A working group on municipal reform in Finland is proposing the formation of a metropolis in the Helsinki region which would comprise the cities of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, and Kauniainen and the municipality of Sipoo.
The group, which submitted its report to Minister for Public Administration and Local Government Henna Virkkunen (Nat. Coalition Party) on Wednesday, wants to reduce the number of local authorities in Finland from the present 336 to about 70.
The proposal could lead to mergers that take place without the consent of the municipalities in question. The working group says that it might be justified to “give the state the authority to decide on changes in municipal division”.
Such moves could take place in urban areas and in municipalities with weak demographic development. However, the main aim would be for mergers to be voluntary.
According to the report, a large municipality in a the Helsinki metropolitan area would ease existing competition among local authorities in the region. It would also strengthen the international position of the area. The working group also notes that implementing such a merger by 2015 might not be feasible.
The original aim was to implement the municipal reform by 2015.
The biggest proposed merger would be for the Turku region, and it would comprise at least 11 municipal entities.
The city of Kuhmo in Kainuu is the only city in the proposal that would not be merged with any of its neighbours.
Decisions on the proposed mergers are to be made by the end of 2014.
