Govt appoints Ministerial WG to coordinate COVID-19 response

The government in its plenary session on Thursday appointed a ministerial working group to coordinate COVID-19 response and ensure efficient exchange of information across branches of government, said an official press release.

As a preparatory body for the government, the ministerial working group will discuss political choices and policy positions, matters to be decided at government plenary sessions and matters to be decided in ministries that cross administrative boundaries.

Earlier, the government on 21 December decided to create the ministerial working group.

Headed by Krista Kiuru, Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services, other members of the group are Minister of Social Affairs and Health Hanna Sarkkinen, Minister of Finance Annika Saarikko, Minister of Local government Sirpa Paatero, Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen, Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä, Minister of Education Li Andersson, Minister of Science and Culture Antti Kurvinen, Minister of Justice Anna-Maja Henriksson (deputy Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality Thomas Blomqvist), Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Emma Kari and Prime Minister Sanna Marin (deputy: State Secretary Henrik Haapajärvi).

Other ministers will participate in the group’s work when matters falling within their mandate are being discussed in the group.

Director General Satu Koskela from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health will be appointed as Secretary General of the group.

Each ministry will appoint a senior-level official to the group’s secretariat. Permanent experts to the group are the permanent secretaries of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Justice.