Strengthening regional democracy is important for the overall multi-level good democratic governance. The Finnish regional development, also currently in the process of reform and supported by another Council of Europe - EU project, has been an inspiration for the Lithuanian authorities.

That is why, in the framework of the CoE - EU joint project "Establishment of legal institutional and financial framework at regional county level capacity building to enhance quality of regional public administration in Lithuania”, the Centre of Expertise is organising a study visit to Finland for representatives of the Lithuanian Regional Development Councils and other relevant stakeholders.

The participants will discuss and learn from the Finnish experience how to optimise the strategic planning at the regional level. They will meet with Finnish authorities such as the Ministry of Finance, newly established Wellbeing Services Counties, representatives of the City of Helsinki, Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council and the Finnish Association of Local and Regional Authorities, to exchange on the good practices on regional governance in the host country. The meetings will touch upon different topics, such as:

• the institutional set-up of the regions and their programming and planning process,
• politically accountable regional structures and the coordination of different bodies in the Regional Council in the context of their competences,
• the role of and mechanisms for inclusion of social and economic partners in the new regions,
• the need/s that ignited the reform of the Finnish regional governance system,
• the fiscal decentralisation system in the context of regional / municipal governance and foreseen changes thereto,
• operation of joint municipal offices and current challenges in their strategic planning: eco-friendly solutions, physical planning, the municipal role in promoting local economy.

The study visit will be organised in cooperation with the Lithuanian Association of Local Authorities – implementing partner in the project.