Prime Minister Vanhanen's second Cabinet launched the following three policy programmes that are to be led and coordinated by a competent minister:

• Policy programme for employment, entrepreneurship and worklife

• Policy programme for health promotion

• Policy programme for the well-being of children, youth and families

 

The policy programmes, as set out in the Government Programme, cover broad-based intersectoral issues to ensure the attainment of the Government’s key objectives. The programmes comprise measures, projects and appropriations that fall within the mandate of different ministries. Each policy programme has been set a number of impact objectives.

 

The ministers responsible for the policy programmes are assisted by programme directors in the relevant ministries. The preparation and monitoring of the programmes are delegated to ministerial groups. The ministerial groups discuss all guidelines pertinent to the policy programme in question and prepare for important decisions to be taken in relation to the programme. More detailed information on the content of and preparation for the current policy programmes is included in the Government Strategy Document  issued on 5 December 2007.

 

The Prime Minister’s Office coordinates the preparation and implementation of the policy programmes and develops relevant policy management procedures. The State Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office chairs the Programme Management Steering Committee that has been appointed as a cooperation body between the policy programmes.

 

The policy programmes do not introduce any changes to the division of competences within the Government. The coordinating ministers and programme directors organise the implementation of the policy programmes in a manner they consider adequate for the attainment of the objectives. They also make the necessary decisions on the preparation for and monitoring of the policy programmes.