Finland´s 6 biggest cities coordinate measures in response to Ukraine war

Finland’s six largest cities have decided to step up their cooperation in their response to the local effects of the war in Ukraine, said the city of Helsinki in a press release on Wednesday.

The largest cities are Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, Espoo, Vantaa and Oulu.

This increased cooperation will help the cities form a shared assessment of the situation and decide on key common principles. The enhanced cooperation also aims to improve communication with state-level administration.

On Tuesday, leadership from the six largest cities decided to begin holding regular coordination group meetings to better coordinate their response to the war in Ukraine.

Some of the cities’ leadership had already been routinely convening, but this new decision expands the number of participants.

This closer and more expansive cooperation will start as of 1 April.

Standard meeting agendas will include discussion on the maintenance of a shared situational assessment and agreement on common policies and principles regarding the entry of people into the country and the services extended to these new arrivals.

Agenda items will also cover the topics of preparedness, humanitarian aid and related advocacy. The coordination group meetings will take place on a monthly basis and will be chaired by Mayor of Helsinki Juhana Vartiainen.

Mayors of the cities, city-appointed experts in the fields of social and health services, immigration, security and preparedness, and education will be included in the coordination group.

Representatives of the Finnish Immigration Services, Ministry of the Interior, and the Police of Finland will join the coordination group meetings, along with other organisational representatives as necessary.

The meetings will also be attended by a representative from communications.

The tragic crisis at hand will have a variety of effects on the municipal sector.

The necessary preparedness and security measures, reception of new arrivals to the country, advisory and accommodation services, and the organisation of social and health services and education and training arrangements will also create costs.

The six largest cities in Finland feel it is important that the government makes a clear decision in its budget talks to reimburse the municipalities in full for these expenses, in proportion to the resulting cost increases and possible revenue losses incurred.