Govt moves to amend law to rise openness, finances of Yle

The Ministry of Transport and Communications is prepared to officially start the drafting of amendments to the Act on the Finnish Broadcasting Company to increase the openness of the company, said the ministry in a press release on Wednesday.

“State ownership policy is committed to compliance with good governance, openness and transparency. The Finnish Broadcasting Company, Yle, is a special assignment company, the governance of which differs from other companies,” said Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne.

She, however, said Yle is also bound by the Limited Liability Companies Act, and access to information is often restricted based on this.

“The company must set an example on openness for its sector too and be fully transparent about its operations and spending. Legislative amendments are needed to increase this openness, and for this reason, a decision on the legislative project will be made to officially start the drafting of such amendments in early autumn,” she said.

Yle, is a limited liability company engaged in public service and operating in the administrative branch of the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

An administrative council appointed by Parliament is responsible for supervising Yle and seeing to the implementation of Yle’s public service duties.

A parliamentary working group has assessed Yle’s duties and funding, but it has not yet adopted its report.