Government Programme Objectives for Varsinais-Suomi 2023–2027
Fast Connections
Good accessibility and fast transport connections improve economic performance and accelerate workforce mobility. Connecting major urban regions with one-hour train connections, increasing port traffic capacity, and improving traffic flow on highways 8 and 9 enable the matching of jobs and job seekers as well as the movement of goods. In terms of transport routes, Varsinais-Suomi is a junction for all modes of transport—air, rail, road, and sea. As a result of Russia’s war of aggression, traffic flows are changing, and in the altered global situation, Varsinais-Suomi is a natural route to the west, also from the perspective of security of supply.
Several transport projects in the region are located on the European TEN-T transport network’s Scandinavian–Mediterranean core network corridor. This status enables the supplementation of scarce national transport funding with EU funds. TEN-T core network projects must be completed by 2030.
Construction Decision for the One-Hour Train
The fast train connection between Turku and Helsinki will create a large, unified commuting and service area of 1.5 million people in southern Finland. The One-Hour Train enables sustainable growth in rail travel and the development of long-distance and local transport journey chains.
The new direct railway line from Espoo via Vihti and Lohja to Salo will shorten the distance by 26 kilometers. Together with the capacity increase from the Salo–Turku double track, these projects will reduce travel time to just over an hour between Kupittaa and Pasila. At the same time, the double track will enable the launch of local train services between Turku and Salo, and the direct line in western Uusimaa.
The One-Hour Train has been planned for a total of 14 years, and its planning has been funded with 115 million euros. The total funding requirement for the project is approximately 3.4 billion euros (Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency). To date, the project has received approximately 44 million euros in EU support. The available CEF funding for construction is approximately 30% of the costs.
Construction of the One-Hour Train has begun at both ends. The MAL agreements between urban regions and the state have decided on joint funding for the construction of Turku railway yard, the Turku–Kupittaa double track, and the Espoo city railway. Planning for the One-Hour Train’s Turku–Salo double track and Salo–Espoo direct line sections will be completed by Turku One-Hour Train Ltd in 2023. The project is ready for implementation at the beginning of the electoral term and requires a parliamentary investment decision. If the decision is made without delay, construction will be completed in 2030.
Launch of Local Train Services in Varsinais-Suomi
Regional local train services can unite the central city of Turku and the sub-regional centers into a unified commuting area. It enables sustainable mobility and directs traffic growth to public transport. Local train services are part of regional public transport, whose other important components include the One-Hour Train and local bus services. Developing local train services in Varsinais-Suomi means passenger train services on the Turku–Uusikaupunki, Turku–Loimaa, Turku–Salo, and Turku–Naantali routes.
Implementing local train services requires legislative amendments, as the current Transport Services Act limits rail transport authority only to the state and Helsinki Regional Transport. Parliament must decide on expanding state rail procurement services to western southern Finland by increasing the funding for appropriation 31.20.55. In addition, a budget decision is needed for the basic renovation of the Turku–Uusikaupunki line totaling 81 million euros according to the transport network investment program, the basic renovation and electrification of the Raisio–Naantali section, and state participation in station infrastructure construction funding.
Development of Turku Airport
Helsinki-Vantaa Airport and Turku Airport, which are important for Finland’s international traffic, are part of the European-wide transport network, TEN-T, core network. Turku Airport is the country’s second largest in terms of international passenger numbers after Helsinki-Vantaa. The importance of Turku Airport to the region’s business community is emphasized through international connections. Direct and functional connections to Nordic hubs and onward to Europe enable international business operations.
Developing the airport’s operating conditions and maintaining the network principle are prerequisites for the region’s international accessibility in the future as well. Securing operating conditions means, among other things, maintaining nighttime air traffic control. In the future, Turku Airport can be connected to the rail network with its own local train station on the Turku–Toijala railway line.
Development of Port Connections and Competitiveness
Varsinais-Suomi serves as an important gateway to the west and a logistical hub for Finland’s maritime transport. From the ports of Turku and Naantali, nearly ten daily round-trip ferry services operate to Sweden, carrying a large portion of freight traffic between Finland and the Nordic countries. The sanctions resulting from Russia’s war of aggression further increase the importance of the ports. Developing western connections is a significant security of supply factor as traffic flows may change permanently.
For Scandinavian and Baltic connections, developing road and rail connections to the ports is an important starting point. Hinterland connections from the ports of Turku and Naantali must be brought to the level defined by the European core network, including improving traffic flow on the Turku Ring Road in the Raisio section and between Raisio and Naantali. The new vessels entering service at the Port of Naantali alone will significantly increase truck traffic on the ring road.
The costs arising from fairway and pilotage fees for maritime transport must be equalized. The competitiveness of Varsinais-Suomi’s ports is weakened by the fact that fairway fees are at the same level as in other ports in the country, even though the need for icebreaking is minimal. In addition, ships calling at the region’s ports pay higher pilotage fees due to long pilotage distances in the extensive archipelago than the actual costs incurred from pilotage. To equalize competitiveness, the transition to remote pilotage must be enabled.
Turku Ring Road in Raisio City Center
E18 (main road 40) Turku Ring Road is one of Finland’s most important main route connections. The ring road connects highways 1, 10, 9, and 8 as well as the ports of Turku and Naantali. The approximately 30-kilometer ring road is part of the European-wide transport network, TEN-T Scandinavian–Mediterranean core network corridor, whose bottlenecks must be removed by 2030.
The heavily loaded road becomes congested in the Raisio city center area. Traffic volumes are 19,000–36,000 vehicles per day, with particularly heavy traffic. Traffic light-controlled junctions act as bottlenecks during rush hours. There is a need to build a 3+3-lane tunnel approximately 450 meters long under Raisio city center.
Meeting the requirements of the TEN-T core network corridor in the Raisio city center area requires an immediate construction decision of 205 million euros from Parliament and implementation of the project by 2030. The road plan was completed in 2020 and construction can begin in 2022.
E18 Raisio City Center – project description on the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency website
Turku Ring Road Naantali–Raisio
The Turku Ring Road Naantali–Raisio connection requires four-laning and improvement of junctions. Road planning for the project is underway and construction can begin in 2025. The cost estimate is 173 million euros. The project is part of the European TEN-T core network corridor, whose requirements must be met by 2030. The project must be implemented immediately after the Raisio city center improvements.
E18 Turku Ring Road – project description on the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency website
Highway 8 – Laitila Grade-Separated Roundabout
The smooth flow of the west coast’s active business community requires the removal of the four-way at-grade junction in Laitila city center. The five ports between Turku and Pori, the lack of rail connection, and active freight and commuter traffic increase the importance of the road connection. Highway 8 accounts for 29% of the value of the entire country’s goods exports.
Traffic volumes in the Laitila city center area are high, 7,000–8,000 vehicles per day, with a large proportion of heavy traffic. There is a need to build a grade-separated roundabout at the intersection of Highway 8 and Main Road 43. The road plan is ready, and construction of the project could begin in 2022. The required construction funding is 42 million euros.
Highway 8 Laitila – project description on the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency website
Highway 9 – Four-Laning, Passing Lanes, and Aura Grade-Separated Junction
Highway 9 is a significant inland road connection and transport route for export industry to the ports in the Turku region. The Lieto–Aura section is one of the poorest condition sections in the growth triangle and more dangerous than the rest of the main road network. On Highway 9, the four-laning of the wide-lane road between Lieto station and Aura, three pairs of passing lanes, and the Aura grade-separated junction must be implemented.
The road plan for converting the wide-lane road to four lanes between Lieto station and Aura is ready, the road plans for the passing lane pairs are being completed in 2022, and planning for the Aura grade-separated junction is starting. The funding requirement for four-laning is estimated at 58.5 million euros.
Second Phase of Salo Eastern Bypass
The purpose of the Salo eastern bypass, i.e., Main Road 52 improvement project, is to divert through traffic away from Salo city center street network and improve business connections. The first phase, Perniöntie–Road 110, was completed in 2016. The second phase consists of the section between Somerontie and Road 110. The road plan must be initiated with 1.2 million euros in funding. Implementation of the project requires 41 million euros in funding.
Main Road 52 Salo – project description on the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency website
Cost estimates for road projects are stated at index level MAKU 130 (2015=100).
Clean and Attractive Archipelago Sea
The Varsinais-Suomi archipelago is the world’s largest in terms of number of islands. The accessibility of the archipelago, year-round utilization, and maintaining it as inhabited require smooth archipelago transport and data network connections. Sustainable development of the unique Archipelago Sea requires significant changes in national decision-making and support policy. The archipelago can be developed into Finland’s most attractive tourist destination if we succeed in stopping the eutrophication of the sea. Adaptation to climate change and effective climate action are also important, as the consequences of climate change pose significant challenges to water protection and livelihoods.
Clean Archipelago Sea
The Archipelago Sea is the poorest condition sea area on Finland’s coast and the catchment area is on the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission’s list of worst polluters. Despite decisions, the eutrophication of the sea has not been stopped. The government programme objective must be set to stop nutrient runoff to the Archipelago Sea and achieve better sea condition by 2027. Achieving the objective requires accountability from the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. Effective targeting of measures requires earmarked funding for the Archipelago Sea.
Sanna Marin’s government launched the Archipelago Sea Programme in 2021, which aims to reduce nutrient loading of the Archipelago Sea to a sustainable level by 2027. The purpose is to remove the Archipelago Sea from HELCOM’s hot spot list with sufficient measures. Continuation of the Archipelago Sea Programme must be included in the government programme and Archipelago Sea funding allocated from the state budget. Funding intended for improving the ecological status of waters (e.g., Water Protection Enhancement Programme and Helmi Programme) must be secured and directed to the Archipelago Sea.
During the 2023–2027 electoral term, measures must focus on reducing nutrient loading from the catchment area and utilizing the load already in the sea. The use of nutrients and especially the utilization of surplus manure from livestock farms must be resolved in the Archipelago Sea catchment area with recycling support that encourages farmers. The utilization of recycled fertilizer must be linked to a sufficiently low soil P value, which requires opening agricultural administration soil fertility analyses for development work. The funding requirement for phosphorus-based recycling support for manure in the Southwest Finland region is approximately 6 million euros per year.
Organic manure produced in Finland contains sufficient phosphorus for all cultivation, so optimized use of manure phosphorus can eliminate the need for imported mineral phosphorus and simultaneously improve agricultural self-sufficiency. The nutrient surplus already in water bodies must also be utilized by harvesting the nutrients. Mowing of lake reed beds, which has proven effective for nutrient removal, must be promoted by amending the Water Act, where industrial-scale mowing can be carried out based on a permit granted by the state.
Gypsum treatment of erosion-prone clay soil, which has proven to be a rapid nutrient binding method, must be secured with annual funding of 5.5–6.5 million euros in the Archipelago Sea catchment area. Alongside this, the application of structural lime and nutrient fiber must also be introduced.
Development of Archipelago Transport
Archipelago transport is state-funded and organized. Most of Finland’s 41 ferry locations are in the Turku archipelago, and in addition, there are 10 ferry routes in the Archipelago Sea. Approximately 18 million euros is allocated annually in the state budget for archipelago transport funding. Maintaining the funding level ensures the current level of traffic and service. Achieving Finland’s transport policy environmental objectives and digitalization require additional investment in archipelago transport procurement.
The archipelago transport fleet has an average age of nearly 40 years and requires renewal. Fleet renewal means longer contract periods of at least 10 years, for example with a five-year option period, compared to the current situation. In addition to a separate contract authorization granted in the budget, an annual funding increase of approximately 5–7 million euros is needed for ferry service procurement.
ELY Centre: Archipelago Transport
Construction of the Parainen Route
Implementation of the Parainen route, i.e., the Kaarina western bypass (Road 180 Kurkela–Kuusisto), is part of developing archipelago connections together with the previously decided bridge renewals. The objective is to improve connections to the Turunmaa archipelago and develop Kaarina city center traffic by reducing traffic volumes and congestion. Road 180 connection must be improved to the archipelago by building a new road connection between Kurkela and Kuusisto. The project also requires the construction of a new Auvaisbergen bridge. Road planning for the project will be completed in 2022. The project has an excellent benefit-cost ratio and the funding requirement is 61 million euros.
Parainen Route project description on the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency website
Reform of the Archipelago Act
The current Archipelago Act dates from 1981. Preparatory work to update the act was initiated in 2021. Updating the act during the upcoming electoral term must be included in the government programme. The reform of the Archipelago Act must clarify the definition of archipelago municipalities and part-archipelago municipalities and guarantee their funding. In Varsinais-Suomi, the archipelago municipalities are Parainen, Kemiönsaari, and Kustavi, and the part-archipelago municipalities are Kaarina, Naantali, Salo, Taivassalo, and Uusikaupunki.
The special conditions of the archipelago result from sparse population and geographical isolation. In Varsinais-Suomi, permanent residence in coastal archipelago municipalities and part-archipelago municipalities must be enabled by taking into account transport connections, telecommunications connections, livelihoods, services, and the environment. Leisure residence, multi-locality, and tourism development must be included in the act.
Maintaining certain state functions such as Border Guard bases in the archipelago area is a strategic investment that must be upheld. At the same time, the presence enables basic security for archipelago living, including critical official assistance in emergency medical, police, or rescue service tasks.
Promotion of Multi-Locality
The coronavirus pandemic demonstrated that there is demand for multi-local living. The exceptional circumstances offered employers and employees the opportunity for remote and hybrid work, which improved work quality and job satisfaction. Location-independent work reduces the need for commuting between home and workplace, which supports achieving climate objectives. At the same time, it creates new employment opportunities, including for people with partial work capacity, increases the attachment of seasonal residents, and creates regional development opportunities.
Sanna Marin’s government made a resolution in principle on strengthening and establishing multi-local work. Objectives included developing communication network infrastructure and building fast communication connections to areas where they will not be built on market terms. Archipelago and rural living require adequate telecommunications connections. In addition to fixed broadband networks, the construction of wireless networks must be supported. Equally essential are the development of a location-independent recruitment culture, the accessibility of state administration customer service, and ensuring postal delivery, among other things.
Archipelago Tourism as a National Brand
The Archipelago Sea, with the world’s largest archipelago, has the potential to develop into an internationally recognized brand. The archipelago can attract visitors to Finland year-round through its unique nature, culture, sustainable services, and safety.
The number of visitors to the archipelago is growing rapidly, but the challenge is to help businesses develop their products for a year-round season. A significant problem is also workforce availability. Archipelago tourism is linked to the Archipelago Sea’s ecological sustainability objective. Only a vibrant Archipelago Sea can refresh and attract visitors to Finnish nature.
Archipelago tourism is being developed in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment’s tourism strategy and Visit Finland’s strategy. The government programme must elevate archipelago tourism to a national tourism priority alongside Lapland tourism. Scaling archipelago tourism to year-round operations in the post-corona era is a significant opportunity for employment in the sector and Finland’s image.
Growth and Skilled Workforce
During the corona period, growth has been challenged by component shortages, particularly in the machinery and technology and building construction sectors. The war in Ukraine affects companies especially through rising energy and raw material prices, and as uncertainty increases, through loss of orders. However, the main factor hampering growth and development is the shortage of skilled workers. 60% of Varsinais-Suomi companies experience a shortage or severe shortage of skilled labor. In addition to the shortage of training places serving business, growth sectors face challenges with low applicant numbers and the resulting mismatch problem. The main sectors suffering from skilled worker shortages are mechanical and production engineering, social and health care, restaurant and catering, building construction and property maintenance, and seasonal labor sectors in agriculture and horticulture. In the education sector, there is a shortage of kindergarten teachers and special education teachers. In addition, more investment in research, development, and innovation activities is needed to ensure the region’s sustainable growth.
Expansion of Educational Responsibilities
The availability of skilled labor can be promoted by expanding educational responsibilities that serve the region’s business community’s skilled worker needs and ensuring adequate funding for them.
Building Architecture Education: A particular regional problem is the lack of building architecture education. The shortage is evident in the region’s industry and business community, but also in the work of local building authorities, as qualified professionals are not available. Turku University of Applied Sciences aims to launch building architecture education.
Forest Machine Operator Training: There is a need for a forest machine operator training license in Varsinais-Suomi. The geographical location of current forest machine schools does not meet the training needs for forest machine operators and does not support young people entering the field in Southwest Finland. Peimari Educational Consortium aims to obtain a training license for Ammattiopisto Livia.
Special Mission for Natural Sciences-Focused Upper Secondary School: The region’s industrial structure and skilled worker needs, especially in technology, chemistry, and logistics sectors, require strengthening natural sciences education and increasing the number of applicants to further studies. In Loimaa, Novida Upper Secondary School aims for a special mission focusing on natural sciences.
English-Language Upper Secondary School and Matriculation Examination
Attracting skilled labor requires, in addition to interesting job opportunities, consideration of the needs of the entire relocating family. Varsinais-Suomi lacks an English-language upper secondary school that would serve as a pathway for students who have attended international schools at the basic education level. The IB upper secondary school does not meet the need for basic upper secondary education due to its high level of difficulty. Attracting international skilled workers also requires offering an English-language matriculation examination. The government programme must include an investigation of an English-language matriculation examination as part of attracting international skilled workers.
Streamlining Work-Based Immigration
Finland suffers from a serious shortage of skilled workers, which hinders business operations and, if continued, threatens economic growth. One of the key solutions is streamlining skilled worker immigration. Work-based immigration secures sufficient personnel and competence for companies and supports the financing of the welfare state. The total duration of immigration must be shortened through smooth processes, automation of processing, electronic identification, and adequate resourcing of the residence permit process. The target duration for residence permit procedures should be set at a maximum of one month. Labor market testing related to work-based immigration must be removed. The national visa is also a key means of accelerating skilled worker immigration and should be extended to cover all those applying for residence permits based on work.
Funding for the National Drug Development Center
The National Drug Development Center Ltd was established in early 2022 to promote competitive drug development and growth in the sector. The Drug Development Center is based in Turku due to the expertise and location of companies in the field. Medical universities are intended to participate in the operations of the limited company model center. Starting operations requires 20 million euros in funding. The government has previously granted 11 million euros in funding to the Drug Development Center. The missing funding to start operations must be allocated from the state budget.
EU Policy Supporting Growth Across the Country
The European Union’s cohesion policy is outdated. Current structural fund funding does not take into account regional development differences within major regions and does not support the launch of growth-promoting investments in southern and western Finland. Structural fund funding (ERDF and ESF) is heavily weighted towards eastern and northern Finland despite development differences within each region.
All regions need tools and funding instruments to level development differences. The nationally decided share of structural funds is distributed somewhat more evenly in the current 2021–2027 period than in the previous period, but does not support growth and productivity evenly. The weighting of structural funds towards eastern and northern Finland must be compensated in regional distributions of national development funds. The government programme must also include equalizing the distribution of EU regional policy funding instruments and better consideration of regional development differences within regions.
The geographical targeting of business subsidies also distorts competition and leaves potential areas of growth and development unsupported. The new regional aid map will enter into force in 2022. Eastern and northern Finland belong to the highest aid category I based on sparse population, where companies of all sizes can be supported. Mainly the rest of Finland is outside the regional aid map (Area III), where support is lower or not possible at all.
Cohesion policy must shift to supporting growth and development and focus on the effectiveness of funding. EU funding should support sustainable economic renewal and investments that improve competitiveness. The focus of funding must be shifted to areas where funding can produce the most quantitative changes.
