Cities of Helsinki metropolitan area agree on closer cooperation at joint session
A total of 250 members of the city councils of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen made history on Monday when they convened at Helsinki’s Finlandia Hall for a joint session, at which they formally approved a cooperation agreement for the Helsinki metropolitan area.
At the meeting, the four cities agreed on regional policy lines in the reform of municipal and service structure.
On the practical level the councils committed themselves to follow policies outlined in a document approved in February by a consultative committee on the Helsinki metropolitan area, which set guidelines for deeper cooperation, and put forward a number of specific projects.
The main projects include land use and housing programmes to be drawn up by the end of next year. It is in that connection that Helsinki and Vantaa will look into possible land exchanges which would also involve neighbouring Sipoo.
Other goals set in the agreement include the establishment of a common business marketing company and an "innovation university".
The atmosphere at the meeting was optimistic, but there were also some doubts in the air.
"Now we are serious", insisted Eero Akaan-Penttilä (Nat. Coalition Party), the Chairman of the Espoo City Council at a press conference held before the meeting.
There was some confusion with the practical arrangements.
During the speeches many of the decision-makers slipped out into the café for a glass of wine.
After the joint session, each of the four councils convened separately to give formal approval to the agreement. Only Helsinki and Kauniainen managed to give unanimous approval.
Espoo and Vantaa, meanwhile, had to vote on a number of items, including proposed exchanges of land between Helsinki and Vantaa. Especially members of the Swedish People’s Party emphasised that they cannot commit themselves to parts of the text which also involved the rural community of Sipoo.
None of the four mayors felt that there would be any moves two years from now to merge any of the cities.
"The good and the bad sides of a merger would be good to clarify", said Rakel Hiltunen (SDP), the chair of the Helsinki City Council.
Speaking on behalf of the mayors of the four cities, Helsinki Mayor Jussi Pajunen (Nat. Coalition Party) emphasised that the agreement requires that all sides make preparations with an open mind.
He also emphasised the importance of following democratic procedures.
Speaking for the National Coalition Party’s representatives on the four city councils, Jan Vapaavuori was pleased that the model of cooperation in the Helsinki region has been seen as applicable to other parts of Finland as well.
Speaking for the Social Democrats, Jari Sainio said that in the coming years, the cities of the Helsinki region should seek to set a common municipal income tax level. However, some other Social Democrats shook their heads disaprovingly as Sainio spoke.
"Now we are not doing something just so the state can be satisfied", said Eeva Honkanummi (Green).
"We can congratulate ourselves for a good start", chimed in Outi Ojala (Left Alliance).
Although the general tone was positive there were some notes of discord as well.
Council members representing small independent groups complained that they were not given a chance to take part in the preparations.
A number of individual members expressed scepticism over the likely success of the agreement.
"I do not believe that regional cooperation will achieve the result that was set for it", said Kimmo Helistö (Green).
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 23.5.2006 - TODAY |
 Cities of Helsinki metropolitan area agree on closer cooperation at joint session
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