In order to ensure high-quality, effectiveness and availability of municipal services also in the future, The Ministry of Regional and Municipal Affairs launched a project to restructure local government and services. Behind the reforms in the fact are considerable differences between local authorities, particularly financial. It will be a huge challenge to provide welfare services in a situation where the population ages and internal migration increases. The project particularly focuses on the possibilities of local authorities to provide services, especially in the structural and financial foundations of the system. Local authorities have to create strategies for how services are arranged in the near future. The project aims to improve the manner in which services are produced and organized and at the same time to increase productivity and slow down the growth in local government expenditure. Under the proposal, the municipal structure would be strengthened by merging municipalities. (Local Finland 2007a, 2007b.)