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Government to commemorate 100 years of autonomy in Åland with ten-year professorship

Government Communications Department
Publication date 9.5.2022 12.01 | Published in English on 9.5.2022 at 12.19
Press release

The Government is proposing an appropriation of EUR 1.3 million as a gift in honour of the 100th anniversary of Åland’s autonomy. In line with the proposal, the State would commemorate the anniversary with a professorship in the degree programme in law at Åbo Akademi University for 2023–2032.

A prime example of a successful autonomy solution, Åland’s system of self-government is an integral part of Finnish democracy. The goal of the ten-year professorship is to strengthen research on autonomy and self-government and to increase understanding of the significance and impacts of autonomy through wide-ranging investigation.

A further objective is to strengthen academic and scientific research related to self-government and autonomy. At the moment, there are relatively few researchers or professors in public law or social sciences in Finland who have studied the autonomy of Åland or the issue of autonomy more generally. The professorship to be established also aims to supplement the study and teaching of the rule of law.

The appropriation is included in the Government’s second supplementary budget proposal for the year, which is due to be submitted to Parliament on 25 May 2022.

The 100th anniversary of Åland’s autonomy is being celebrated and commemorated in a variety of ways. The anniversary year will culminate on 9 June 2022 with the centenary celebration of Åland’s Parliament, where the Government will officially present its gift to the region.

Inquiries: Tiina-Kaisa Laakso-Liukkonen, Chief Specialist, tel.  +358 29 516 0220