THE REGION OF PÄIJÄT-HÄME

1. THE REGION OF PÄIJÄT-HÄME Executive secretary Jaana Simola

2. HELSINKI by expressway 1 hour AIRPORT by bus 1 hour BRUSSELS by air 2 hour ST. PETERSBURG by train 3 hour CLOSE BY AND CENTRALLY LOCATED LAHTI REGION Lahti St. Petersburg Helsinki Brussels WWW.PAIJAT-HAME.FI

3. 19 17 18 16 11 15 12 14 13 10 6 4 7 9 5 8 20 2 3 1 REGIONAL COUNCILS FINNISH REGIONAL COUNCILS IN GENERAL 1. Regional Council of Uusimaa 2. Regional Council of Southwest Finland 3. Regional Council of Eastern Uusimaa 4. Regional Council of Satakunta 5. Regional Council of Häme 6. Regional Council of Tampere Region 7. Regional Council of Päijät-Häme 8. Regional Council of Kymenlaakso 9. Regional Council of South Karelia 10. Regional Council of South Savo 11. Regional Council of Savo 12. Regional Council of North Karelia 13. Regional Council of Central Finland 14. Regional Council of South Ostrobothnia 15. Regional Council of Ostrobothnia 16. Regional Council of Central Ostrobothnia 17. Regional Council of North Ostrobothnia 18. Regional Council of Kainuu 19. Regional Council of Lapland The autonomous Aland Islands 20. Government of Aland The Regional Council of Päijät-Häme is one of the 19 Finnish Regional Councils. According to the Law of Regional Development Regional Councils are working for an integrative and persistent development of the region, being responsible for regional development and planning as well as for other tasks in the field. The Local Government Act, the Law of Regional Development and the Law of Regional Planning form the basic tasks of the Regional Councils. The field of activities also consists of the regional lobbying and other voluntary tasks.According to the Law of Regional Development the Regional Council is the center for the regional development. It promotes the interests of the regions, the interests of the municipalities, the inhabitants as well as the interests of trade and business. Numerous studies, plans and reports also form a part of the Regional Council´s work. The Regional Councils are the regional cooperation organisation for various regional actors.The main objective of the Regional Council is independent and persistent development of the region according to the ecological aspects with the participation of all the regional managers. It strives to protect the natural resources, improve the living conditions of the population and ensure the structures necessary for economic development.

4. HARTOLA pop. 3 671 SYSMÄ pop. 4 655 PADASJOKI pop. 3 639 HEINOLA pop. 20 729 ASIKKALA pop. 8 560 HÄMEEN- HOLLOLA pop. 21 199 KOSKI pop. 2 191 NASTOLA pop. 14 790 LAHTI pop. 98 413 KÄRKÖLÄ pop. 4 974 ORIMATTILA pop. 14 614 ARTJÄRVI pop. 1 540 REGION OF PÄIJÄT-HÄME - THE HEART OF FINLAND The city of Lahti represents the geographical and functional centre of the region of Päijät-Häme. It is situated 100 km north of the Finnish capital Helsinki. Today Lahti can be reached from the international airport in Helsinki-Vantaa by bus or train in just 60 minutes. The landscape in the region is dominated by green forests and unspoiled pure lakes enriched by undulating forms of the Salpausselkä ridge. The region of Päijät-Häme can be called the heart of Finland, as the life in the post ice age period started from the surroundings of Lake Päijänne in the rural area of Asikkala. Twelve municipalities belong to the region of Päijät-Häme: the cities of Lahti, Heinola and Orimattila, and the municipalities of Hollola, Sysmä, Asikkala, Hämeenkoski, Hartola, Nastola, Kärkölä, Padasjoki and Artjärvi. Today the region of Päijät-Häme offers a balanced mixture of original Finnish traditions and a modern way of life.Surrounded by a charming scenery about 200,000 people live here, half of them in the regional centre of Lahti. A fifth of the Päijät-Häme regions 6,295 km2 is covered by lakes. The third largest lake of Finland, Lake Päijänne, dominates the region with its natural beauty. Apart from its significance for the touristic development of Päijät-Häme, it is also an important drinking water reservoir for the whole Southern Finland.

5. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY OF PÄIJÄT-HÄME The main task of the Regional Council is to define, update, maintain and implement the general Development Strategy of the region. The strategy draws the guidelines for the regional future development. The strategy defines goals and measures for different development programmes (including EU Structural Funds implementation) and the Regional Plan. It also defines the division of labour between different programmes, plans and actors in the field of the regional development. In the Regional Council of Päijät-Häme strategic planning and management has been in focus during the recent years. Our intension is to create a continuous, iterative strategic decision process which gives us an opportunity to learn about the future and to define the strategy step by step. An essential part of the process is an open, transparent participation of different regional actors and decision makers. Our ambitious objective is to connect better than before general guidelines, individual measures, projects and acts.

6. POLITICAL LEVEL • Consists of 33 members representing the complete region • Highest decision-making body of the Regional Council • Passes the general framework of documents and projects THE ASSEMBLY • Consists of 14 representatives of the Assembly • Acts as the Assembly´s executive and administrative power • Discusses and decides on measures and projects of the Regional Council THE MANAGING BOARD ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL • Acts as a commercial authority of the Regional Council • Prepares resolution documents • Executes the resolutions • Develops strategies and plans • Co-ordinates projects THE OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL • Planning and realisation of measures for regional development and planning on a regional level • Responsible for the implementation, management and control of EU programmes on a regional level • Classical Regional Planning • Representation and compensation of muncipal interests • Organisation, co-ordination, financing and administration of projects Functions and Fields of Operation of the Regional Council

7. ASSEMBLY OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL The highest decision making body in the Regional Council is the Assembly. It has the responsibility for drafting and implementation of the regional state of will and for the political guidelines concerning the regional development and structure as well as the coordination of the lobbying and cooperation. The Regional Council Assembly consists of 42 members who are selected according to the total population of the member municipalities (one to sixteen members from every municipality). The Assembly meets two to three times a year. The main tasks of the Assembly are Drafting guidelines for developing the Region of Päijät-Häme by approving the Regional Development Strategy as well as the developing programmes and the Regional Plans which are necessary for the implementation of Regional Development Strategy. Coordination of the Regional Council´s work by approving the financial plan and the budget as well as the regulations needed for the coordination of the administration. Controlling the Regional Council´s work by approving the annual report and the financial statements.

8. MANAGING BOARD OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL The Assembly of the Regional Council names the Managing Board for a period of four years. It consists of 14 representatives and acts as the Council´s executive and administrative organ. The Managing Board meets approximately 20 times every year to discuss measures and projects. The main tasks of the Managing Board are Drafting and implementation of the measures for the Assembly of the Regional Council. Responsibility for the implementation of the Regional Development Strategy by giving statements to the regional authorities of the State according to the Act and Decree concerning Regional Development and by approving programme agreements on behalf of the Regional Council as well as the finance usage of the Regional Development. Responsibility for the drafting and implementation of the Regional Plan by giving statements concerning the Regional Plans and Land Use Plans or the equivalent drafts according to the Building Act. This also applies to such statements which have a relevant importance to the implementation of the Regional Plan. Coordinating the work of the Office of the Regional Council.

9. National land use guidelines by the national government Regional development strategies (20-30 years) Regional programmes (3-5 years) Municipalities Regional land use plans (10-20 years) Local master plan (joint master plan) Local detailed plans Regional councils

10. Participatory planning • 1 (2) • Plans are drawn up through participatory planning procedures, • which give local residents the chance to get involved in • the planning processes that affect them. • Special participation and assessment procedures are drawn up • whenever a planning process is begun. • Landowners and anyone else • whose work, home or other activities may be affected by plans • must be kept well informed by the planning authorities.

11. Participatory planning • 2 (2) • Well-publicised open meetings must be organised as • part of the planning process. • Planning proposals must be placed on public display, • with local councillors and interest groups given the chance • to voice their opinions. • Objections and other statements must be duly considered • before the final plans are submitted for approval. • Local master plans and local detailed plans must be approved • by the municipal council.

12. Vision; South-Finland Traffic Infrastructure 2030+ Hollola

13. VELLAMO IN THE COAT OF ARMS OF PÄIJÄT-HÄME The Region of Päijät-Häme got its own coat of arms in 1997. It represents a gorgeous fishtailed woman, Vellamo. The heraldic symbols of the coat of arms refers to the two natural elements typical of the region of Päijät-Häme. Firstly the lake Päijänne and secondly the folding long ridges both dominating the region. Vellamo holds a cuckoo in her right hand which refers to the Karelian people living in the region and the wistfully cuckooing emblem bird of their former homestead. Many kinds of international and local beliefs of various ages are connected to the mysterious water nymph Vellamo, the symbol of the region of Päijät-Häme. In all its secrecy Vellamo is the perfect symbol of the region with pure lakes.