Helsinki and Vantaa disagree on merger

The City Councils of Helsinki and Vantaa met on January 31, 2011 to debate undertaking measures toward a possible merger of the two cities. Helsinki City Council voted for the process (69 for and 13 against). Vantaa City Council, however, decided against the process (45 agaist and 22 for).

Vantaa’s decision means that the process is halted.

The cities have undertaken a study on the advantages and disadvantages of the possible merger. The final report (in Finnish) of the working group was published in December 2010. 

According to Helsinki City Council, the merger process should have included an investigation of two-tier regional administration and possibilities to implement local democracy. Further, the Council’s view was that a municipal referendum should be organized before a decision were made on the possible merger.