veronica thörnroos minister for infrastructure government of Åland

Veronica Thörnroos Minister for Infrastructure

Government of Åland

6,757 islands – of which 60 are inhabited

ÅLAND

Åland

• A self-governing/autonomous, demilitarised region

• 1/3 of the population born elsewhere

• People from about 90 countries

• More than 50 different languages

DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-GOVERNMENT

The early years

The Åland Islands question is resolved by the League of Nations.

The Act on the Autonomy of Åland takes effect. The Åland Parliament (Legislative Assembly) convenes for the first time.

1922

1921

SELF-GOVERNMENT

The Åland Parliament has legislative power in areas such as:

• education, culture and heritage sites• health care and hospitals, social care• environmental issues• trade and industry• local transport• municipal administration• policing• postal service, radio and TV

THE ECONOMY SYSTEM

• State taxes, duties and fees collected in Åland are paid to the Finnish Treasury

• Åland is compensated for its expenses through the repayment of 0.45% of the income of the Finnish State (Åland’s share of Finland’s population is roughly 0,51%)

• Åland can freely allocate this lump sum in the regional budget

THE ÅLAND ECONOMYÅland’s GDP, percent

0 5 10 15 20 25

Other

Culture and recreation

IT

Public administration

Real estate

Banking and insurance

Hotel and restaurant

Other transport

Sea transport

Retail

Construction

Manufacturing

Farming, forestry and fishing

Serie1

Source: ÅSUB

SHIPPING

• Over 20% of local GDP

• Commercial fleet with ships under Finnish/Ålandic flag, passenger ferries and cargo.

Source: ÅSUB

Traffic system Sweden – Åland - Finland

The archipelago traffic system

• 9 ferries – 19 ports• Passengers 1 027 351• Vehicles 590 909

• 6 cable-ferries – 12 ports

FerriesDifferent kind of routes rules the model of tonnage