Cabinet Committees
Vanhanen's Cabinet 2003 - 2007
The Government has four statutory cabinet committees chaired by the Prime Minister.
Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy
The Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy is chaired by the Prime Minister, and its other members include the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Defence, the Minister of the Interior and a maximum of three other ministers designated by the Government. If any other minister has been designated to consider matters that fall within the mandate of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, he/she will also be a member of the Committee. Moreover, any other minister to whose area of competence the matter in hand relates may also attend meetings of the committee.
Important aspects of foreign and security policy and other matters concerning Finland’s relations with other states, as well as related key internal security issues and relevant total national defence issues, shall be prepared by the Committee.
The political Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs serves as the committee’s secretary.
The minutes of the meetings are secret. The Director of Government Communications attends the meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy and is responsible, in line with the Prime Minister's directions, for the dissemination of information on decisions taken.
Meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy and the President of the Republic
The committee and the President of the Republic meet whenever current business so requires. In matters where the President is responsible for directing Finland’s foreign policy, proceedings are chaired by the President. Matters relating to the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy which fall within the Government's purview are also dealt with at such meetings.
Composition
Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, chairman
Minister of Finance Eero Heinäluoma
Minister of the Environment Stefan Wallin
Minister of Education Antti Kalliomäki
Minister for Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja
Minister of Defence Seppo Kääriäinen
Minister of the Interior Kari Rajamäki
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Juha Korkeaoja
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paula Lehtomäki
Cabinet Committee on European Union Affairs
The Cabinet Committee on European Union Affairs meets as a rule on Fridays at 8.00 a.m. The committee is chaired by the Prime Minister and also includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Justice, the Minister for Foreign Trade, the Minister of Trade and Industry, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry and two other ministers, one designated by the Prime Minister and the other the minister within whose competence the matter in hand falls. Where necessary, the Prime Minister may appoint one additional minister to the committee. Meetings of the committee are open to all other ministers.
Business is presented by the minister within whose competence the matter in hand falls.
When the Prime Minister, the minister within whose competence the matter in hand falls or the committee as a whole deem it necessary, the committee may also handle the preliminary preparation of matters to be decided at European Union level. The State Secretary of the Government Secretariat for EU Affairs acts as secretary at the meetings.
The Deputy Head of the Government Information Unit, which is responsible for the dissemination of information in line with the Prime Minister's directions, attends meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Europe Union Affairs.
Composition
Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, chairman
Minister of Finance Eero Heinäluoma
Minister of the Environment Stefan Wallin
Minister of Education Antti Kalliomäki
Minister for Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja
Minister of Trade and Industry Mauri Pekkarinen
Minister of Justice Leena Luhtanen
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Juha Korkeaoja
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paula Lehtomäki
Cabinet Finance Committee
The Cabinet Finance Committee meets as a rule on Wednesdays at 1.00 p.m. in the session hall of the Government. The committee is chaired by the Prime Minister and also includes the Minister of Finance and other ministers at the Ministry of Finance, the minister within whose competence the matter in hand falls, and a maximum of three other ministers designated by the Prime Minister.
The quorum for the Cabinet Finance Committee is three. One of the members attending the meeting must represent the Ministry of Finance.
The duty of the Cabinet Finance Committee is to exercise advance financial control. The committee also handles the preliminary preparation of matters that carry considerable economic implications or otherwise require the opinion of the committee. As at the plenary sessions of the Government, discussion is based on specific presentation lists prepared in the ministries.
The plenary session of the Government may reject an opinion issued by the Cabinet Finance Committee. If a ministry intends to take a decision which does not comply with an opinion issued by the Cabinet Finance Committee, the matter must be raised for adoption at a plenary session of the Government.
Business is presented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, or his substitute, who also acts as secretary at the meetings.
Composition
Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, chairman
Minister of Finance Eero Heinäluoma
Minister of the Interior Kari Rajamäki
Coordinate Minister for Finance Ulla-Maj Wideroos
Minister of Regional and Municipal Affairs Hannes Manninen
Cabinet Committee on Economic Policy
Cabinet Committee on Economic Policy has its meetings on Tuesday mornings. The committee is chaired by the Prime Minister and also includes the Minister of Finance, the minister at the Ministry of Finance designated by the Prime Minister to handle matters falling within the competence of the Ministry of Finance, the Minister of Trade and Industry, the Minister of Labour and a maximum of four other ministers designated by the Prime Minister.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Policy handles matters related to overall economic development and economic policy, guidelines for the development of general government finances, the steering of investments and other economic policy issues as decided by the Prime Minister.
The Director-General of the Ministry of Finance's Budget Department acts as secretary at the meetings of the committee. The Head of the Government Information Unit attends meetings of the committee. Any press releases and other matters related to the dissemination of information are discussed and agreed by the Prime Minister and the minister responsible for the matters considered at each meeting of the committee.
Composition
Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, chairman
Minister of Finance Eero Heinäluoma
Minister of Education Antti Kalliomäki
Minister of Trade and Industry Mauri Pekkarinen
Minister of Labour Tarja Filatov
Minister of Defence Seppo Kääriäinen
Coordinate Minister for Finance Ulla-Maj Wideroos
Minister of Health and Social Services Liisa Hyssälä
Minister of Transport and Communications Susanna Huovinen