Transparency Register shows SY most active advocate

The Transparency Register’s reporting period for the first half of 2025 ended on 31 Aug. The Transparency Register records lobbying work and contacts to ministers and their assistants, MPs and their assistants, and civil servants.

In the 1 Jan.–30 Jun. reporting period, Suomen Yrittäjät was the most active lobbying association. Suomen Yrittäjät contacted the reportable persons on 220 topics. The second most active lobbyist was the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK), with 211 topics, followed by the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, with 164 topics.

“This result shows how broad our association’s advocacy is. Many issues have an impact on business owners, and we try to influence them on a wide front. I’m of course delighted that the extent of the work of Suomen Yrittäjät and our team’s zeal are also shown in the Transparency Register report,” says Suomen Yrittäjät CEO Mikael Pentikäinen.

Pentikäinen says that Suomen Yrittäjät has had good conditions for advocacy in recent years.

“People want to listen to us and move the issues we stand for forward. There’s a broad understanding that Finland’s growth will only be strengthened by companies’ growth and business owners taking risks.

“There’s been progress on many issues during this Parliament, even though bad decisions have been made when the public finances have been under pressure. We’re working hard to ensure the important decisions for business owners made in the Government Programme and the mid-term budget review get over the line and that the laws are enacted. At the same time, we are also preparing manifestos for the next general election.

Pirkanmaa leading regions

The advocacy work of the regional associations of Suomen Yrittäjät is not seen in the figures for the nationwide association. Of the regional associations of Suomen Yrittäjät, the most active was Pirkanmaan Yrittäjät, with 35 advocacy topics.

The next most active were Southwest Finland (16), Coastal Ostrobothnia (14), Central Finland (13) and Savo (11).

Number of advocacy work topics 1 Jan.–30 Jun. 2024

1. Suomen Yrittäjät 220 topics

2. Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners MTK 211 topics

3. Association of Finnish Cities and Municipalities 164 topics

4. Blic Oy 87 topics

5. Hill and Knowlton Finland Oy 79 topics

6. Finnish Commerce Federation 34 topics

7. Rud Pedersen Public Affairs Company Oy 59 topics

8. Finnish Association of Private Care Providers HALI 57 topics

9. Finance Finland 56 topics

10. Amnesty International 55 topics

Transparency Register

The goal of the Transparency Register is to improve transparency of the decision marking of Parliament and the ministries. The Transparency Register makes unofficial advocacy on decision making visible. This advocacy happens outside official working groups and hearings such as consultation stages and committee hearings.

Long-term and planned advocacy of Parliament and the ministries is reported to the Transparency Register.

The topic reported tells the public which issues the organization has tried to influence when advocating.

Source: avoimuusrekisteri.fi

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