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8.5.2026 | The EU ministers responsible for education, youth, culture and sport will meet in Brussels on 11–12 May. Education ministers are expected to adopt a general approach on the next Erasmus+ programme and outline the role of artificial intelligence in education. Other items on the agenda include the EU Youth Dialogue, the new AgoraEU programme, and mental health in sport.

Ministry of Education and Culture Minister of Youth, Sport and Physical Activity Mika Poutala Christian Democrats in Finland Minister of Youth, Sport and Physical Activity Poutala is responsible for matters covered by the Department of Youth and S...

Sports and physical activity In the central government, the Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for creating favourable conditions for sports and physical activity as well as for the reconciliation and development of sport policy. The...

Youth workshops and outreach youth work Youth workshops are part of the Youth Guarantee, under which every pupil who has completed basic education is guaranteed a place in an educational institution, apprenticeship training, workshop, rehabilitati...

Youth work Through youth work and youth policy, the central government and the municipalities work to improve young people’s living conditions and encourage the young to engage in civic activities. The Ministry of Education and Culture prepares is...

Youth sector organisations The Ministry of Education and Culture funds part of the national youth sector organisations’ expenditure by granting them discretionary general transfers annually. Youth sector organisations comprise: youth organisations...

Local youth work Youth work and youth policy fall within the remit of municipalities and are implemented in multiprofessional cooperation. The local authorities may also work together and provide youth services regionally. The Ministry of Educatio...

National youth centres The youth centres form a network specialised in youth work. The Ministry of Education and Culture subsidises the centres. Youth centres provide curriculum-supporting camp and nature packages for school groups, social youth w...

Culture, physical activity and youth work facilitate integration Cultural services, public libraries, activities for young people and sports activities make it easier to integrate into the society. Participation in such activities provides an easy...

National Youth Work and Youth Policy Programme The National Youth Work and Youth Policy Programme is a horizontal programme, which the Government adopts every four years with the aim of promoting a good environment for young people to grow up and ...

Youth research and monitoring of young people’s living conditions Youth research is multidisciplinary research focusing on young people that emphasises such areas as research in youth cultures, consumer research, and research in exclusion, ethnic ...

Youth work centres of expertise Youth work centres of expertise develop and promote competence, expertise and communications in the youth sector. The Ministry of Education and Culture develops youth sector services and expertise by supporting the ...

On 13 June, the President of the Republic appointed Member of Parliament, entrepreneur and Olympic athlete Mika Poutala as Minister of Youth, Sport and Physical Activity and as a member of the Government.

Inclusion and participation of young people The Ministry of Education and Culture works to promote young people’s participation and inclusion, while the Government Programme pledges to assess the impacts of decisions on children and families. One ...

Youth Act 2017 The objectives of the Act is to promote young people’s social inclusion and opportunities for exerting an influence; improve their skills and capabilities to function in society; support their growth, independence and sense of commu...

Policies and development related to youth affairs The Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for the overall management, coordination and development of youth work and youth policy and for creating general prerequisites in central govern...

Central government funding for youth work The Ministry of Education and Culture funds youth work from the proceeds of gaming activities and budget funding. Appropriations and budget items in the youth sector in Youth work has been allocated EUR 71...

EU and international cooperation in the youth sector The objective of international and European cooperation is to develop youth policy and support youth work through networking and exchanges of good practices. The Ministry of Education and Cultur...

Duties and objectives of the Ministry of Education and Culture In Finland the Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for the development of education, science, cultural, sport and youth policies, and for international cooperation in thes...

7.10.2025 | Minister of Youth, Sport and Physical Activity Mika Poutala will attend the 10th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Youth on 8–10 October. At the meeting, the ministers will assess developments in youth policy in light of the Reykjavík Declaration and agree on future priorities. The aim is for the ministers to adopt a final declaration and commit to a framework on a youth perspective within the Council of Europe.