Mr. Juha Mikkonen, EAPN-Finland Association for Healthy Lifestyles - Elämäntapaliitto (juha.mikkonen@elamantapaliitto.fi) EAPN General Assembly 2008 - Bulgaria, 25-27 September Background information The four pillars of the Finnish social security system are 1) income-based security 2) basic security for everyone, 3) income transfers to low-income population groups, and 4) equitable welfare services regardless of wealth, gender or domicile. These pillars form a basis upon which the prevention of poverty and social exclusion is built. The universal system is supplemented with income transfers and services aimed specifically at groups threatened by social exclusion. The public welfare services intended for all are mainly tax-funded (see the summary report prepared by Riitta Särkelä . Recent developments in Finland Many NGOs think that there have been many alarming changes proposed by the centre-right government currently in power. For instance, these concerns are related to the government plan to raise health care charges paid by citizens and to a plan to make expenses paid for children’s day-care linked to the consumer price index. EAPN-Finland stresses that the social welfare and health care charges should not constitute an obstacle to the individual or family to ensure adequate services. Another example is that the child benefits are not tied to the consumer price index in Finland. Therefore, EAPN-Finland considers that it is illogical from the government to tie day care service charges to the price index. However, EAPN-Finland welcomes the government decision that the zero-fee in children’s day care is maintained for the families in the lowest economic position. The government retracted their plan to remove zero-fees for the lowest economic groups because of massive public pressure in the fall 2007. In the future, recent policy changes could mean major impairments in the members of lower socioeconomic groups. Health and social problems pile up the lower social groups, with more poverty, loneliness, unemployment, homelessness and social exclusion. Even a small increase in a health service charge can have a big impact on the life of the poor. The one of the main challenges of the Finnish social and health policy is to reduce health inequalities between socioeconomic groups. The overall status of health in Finland has improved over the past decades. People live longer than earlier. However, not all population groups have benefited from the development equally. Socioeconomic differences in life expectancy have increased. In spite of investments in the social welfare during the last decades, the inequalities in health between population groups have stayed high in Finland. From this point of view, the recent developments in the government policy are worrying. The Finnish National Strategy Report (NSR) on Social Protection and Social Inclusion for the years 2008-2010 might give a too positive view on recent developments and trends in Finland. Therefore, EAPN-Finland and other NGOs should be especially sharp-eyed in commentaries to the NSR report prepared by the Finnish government.