Helsinki is the capital of Finland and the core city in Helsinki Metropolitan Region. With 1.2 million inhabitants, of which550 000 in Helsinki, the Region represents about one fifth of Finland’s population.

In Finland the municipalities hold extensive responsibilities in governing their communities and serving their citizens. Over half of the more than 40 000 municipal employees in Helsinki are busy providing social welfare and health services. Educational and cultural services and moderately priced public transport are other major components of service supply. A large proportion of the technical services is provided by city-owned utilities and they operate on a commercial basis. Many of the departments and utilities are active also internationally – and not least with Tallinn, our nearest neighbour beyond the borders of our country.

The governing bodies of Helsinki are the City Council and the City Board. The highest executives are the Lord Mayor and four Deputy Mayors, each elected for a seven-year term.

Helsinki has been an active player in European co-operation by contributing to various international projects and helping to defend the interests of cities throughout the continent, and especially in the Baltic Sea Area. Of all international partner cities Tallinn is perhaps most directly influencing the life of our citizens and the activities of the city administration. This is why we are committed to build stronger co-operative structures at the interregional level.

Other reasons for co-operation within the framework of Euregio are the common interests of our two cities. Helsinki and Tallinn are both situated in the crossroads of trade routes between north-west Russia and Western Europe. Our cities are competitors in some respects, but there are also many reasons for joining forces to make this region the leading centre of the rapidly developing Northern European business area.