will help us identify the priorities for further work.
Improving decision-making in police and judicial cooperation on
the  basis  of  the  existing  Treaties  is  a  top  issue.    Other  possible
themes include: creation of a common European asylum system,
making political guidelines on strengthening border security and
implementation of principle of the mutual recognition.

Future of Europe
We are willing to start preliminary discussions on the way forward
with the Constitutional Treaty after the first phase of the reflection
period. The possible further steps will depend on the mandate of
the June European Council. We are aware that the situation differs
from  one  Member  State  to  the  next  and  flexibility  is  needed.
However, the Constitutional Treaty process must be kept moving.
Improving  the  functioning  of  the  Union  on  the  basis  of  the
existing Treaties is also needed. Difficulties over ratification of the
Constitutional  Treaty  must  not  prevent  the  Union  from
functioning  and  developing.  In  particular,  we  want  to  map  out
ways  of  developing  the  EU’s  external  action  and  future  work  on
Justice and Home Affairs. 
Improving  the  efficiency  and  the  coherence  of  the  EU’s  external
policies would mean for example improving practical cooperation
between  institutions  and  Member  States.  Objectives  of  internal
policies should be better taken into account in external action.

Enlargement
Finland has consistently supported the enlargement process. It is a
central  tool  in  enhancing  stability  and  democracy  but  also  a
strategic answer to the challenges of globalisation.
The Council’s view of Romania's and Bulgaria's readiness to join
the  EU  in  January  2007  will  be  made  on  the  basis  of  the
Commission's monitoring reports to be submitted by October at
the  latest.  The  need  to  impose  safeguards  or  other  remedial
measures will also be decided based on the Commission reports. 
Accession  negotiations  with  Croatia  and  Turkey  will  be  taken
forward  in  accordance  with  general  enlargement  principles:  the
same criteria apply to all candidate countries and the progress in
the negotiations depends on the candidates’ own merits.
The  EU  has  also  agreed  to  review  Turkey’s  progress  in
implementing the Additional Protocol to the Ankara Agreement in
2006. 
Finland  is  also  ready  to  organise  the  general  enlargement  debate
scheduled  for  2006.  It  could  for  example  cover  added  value  of
enlargement and the absorption capacity of the Union. However,
it  should  not  create  new  criteria  for  enlargement  nor  lead  to  a
withdrawal from the given commitments.

Regional policy and good governance
With the enlargement, social and economic disparities between the
regions of the European Union have widened. This introduces new
challenges  for  cohesion  policy.  The  EU  should  be  able  to  offer
effective  means  of  reducing  economic,  social  and  regional
inequality.  At  the  same  time,  programmes  supported  under  the

The Presidency provides us an opportunity to promote the priorities of
the EU.  As the Presidency period is relatively short, we will exploit
these possibilities as effectively as possible.

Structural Funds should contribute more to the strengthening of
the Union’s competitiveness. 
As regards regional development and structural policy, our key task
is  to  ensure  that  the  implementation  period  for  new  Structural
Fund Programmes can be started at the beginning of 2007.
In addition to the reform of cohesion policy, we will focus on three
themes in the field of regional policy and good governance.  As the
Member  State  with  the  longest  common  border  with  Russia,
Finland wants to ensure that cross-border cooperation across the
EU’s external borders will continue when transferring to a single
financing model. The steps should be taken to establish a simpler
and more effective decentralised management mechanism based on
Structural  Fund  procedures.  Among  our  top  priorities  is  also
enhancing  cooperation  in  the  EU  with  a  view  to  improving  the
competitiveness  of  urban  areas.  Furthermore,  Finland  aims  at
developing  good  European  governance  by  promoting  the
simplification  of  EU  legislation  and  practices  to  improve
productivity within public administration. This also contributes to
the implementation of EU legislation at local and regional level.

Russia
Finland aims at increasing concrete cooperation between the EU
and Russia. The EU-Russia Summit in Sotchi last May proved the
readiness of the EU and Russia to intensify the energy dialogue.
Our  aim  is  to  continue  on  this  path.  In  this  context,  we  will
organise  a  Permanent  Partnership  Council  (PPC)  meeting  on
energy. 
Increasing  environmental  cooperation  with  Russia  is  equally
important. This will be dealt with at a PPC meeting concentrating
on environmental issues. 
Renewing the EU/Russia contractual arrangements will also be on
the  agenda.    The  discussion  on  human  rights  in  Russia  will
continue in the form of biannual consultations. 
The renewal of the Northern Dimension (ND) is topical issue this
year. ND will be transformed into a common policy for the EU,
Russia,  Norway  and  Iceland.  Negotiations  on  a  new  political
document to establish the future of ND are ongoing and likely to
be finished in the coming autumn.
ND  Environmental  Partnership  and  the  Partnership  in  Public
Health and Social Wellbeing are concrete achievements of ND. In
addition to continuing and strengthening these Partnerships, the
door should be kept open to new ones. A Partnership in Transport
and Logistics is one relevant option.

Western Balkans  
The  Union’s  agenda  for  the  Western  Balkans  is  exceptionally
demanding in 2006.
We will provide our best possible support to the efforts lead by the
UN  in  solving  the  future  status  of  Kosovo. This  process  may  be
finalised during our Presidency.  
In Serbia, our objective is to make effective use of the influence and
instruments at the EU’s disposal in support of stability. During the
Presidency,  the  Western  Balkan’s  European  aspirations  will  be
supported  in  accordance  with  the  Stabilisation  and  Association
Process.

5

            
Local government in Finland

council to work under the municipal board. The council is
elected for a term of four years. Its task is to set guidelines
for  municipal  activities  and  finances  and  decide  on  the
municipality's  main  goals.  The  Local  Government  Act
emphasises  the  council's  role  as  the  municipality's
"strategic  manager".  The  municipal  board  is  responsible
for day-to-day administration of the municipality and its
finances, for preparing matters brought before the council,
for implementing council decisions and for overseeing the
legality  of  such  decisions.  The  municipal  board  has  a
strong administrative role in Finland. Committees may be
set  up  under  it.  They  are  responsible  for  tasks  of  an
ongoing  nature  that  have  been  entrusted  to  them  by  the
council. 

Municipalities  finance  their  activities  from  taxes,  transfers
from  central  government,  and  fees  and  charges  of  various
kinds.  Each  municipality  sets  its  local  income  tax  rate
independently. The average local tax rate is 18.40% (2006).
Municipalities  and  joint  municipal  authorities  account  for
nearly two-thirds of all current and capital expenditure by
the public sector in Finland. 

There are 431 municipalities in Finland. Over half of them
have less than 6 000 inhabitants. There are six cities with a
population of over 100 000.

Regional councils are joint municipal authorities which act
as  regional  development  authorities.  They  are  responsible
for  regional  planning  and  coordinating  the  regional
development  measures  of  different  authorities.  Regional
councils draw up the regional development strategy for their
respective  regions  in  cooperation  with  other  regional
players.  They  are  also  responsible  for  regional  land-use
planning.

In  addition  to  their  statutory  tasks,  regional  councils  are
active  in  many  other  areas  which  focus  on  the  region's
special  characteristics,  including  the  promotion  of  the
region's  business  community,  tourism  and  cultural
activities.

There  are  19  regional  councils  in  Finland,  plus  the  self-
governing province of Åland.

n

REGIONAL COUNCILS

Local authorities ("municipalities") play a major role in

Finland  and  have  wide-ranging  powers.  The  key
elements of local self-government are enshrined in the
Finnish  Constitution.  Residents  elect  the  local  council,
which  is  the  municipality's  highest  decision-making  body.
The  council  has  general  powers  to  decide  on  municipal
affairs. In addition, municipalities have specifically defined
responsibilities  in  various  areas.  Municipalities  enjoy
autonomy  in  respect  of  their  financial  decision-making,
which is based on the power to levy taxes. The legal basis for
local government is the Local Government Act, which gives
municipalities the right to govern themselves.

for  the 

Municipalities  provide  basic  services 
local
population,  the  most  important  of  which  include  social
welfare  and  health  care  services,  education,  environmental
services and technical infrastructure. They:
n run comprehensive and upper secondary schools,
vocational institutions and polytechnics and
provide adult education, art classes, library and
n
cultural and recreational services;  

n provide child day-care, care for the aged and

disabled and a wide range of other social services;
n

n provide preventive and primary health care,
specialist medical care and dental care and
promote a healthy living environment;   
n supervise land use and construction in their

locality and are responsible for water and energy
supply, waste management, road management
and environmental protection;   

n
n promote economic activity and employment and
n
the development of the information society. 

Municipalities  can  provide  services  in  various  ways.  Often
this  is  done  jointly  with  other  local  authorities  or  with
companies or other organisations.

Municipalities have considerable freedom to decide how to
govern themselves. Each municipality must however have
its  own  council,  a  municipal  board  and  an  auditing
committee  to  audit  municipal  administration  and
finances.  Each  municipality  must  also  have  a  city  or
municipal  manager  ("mayor"),  who  is  appointed  by  the

6

                   
AGENDA

BODY

DATES

July

3

7

ECOS Commission

Bureau extraordinaire

September 11

EDUC Commission external seminar on “Learning regions and cities 
promoting active citizenship”

PLACE

Kavala, Greece

Turku, Finland

Pécs, Hungary

28–29

EDUC Commission external meeting and seminar on “At the Sources of 
Knowledge – Competitiveness through basic Education”

Helsinki, Finland

October

4

4

6

10

RELEX Meeting

1st Meeting of the Working Group on Croatia

DEVE Commission

BUREAU

11–12

PLENARY SESSION

November

17

18

19

20
to be
confirmed

7

10

External meeting CONST

Conference/debate Plan D

COTER Commission

ECOS Commission

Seminar on EU-Russia Relations 

External meeting of the Working Group on the Western Balkans (tbc)

DEVE EXTERNAL SEMINAR

20–21

RELEX Commission external meeting and seminar on “Cross-border 
Co-operation in the Northern Regions of Europe”

27

29

30

DEVE Commission

CONST meeting

EDUC Commission

December

5

BUREAU

6–7

11–12

PLENARY SESSION

COTER Commission external meeting and seminar on “The Urban Future
of Europe”

15

ECOS Commission

Brussels

Brussels

Brussels

Brussels

Brussels

Vilnius

Vilnius

Brussels

Brussels

St Petersburg

Sarajevo, Bosnia 
and Hertsegovina
(tbc)

Logroño, Spain  
(tbc)

Inari (Finland)

Brussels

Brussels

Brussels

Brussels

Brussels

Tampere, Finland

Brussels

7

              
Finnish local and regional players in Brussels

Association of Finnish Local and
Regional Authorities 

Southeast Finland and St. Petersburg
Region Brussels Office

East Finland EU-Office  

Helsinki EU-Office  

European North Lapland - Oulu  

South Finland EU-Office

Tampere Central Region EU-Office
(Tampere, Nokia, Kangasala, Lempäälä,
Pirkkala and Ylöjärvi) 

West Finland European Office

Turku-Southwest Finland European
Office 

Brussels office 
Rue de la Science 4
B-1000 Brussels
Tel. +32 2 549 0860
Fax +32 2 502 72 27 
Rue de Toulouse 35/L
B-1040 Brussels
Tel. +32 2 230 16 28 Fax +32 2 230 81 97 
Scotland Europa Centre
Rond-Point Schuman 6
B-1040 Brussels
Fax +32 2 282 83 73
Email: eu.eastfinland@eastfinland.org  
Rue Belliard 15-17
B-1040 Brussels

Rond Point Schuman 6, box 5
B-1040 Brussels
Fax +32 2 234 79 11 

Itä-Uusimaa, Häme and Päijät-Häme 
Avenue de Tervueren 35
B-1040 Brussels
Tel. +32 2 285 00 14
Fax +32 2 230 90 15
Email: southfinland@skynet.be
Avenue Palmerston 3
B-1000 Brussels
Tel. +32 2 503 1489
Fax +32 2 503.1570  
Square Ambiorix 45
B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
Tel. +32 2 286.90.81
Fax +32 2 286 90 89
Email: european.office@westfinland.be 
Avenue des Arts 58
B-1000 Brussels
Tel. +32 2 287 1295
GSM +32 498 126000
Fax +32 2 287 12 09
european.office@turku.fi 

Ms Hannele Häkkinen, director 
Tel. +32 2 549 08 64
Email: hannele.hakkinen@aflra.fi

Mr Esa Siikaluoma
Mobile +32 473 322 116 
Email: esa.siikaluoma@finrusoffice.net
Ms Lisbeth Mattsson, acting director
Tel. +32 2 282 83 71 
GSM +32 474 90 60 21
Email: lisbeth.mattsson@eastfinland.org  

Ms Eija Nylund, head of office
Mobile +32 473 661 721
Email: eija.nylund@euhel.fi
Mr Seppo Heikkilä
Tel. +32 2 234 63 70, 
Mobile +32 497 57 08 06 
Email: seppo.heikkila@lapland-oulu.fi
Ms Tuula Loikkanen, head of office
Tel. +32 2 282 03 78, 
Mobile +32 496 33 17 12 
Email: tuula.loikkanen@skynet.be 

Mr Markku Valtonen, senior delegate
Email: markku.valtonen@tampereoffice.be
Tel. +358 40 776 3446

Mr Kjell Nybacka, director
Tel. +32 2 286 90 80  
Email: kjell.nybacka@westfinland.be

Ms Krista Taipale-Salminen, 
Head of Office 

Contact

Keijo SAHRMAN
Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities
Toinen linja 14 • FI–00530 HELSINKI
Tel.: +358 9 771 2531 • Fax: +358 9 771 2535
E-mail: keijo.sahrman@kuntaliitto.fi

Erja HORTTANAINEN
Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities
Toinen linja 14 • FI–00530 HELSINKI
Tel.: +358 9 771 2528 • Fax: +358 9 771 2535
E-mail: erja.horttanainen@kuntaliitto.fi

Monika PIETRZAK
Registry and Assistance to Members
Committee of the Regions
Rue Belliard 101 • B–1040 BRUSSELS
Tel.: + 32 2 282 2509 • Fax: +32 2 282 2119
E-mail: monika.pietrzak@cor.europa.eu

Published June 2006

Produced by the Communication, 
Press and Protocol Division
Committee of the Regions 
Rue Belliard 101
1040-Brussels

Tel.: +32 2/282 21.55 • Fax : +32 2/282 20.85

        
Catalogue N° QG-02-23-004-EN-N
ISBN 978-92-895-1287-9
doi 10.2863/114067