The comprehensive and the targeted - Finnish rural policy system
To benefit from the strengths of the countryside we must have vibrant rural communities with functioning infrastructure and services. The key objective of the rural policy is to promote the viability of the rural areas and the wellbeing of the people living there.
Finnish rural policy can be divided into comprehensive (or broad) and targeted (or narrow) rural policy.
The comprehensive (or broad) rural policy is a practice according to which the rural areas and their residents should be taken into account in all actions in the society and different administrative branches.
The targeted (or narrow) rural policy means the practical instruments employed by the government and society to develop the countryside – such as project funding for rural development.
Comprehensive and targeted rural policy are addressed in the latest Rural Policy Report (Figure).
The rural policy is coordinated by the Rural Policy Council, appointed by the Government.