E UNITED NATIONS Economic and Social Council Distr. GENERAL E/C.12/FIN/CO/5 16 January 2008 Original: ENGLISH COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS Thirty-eighth session 30 April -18 May 2007 CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER ARTICLES 16 AND 17 OF THE COVENANT Concluding observations of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights FINLAND 1. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights considered the fifth periodic report of Finland on the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (E/C.12/FIN/5) at its 11th and 12th meetings, held on 7 May 2007 (E/C.12/2007/SR.11 and E/C.12/2007/SR.12), and adopted, at its 27th meeting held on 18 May 2007 (E/C.12/2007/SR.27), the following concluding observations. A. Introduction 2. The Committee welcomes the submission of the fifth periodic report of Finland, which was prepared in general conformity with the Committee’s guidelines. The Committee also notes with appreciation the comprehensive written replies submitted by the State party to its list of issues (E/C.12/ FIN/Q/5/Add.1). 3. The Committee welcomes the constructive dialogue with the delegation of the State party, which included a number of representatives from various government departments, as well as the delegation’s answers to the questions posed by the Committee. GE.08-40141