The Government’s proposed seventh supplementary budget for 2020 includes financial support totalling EUR 750 million for the municipalities and EUR 200 million for the country’s hospital districts, to cover costs arising from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The aims of this are to safeguard the municipalities’ basic public services, help expand services essential for tackling the pandemic, and ensure the success of the Government's hybrid strategy.

The Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action held its annual meeting on Monday 12 October. At the virtual meeting, the finance ministers discussed the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic for the work of the ministers, and how climate action can be taken into account in economic stimulus and recovery measures.

The Finnish economy will shrink by 4.5% this year according to the forecast of the Ministry of Finance in its latest Economic Survey, published on 5 October.

The Government has submitted its budget proposal for 2021 to Parliament.

As Finland’s urban areas continue to grow, its cities are becoming increasingly important as places to live and do business, as leaders in the municipal sector, as frontrunners in climate change solutions, and as international players. Published on 23 September 2020, the National Urban Strategy 2020–2030 represents the shared view of central government and cities themselves on the key trends for this decade and how urban policy can be shaped in partnership between the Government and the cities.