Management

The Prime Minister is the head of the Prime Minister's Office. The State Secretary, whose appointment is in tandem with the Prime Minister’s term of office, directs the Prime Minister’s Office. He is assisted in this by the Permanent State Under-Secretary. The Permanent State Under-Secretary directs and monitors the work of the PMO's departments, units and officials.

Organisation

The Prime Minister’s Office consists of five departments: the EU Affairs Department, the Ownership Steering Department, the Communications Department, the Strategy Department and the Administration Department. The office also has four separate units: the Human Resources Unit, the Session Unit, the Finance Unit and the Preparedness Unit.

Organisation structure of the Prime Minister's Office 1 September 2022

Government EU Affairs Department

The Government EU Affairs Department ensures that the system for coordinating EU policy functions well, and that Finland's EU policy is consistent. The Department prepares EU affairs for the Prime Minister and the Minister for European Affairs, and serves as the secretariat for the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs. It prepares meetings of the European Council, directs the Committee for EU Affairs and participates in the work of preparation sections. A representative of the Government EU Affairs Department is present, as a member of the Finnish delegation, at all Council meetings.

The Government EU Affairs Department is responsible for issues concerning the amendment of EU Treaties and the coordination of matters related to basic treaties of the European Union. It also covers other treaties and international obligations handled by the EU. In addition, the Department is responsible for any horizontal and institutional matters of key importance to the EU's development and handles certain appointments to EU institutions.

Government Ownership Steering Department

Duties relating to state ownership steering are handled in the Ownership Steering Department within the Prime Minister’s Office. The department is responsible for state ownership policy, the ownership steering of state-owned companies, the expansion of the ownership base, ownership restructuring arrangements, share investments, the coordination of ministries' ownership steering procedures and inter-ministerial cooperation.

Government Strategy Department

The Department is responsible for long-term social policy foresight and planning and the Government’s analysis, assessment and research activities. It also coordinates the national implementation of sustainable development, handles Government’s strategy work, prepares the Government’s action plan and reports on Government policy. It also serves as secretariat for the Government's strategy sessions and meetings of permanent secretaries. The department has two units: the social policy planning unit and the Government policy unit.

Government Communications Department

The Government Communications Department is responsible for the Prime Minister's and the Government's communications, the external and internal communications of the Prime Minister’s Office and coordination of the Government's EU communications.  The Department provides information on Government decisions and is in charge of communications management and planning in emergency conditions. It also handles the coordination and development of central government communications. In addition, the Department is responsible for the ministries’ joint intranet.

Government Administration Department

The Government Administration Department is responsible for the government's and its ministries' common administrative and specialist services. It also assumes responsibility for issues that are deemed to be part of the general discharge of duties within the mandate of the Prime Minister's Office and do not fall within the mandate of another department or unit.

The Department is responsible for the management, coordination and development of the government’s and its ministries' common practices and procedures. In addition, it provides joint services and promotes shared organisational culture.

The Government Administration Department is headed by a director general. The Department is divided into three divisions. In addition, Premises and In-house Services Unit and Development Services operate directly under the Department’s director general. The divisions are headed by two directors of division, who supervise seven units. Many of the units operate in teams.

Information Management and ICT Division

  • ICT Unit
  • Information Management Unit

Internal Communications and Information Support Division

  • Internal Communications Unit
  • Information Support and Publications Unit

Translation and Language Division

  • Swedish Language Unit
  • Foreign Languages Unit
  • Language Services Unit

Units and functions operating under the Department’s director general 

  • Premises and In-house Services Unit
  • Development Services

Government Session Unit

The Government Session Unit is responsible for expert services related to decision-making by the Government and the President of the Republic. Its duties include practical arrangement for decision-making at presidential sessions and government plenary sessions and taking minutes of these sessions. The Unit guides and develops the decision-making procedures. It also assists in all activities related to the end and start of government terms, changes in the Government’s composition, and its day-to-day work.

The Government Session Unit coordinates the work of the Government and Parliament and contacts between the two institutions, including the coordination and maintenance of the Government’s legislative programme. The Unit is responsible for publishing the Government Annual Report. It supports the Council of Regulatory Impact Analysis in its work, and manages legislative matters of the Office of the President of the Republic of Finland, honorary titles awarded by the President of the Republic, and general matters related to the enforcement of the Emergency Powers Act within the Government.

Finance Unit

The Finance Unit at the Prime Minister’s Office is responsible for financial and operational planning, finance and travel management, and centralised guidance and support in procurements. The unit is responsible for steering, developing and coordinating the ministries’ joint operational and financial planning, finance management, procurement and travel administration. The Finance Unit provides centralised support and guidance to other ministries concerning procurements and travel.

The unit is also responsible for matters related to granting party subsidies and for overseeing and coordinating joint data protection for the Government and its ministries.