Advisory Board on Civil Service Ethics

The Advisory Board on Civil Service Ethics is a permanent body for considering ethical issues, which currently has been appointed for a term running from 1st June 2025 till 31st May 2029. 

Tasks of the Advisory Board 

 The tasks of the Advisory Board on Civil Service Ethics referred to in section 68(1) of the Public Servants Act (750/1994) are: 

  1. submitting initiatives and issuing general recommendations on public service ethics as well as supporting decision-making; 
  2. giving statements on issues concerning civil service ethics on request of central government agencies; 
  3. promoting discussion on a public service ethics; 
  4. at its discretion, performing tasks related to public service ethics proposed to it by the Ministry of Finance.

 The Advisory Board on Civil Service Ethics makes its own decisions about the issues related to public service ethics or ethical problems which it examines and on which it gives statements. In this context, an ethical problem refers to situations where it is unclear what the ethically justified way to act would be. The Advisory Board may, on its own initiative, also discuss problematic cases other than those listed here. In addition, public officials may propose issues for the Advisory Board to discuss. Rather than answering individual questions posed to it, the purpose of the Advisory Board is to express its views as public statements. 

The Advisory Board is tasked to examine civil service ethics as part of the political and administrative system as a whole, in which the specific roles of public officials and politicians are also relevant to ethics in public administration. The members of both groups must act in an ethically sustainable manner.  

The statements and recommendations issued by the Advisory Board are consultative rather than legally binding. 

The Advisory Board works independently. Its tasks do not include settling disputes or hearing complaints. 

Advisory Board members 

The Advisory Board on Civil Service Ethics is chaired by Pekka Vihervuori, Doctor of Law. 
Vice Chairman Pentti Mäkinen, County Counsellor, Transparency International Finland

Members: 
Professor Niina Mäntylä, University of Vaasa
Project Researcher Catharina Groop, Åbo Akademi University
Permanent Secretary Antti Leinonen, Ministry of Justice
General Director Pasi Patrikainen, National Land Survey of Finland
Municipal Manager at municipality of Asikkala Rinna Ikola-Norrbacka, Municipality of Asikkala
Postdoctoral Researcher Margareta Salonen, Council for Mass Media in Finland
Director Juho Mäki-Lohiluoma, Confederation of Finnish Industries
Collective Agreement Specialist Leena Hiljanen, Trade Union Pro

Secretary: 
Kati Orkola, Senior Specialist, Legal Affairs, Ministry of Finance
Päivi Rissanen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Prime Minister´s Office

 

Contact information

E-mail of the Advisory Board: [email protected]

Secretary:
Kati Orkola
Senior Specialist, Legal Affairs
Tel. 02955 30108
[email protected]

Päivi Rissanen
Senior Ministerial Adviser
Tel. 0295 160 234
[email protected]