Transparency register
Transparency register
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.
Basic information Completed
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
Law drafting
- 1
Under preparation
Added to session on 13.1.2022 - 2
Estimated week of presentation
Original estimated week of presentation 16/2022Estimated new week of presentation 24/2022 - 3
Submitted to Parliament
16.6.2022HE 98/2022 Information on parliamentary proceedings - 4
Current stage: Statute adopted
Parliamentary reply EV 304/2022
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]
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
Lobbying refers to the representation of interests with the aim of influencing decision-making or the implementation of decisions already made through discussions, expertise and information. Lobbying provides decision-makers with versatile expert information and improves the preparation and implementation of decisions. Lobbying is part of democracy. Before making decisions, it is wise to listen to the views and expertise of different parties and to obtain information on the impacts and different aspects of the matters under preparation.
However, not all of those whom decisions concern have the same means and resources to exert influence. In addition, exerting influence may in some cases involve inappropriate means and, in extreme cases, even corruption.
The purpose of the transparency register is to improve the transparency of decision-making and, by doing this, to prevent undue influence and reinforce public confidence. The transparency register makes it possible to retroactively track the process of drafting and implementing legislation, also known as the legislative footprint. Thus, the new act would supplement Finland's legislation on the openness of government activities and strengthen the principles of open government, to which Finland is committed.
Parliament approved the Transparency Register Act on 24.2.2023. The transparency register will be introduced in Finland on 1 January 2024, and it will be available at the address avoimuusrekisteri.fi. The National Audit Office is register’s supervisory authority and it monitors the information submitted to the Transparency Register. The Advisory Board for the Transparency Register will begin its first three-year term in the spring of 2023.
Secretariat
Person
Role, Term
Demirbas, Sami
Erityisasiantuntija
Ministry of Justice
Role: Project contact person
12.3.2020 –
Huotarinen, Heini
Neuvotteleva virkamies
Ministry of Justice
Role: Project contact person
12.3.2020 –
Pohjalainen, Anna
EU-asiantuntija
Ministry of Justice
Role: Project contact person
12.3.2020 –
Read more
Preparation of transparency register begins
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