The Island Act
The Island Development Act forms the institutional foundation of island policy in Finland
The purpose of the Act is to ensure that particular attention is paid to the unique conditions and circumstances of the archipelago.
The Island Development Act (494/1981) was enacted in 1981. The Act forms the institutional foundation of island development policy in Finland. From an international perspective, Finland’s Island Act is unique. The Act is of great importance to island communities, as it enables the state to recognize and acknowledge the archipelago's special status. The purpose of the Act is to ensure that particular attention is paid to the unique conditions and circumstances of the archipelago:
The State and municipalities must act in a way that ensures permanent inhabitation of the island areas by creating adequate opportunities for livelihoods, mobility and access to basic services and protects the landscapes and nature of the island areas against environmental harm.
Updating the Act is included in the current Government Programme. The Act will be updated during the government term by 2027. The Act has not been updated since 1981. The aim is for the Act to take better account of the conditions of the island areas today.
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