Transparency register

OM033:00/2019 Statute drafting

In accordance with the Government Programme of Prime Minister Sanna Marin, an act on a transparency register will be enacted in Finland on the basis of parliamentary preparation and in consultation with civil society. The purpose of the act is to improve the transparency of decision-making and, by doing this, to prevent undue influence and reinforce public confidence.

Current events

Project number OM033:00/2019

Case numbers VN/4118/2019

Set by Ministry of Justice

Task class Preparation of a government proposal

Project stage Bill approval

Term/schedule 12.3.2020 – 23.3.2023

Date of appointment 12.3.2020

Marin

Strategiset kokonaisuudet Safe and secure Finland built on the rule of law

Strategiset kokonaisuudet Strengthening the rule of law

Action Introducing legislation on a transparency register

1
Under preparation

Added to session on 13.1.2022
2
Estimated week of presentation

~~Original estimated week of presentation 16/2022~~

Estimated new week of presentation 24/2022
3
Submitted to Parliament

16.6.2022
HE 98/2022 Information on parliamentary proceedings
4
Current stage: Statute adopted
- Finlex 430/2023

Parliamentary reply EV 304/2022

Esityksessä ehdotetaan säädettäväksi avoimuusrekisterilaki. Rekisterin tavoitteena on päätöksenteon läpinäkyvyyden parantaminen, epäasiallisen vaikuttamisen torjunta sekä kansalaisten luottamuksen vahvistaminen. Avoimuusrekisterin perustaminen on yksi pääministeri Sanna Marinin hallitusohjelman toimenpiteistä demokratian ja oikeusvaltion kehittämiseksi. Avoimuusrekisterilaissa säädettäisiin rekisteröintivelvollisuus oikeushenkilöiden ja yksityisten elinkeinonharjoittajien harjoittamasta vaikuttamistoiminnasta ja siihen liittyvästä ammattimaisesta neuvonnasta. Rekisterinpitäjänä toimisi Valtiontalouden tarkastusvirasto.

Minister in chargeMinister of Justice Henriksson

Contact person
Sami Demirbas, Erityisasiantuntija
tel. +358 295150233
[email protected]

Contact person
Heini Huotarinen, Neuvotteleva virkamies
tel. +358 295 150 127
[email protected]

Contact person
Anna Pohjalainen, EU-asiantuntija
tel. +358 295 150 194
[email protected]

Project status

Statute

Goals and results

The task of the parliamentary steering group and the working group operating under its authority is to draw up a proposal for an act on a statutory transparency register (lobbyist register) to be established in Finland. The act will impose a registration obligation on organisations and individuals engaged in lobbying activities.

Civil society actors and interest representatives must be widely consulted during the preparation of the act. The legislative proposals to be submitted must be drafted in the form of a government proposal.

Natural persons’ fundamental rights and freedoms, in particular their right to the protection of personal data, must be taken into account in the preparation of the legislation governing the transparency register.

The legislation must not hinder grassroots civic engagement or prevent Members of Parliament from carrying out their duties as representatives.

Starting points

The need for regulation on lobbying has been discussed in Finland for decades. The OECD and the Council of Europe have recommended that Finland introduce a transparency register. Researchers and lobbying organisations have also called for the establishment of a register.

In 2018, the Government carried out a broad international comparison of different models for a lobbyist register as part of its analysis, assessment and research activities (Publications of the Government's analysis, assessment and research activities 57/2018). The study examined the existing regulation on lobbyist registers in different countries and in the EU, and assessed how well they would function in the Finnish political system.

The preparation of the transparency register already began at the end of the previous parliamentary term in spring 2019, when Parliament appointed a parliamentary working group to examine the possibilities of establishing such a register. The working group unanimously proposed that an electronic transparency register based on law should be established in Finland during the next parliamentary term. The register would initially concern the central government and at a later stage local and regional government as well. In its memorandum, the working group, which involved not only parliamentary actors but also public officials, researchers and interest representatives, defined the key themes and issues that should be discussed and decided on during the preparations.

Additional information

a) Eduskunnan vastaus hallituksen esitykseen eduskunnalle avoimuusrekisterilaiksi (HE 98/2022 vp; EV 304/2022 vp) b) Eduskunnan vastaukseen sisältyvät lausumat

Ministry of Justice Decision 23.3.2023 16.10

Eduskunnan vastaus hallituksen esitykseen eduskunnalle avoimuusrekisterilaiksi (HE 98/2022 vp; EV 304/2022 vp)

Ministry of Justice Decision 23.3.2023 15.28

Lakimuutoksia oikeusministeriön hallinnonalalla

Ministry of Justice Press release 23.3.2023 14.52

Hallituksen esitys eduskunnalle avoimuusrekisterilaiksi

Ministry of Justice Decision 16.6.2022 13.48

Avoimuusrekisteri lisäämään lobbauksen läpinäkyvyyttä

Ministry of Justice Press release 16.6.2022 13.41

Ehdotus lakisääteisestä avoimuusrekisteristä lausunnolle

Ministry of Justice Press release 2.12.2021 9.34

Tutkimus: Suomessa lobataan etenkin ministereitä ja ministeriöiden keskeisiä virkamiehiä

Ministry of Justice Press release 16.2.2021 12.59

Lobbarirekisterin valmistelu etenee

Ministry of Justice Press release 26.6.2020 12.44

Preparation of transparency register begins

Ministry of Justice Press release 12.3.2020 14.30

Developing and statute drafting in the Government

The ministries implement the Government Programme, draft acts and other statutes, and promote reforms through different kinds of projects, working groups and bodies. Information on all this is available on the Government website.

All ministries' projects are available on the Government website valtioneuvosto.fi/en/projects

Transparency register

Current events

Basic information Completed

Relation to the Government Programme

Marin

Law drafting

HE avoimuusrekisterilaiksi

Under preparation

Estimated week of presentation

Submitted to Parliament

Current stage: Statute adopted

Project status

23.3.2023 Laki vahvistettu 23.3.2023. Säädösnumero 430/2023

Goals and results

Starting points

Additional information

National Democracy Programme 2025