Transparency Register

Legislation that came into effect at the beginning of 2024 requires organizations to report information about their influencing activities, i.e. communication with decision-makers, to the so-called transparency register.

Reporting begins April 1, 2024 and in the future, such activities will be reported to the authorities twice a year.

Reporting is handled centrally by the National Headquarters, but since all communication made in the name of the organization must be reported to the register, information about potential contacts is also needed from branches and volunteers.

What activities are reported

Influencing activities, or lobbying, refers to communication aimed at promoting a specific interest or goal, directly or indirectly, by influencing the preparation of matters and decision-making. The interest or goal is often a political, commercial, or other social matter.

Influencing activities are reported if they are targeted at any of the following parties:

• Member of Parliament
• Assistant to a Member of Parliament
• Staff member of a parliamentary group
• Minister
• Special Adviser to a Minister
• State Secretary appointed for a Minister's term of office
• Official of the Office of the Parliament
• Official of a Ministry or
• A rapporteur appointed by a Ministry

Communication targeted at agencies operating under ministries (e.g. the Finnish Immigration Service, Regional State Administrative Agencies i.e. AVIs, and Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment i.e. ELY Centres) is not subject to reporting.

Please note that many Members of Parliament and assistants also serve in regional or local elected bodies, and they are reported regardless of the role in which the person acted during the meeting.

Communication methods are considered to be face-to-face meetings, online meetings, telephone calls, emails, messaging for example on social media channels, and all other forms of direct communication.

How to act in practice

If you are in contact with any of the parties mentioned above in the name of or on behalf of the organization in any way, please report it to the address: avoimuusrekisteri@punainenristi.fi, stating:

1. who was met;
2. in what way (e.g. telephone, meeting, social media messaging); and
3. what matter was discussed.

If the contact is via email, you can put the above-mentioned address directly in the copy or blind copy field of the message.

Please provide information about the contact preferably immediately so that it is not forgotten and regardless of whether you think it is reportable activity. If necessary, the National Headquarters will contact you for further information.

Communication handled as a private individual, i.e. activities done other than in the name of the Red Cross, is not reported.

Any questions will be answered by Eeva Holopainen, Special Advisor to the Secretary General, eeva.holopainen@punainenristi.fi, 040 180 1680.