Current Affairs
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29.5.2026
Finland to chair OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris – Prime Minister Orpo to meet French President Macron
Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will open the Ministerial Council Meeting of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris on 3 June. Finland will chair the meeting for the first time in more than 40 years. Several ministers from Finland will attend the meeting. In Paris, Prime Minister Orpo will also have a bilateral meeting with the French President Emmanuel Macron.
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29.5.2026
Accreditation to Uzbekistan
At the presidential session on 29 May, the President of the Republic authorised a Roving Ambassador to serve in Uzbekistan.
Press releases -
28.5.2026
Foreign Minister Valtonen to attend Council of the Baltic Sea States meeting in Poland
Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will attend the foreign ministers’ meeting of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) in Sopot, Poland, on 28–29 May.
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27.5.2026
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Tavio to visit Portugal to promote commercial and economic relations
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will visit Lisbon on 27–29 May. During his visit, he will meet Portugal’s Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Miguel Pinto Luz and Minister of Defence Nuno Melo and speak at a business event held by AICEP Portugal, which promotes international engagement.
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27.5.2026
Foreign Minister Valtonen to participate in informal meeting of EU foreign ministers
The informal meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers (Gymnich) will take place in Limassol, Cyprus, on 27–28 May.
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26.5.2026
Finland to support development of Ukraine’s weather services, benefiting authorities and farmers
The cooperation project between the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center will be extended by four years. The new stage of the project aims to further improve Ukraine’s weather and early warning services and their accessibility, helping society enhance its preparedness for extreme weather events. The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs will provide a total of EUR 2 million in funding for this Institutional Cooperation Instrument (ICI) project in 2026–2030.
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26.5.2026
Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen to visit Greece
Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will travel to Greece on 26–27 May. During her visit, Foreign Minister Valtonen will meet Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs George Gerapetritis in Athens on 27 May.
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25.5.2026
Finnish Act on Export Control of Dual-Use Items to be amended
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is preparing a government proposal for the amendment of the Act on the Export Control of Dual-Use Items (500/2024). The amendment would be technical in nature, and it would remove from the national control list items already listed at EU level as of November 2025, make the necessary changes to the Act in relation to the new national general export authorisations and further specify the reporting obligation. Stakeholders will be consulted on this legislative project in connection with export control training on Tuesday 2 June, starting at 15.30.
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25.5.2026
Moroccan Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour to visit Finland
Moroccan Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour will visit Finland on 25–26 May at the invitation of Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio.
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23.5.2026
Foreign Minister Valtonen receives honorary doctorate from Lappeenranta–Lahti University of Technology
Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen was conferred an honorary doctorate by the Lappeenranta–Lahti University of Technology (LUT) on Saturday 23 May.
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22.5.2026
Joint Statement on Arctic Security from the Arctic Allies
Joint Statement on Arctic Security from the Arctic Allies – Canada, Kingdom of Denmark including Greenland and the Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the United States of America
Statements -
22.5.2026
New heads of mission appointed to Dar es Salaam and Copenhagen
At the presidential session on Friday 22 May, the President of the Republic appointed Anna Merrifield to serve as Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Dar es Salaam as of 1 September 2026 and Lotta Nymann-Lindegren to serve as Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Copenhagen as of 1 August 2026.
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21.5.2026
Speech by Minister for Foreign Trade and Development of Finland Ville Tavio at the LDC Future Forum
Special Address by the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development of Finland, H.E. Ville Tavio at the LDC Future Forum on 20 May 2026, Helsinki, Finland.
Speeches -
20.5.2026
Foreign Minister Valtonen to attend meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs
Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will attend a meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Helsingborg, Sweden, on 21–22 May.
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19.5.2026
Opening speech by FM Elina Valtonen at the LDC Future Forum
Opening speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen at the LDC Future Forum in Helsinki on 19 May 2026.
Speeches -
19.5.2026
Export control training for exporters of dual-use items
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is inviting companies exporting dual-use items to take part in export control training on Tuesday 2 June 2026.
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19.5.2026
Slovakian Minister of Foreign Affairs Juraj Blanár to visit Finland
Slovakia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Juraj Blanár will visit Helsinki on 20 May and meet Finland's Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen.
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15.5.2026
Foreign Minister Valtonen to cheer on Finland at Eurovision Grand Final
On Saturday 16 May, Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen will travel to Vienna to attend the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest at the invitation of Austria’s Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger.
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15.5.2026
EU development ministers to discuss future of external action and Global Gateway strategy
The EU Foreign Affairs Council will meet in its development configuration in Brussels on 18 May. Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will represent Finland at the meeting.
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14.5.2026
Russia’s accountability and the strengthening of democracy to be on the agenda of the Council of Europe meeting
The Council of Europe's annual session of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs will be held on 14–15 May in Chișinău, Moldova. Finland will be represented at the meeting by Secretary of State Pasi Rajala.
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14.5.2026
OSCE to investigate Russia’s indoctrination and militarisation of Ukrainian children
On 14 May, 41 OSCE participating States, including Finland, invoked the Moscow Mechanism to investigate Russia’s indoctrination and militarisation of Ukrainian children. The mechanism was invoked in close cooperation with Ukraine.
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13.5.2026
LDC Future Forum in Helsinki to focus on education, innovation and economic growth
The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the United Nations will organise an LDC Future Forum in Helsinki on 19–21 May 2026. The Forum emphasises the role of education and innovation in boosting sustainable economic growth in the least developed countries (LDCs). President of the Republic Alexander Stubb, Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio and Minister of Education Anders Adlercreutz will attend the Forum.
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13.5.2026
Survey shows continued support for development cooperation in Finland – humanitarian aid is considered the most important form
A clear majority of people in Finland considers humanitarian aid an important and effective form of development cooperation. In a recent survey, more than 90 per cent of the respondents agreed that humanitarian aid for Ukraine is important. The public opinion poll, commissioned from Taloustutkimus by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, shows that views on development cooperation continue to be split by gender and along party lines.
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13.5.2026
New national general authorisations facilitate exports to South Korea and exports by public authorities
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has made decisions on two new national general export authorisations for dual-use items. The first authorisation, FI002, reduces administrative burden on public authorities exporting dual-use items. The second authorisation, FI003, allows companies to export dual-use items to South Korea by notifying the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
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13.5.2026
Minister Tavio to join President Stubb and his spouse Innes-Stubb on state visit to Lithuania
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will visit Lithuania on 13–15 May 2026 as a member of the official delegation accompanying President of the Republic Alexander Stubb on his state visit. Minister Tavio will also attend the programme for the business delegation.
Press releases -
8.5.2026
Discretionary government grants for 2026 awarded to organisations and communities operating in the field of foreign and security policy and supporting businesses expand internationally
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has awarded a total of EUR 1,890,000 in discretionary government grants to 15 civil society organisations (CSOs) and communities.
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8.5.2026
Foreign Minister Valtonen to attend EU foreign ministers’ meeting
EU foreign affairs ministers will convene for a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 11 May.
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8.5.2026
New heads of mission appointed to Addis Ababa and Tokyo and roving ambassador to Turkmenistan
At the presidential session on Friday 8 May, the President of the Republic appointed Erik Lundberg to serve as Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Addis Ababa and Pasi Hellman to serve as Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Tokyo as of 1 September 2026 and Maria Ågren to serve as Roving Ambassador for Turkmenistan as of 1 June 2026.
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7.5.2026
World Village Festival to discuss journalistic freedom in conflict zones
The programme produced by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs at the World Village Festival in Helsinki will discuss journalistic freedom in conflict zones. The discussion will feature Kaisa Rautaheimo, a foreign correspondent for Helsingin Sanomat, and Maxim Fedorov, a journalist and non-fiction author, who is joining the discussion remotely from Kyiv, Ukraine.
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6.5.2026
Foreign Minister Valtonen to attend foreign ministers’ meeting in Germany
Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will attend a meeting convened by German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in Wiesbaden, Germany, on 7 May.
Press releases -
6.5.2026
Crisis Management NOW brings together people interested in the future of crisis management
Crisis Management NOW was held on 5 May at the University of Helsinki. The event drew experts, decision-makers and others interested in the topic to discuss the development and future direction of comprehensive crisis management. In 2026, Finland marks 70 years of engagement in international crisis management.
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5.5.2026
Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen at Crisis management NOW – Serving peace 70 years and beyond in Helsinki
Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen at Crisis management NOW – Serving peace 70 years and beyond in Helsinki on 5 May 2026.
Speeches -
4.5.2026
National ICE Pact coordinators to meet in Helsinki
National coordinators of the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact) from Canada, Finland and the United States will meet in Helsinki on 5–7 May 2026. Finland will host a three-day meeting for the countries’ government representatives to advance the goals related to icebreaker construction and Arctic cooperation.
Press releases -
3.5.2026
World Press Freedom Day: In a world riven with conflict, the media is a crucial line of defence and must be protected
This year, on World Press Freedom Day, we face an uncomfortable truth. Journalists are putting themselves in harm’s way so the rest of us can understand what is happening in a contested and volatile world - and increasingly these brave reporters are paying the ultimate price.
Statements -
3.5.2026
World Press Freedom Day highlights importance of freedom of expression for democracy and security
World Press Freedom Day is celebrated on 3 May. The day reminds us of the importance of free and independent media as the foundation for democracy, the rule of law and an open society. Finland promotes media freedom, which is fundamental to freedom of speech and expression, as part of its foreign and security policy.
Press releases -
30.4.2026
Maria Paaso appointed as Special Adviser to Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Tavio
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio has invited Maria Paaso to serve as his Special Adviser. Paaso started in her new post on 27 April 2026.
Press releases -
30.4.2026
Residence permit services in the Middle East
The security situation in the Middle East affects the operation of Finland's missions and VFS application centres in the region. The availability of services may be temporarily limited.
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28.4.2026
Crisis Management NOW – Serving peace 70 years and beyond
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and its partners will organise the Crisis Management NOW event focusing on crisis management and peacebuilding on Tuesday 5 May.
Press releases -
28.4.2026
Foreign Minister Valtonen to attend NB8 foreign ministers’ meeting in Estonia
Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will attend a meeting of Nordic and Baltic foreign ministers (NB8), to be held in Kuressaare, Estonia, on 29–30 April.
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27.4.2026
Minister Tavio to lead trade mission to Australia and New Zealand
Finnish Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will lead a Team Finland trade mission to Australia and New Zealand between 28 April and 5 May 2026.
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24.4.2026
New Heads of Mission appointed to Prague and the Hague
At the presidential session on Friday 24 April, the President of the Republic appointed Jouni Laaksonen to serve as Head of Mission at Finland's Embassy in Prague and Mikael Antell to serve as Head of Mission at Finland's Embassy in the Hague, starting on 1 September 2026.
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24.4.2026
Minister Adlercreutz to visit Brunei to attend ASEAN–EU foreign ministers’ meeting
Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Minister of Education Anders Adlercreutz will visit Brunei on 27–28 April 2026 to represent Finland at the ASEAN–EU foreign ministers’ meeting.
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23.4.2026
EU tightens sanctions with a significant 20th sanctions package
Russia is waging a war of aggression in Ukraine for the fifth year and has not demonstrated a genuine willingness to negotiate for a lasting peace. Russia’s ruthless strikes on civilian targets highlight the need to tighten sanctions. With its 20th sanctions package, the European Union continues to increase pressure on Russia to weaken the country’s ability to pursue its war of aggression against Ukraine. The EU is expanding its sanctions against the energy and financial sectors and Russia’s shadow fleet, while adding measures to prevent the circumvention of sanctions. Sanctions against Belarus are also being tightened.
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23.4.2026
Provisional application of EU–Mercosur agreement to begin: immediate tariff reductions available for companies
The EU–Mercosur trade agreement will be applied provisionally from 1 May 2026. Tariff reductions under the agreement will take effect gradually, and tariffs on certain products will be eliminated as of day one. For most products, tariffs will be eliminated over a transition period, the first stage of reductions taking place at the beginning of May.
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23.4.2026
EU recognises Finland for expert work supporting institutional building
The European Commission has granted Finland a TAIEX 30th anniversary award for its leading role in promoting digital innovations and competitiveness. The Commission recognised EU Member States for promoting the TAIEX programme’s goals in the EU enlargement process and institutional capacity-building in partner countries.
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22.4.2026
Finland updates country brand strategy to enhance global standing
Finland has published a revised country brand strategy that sets out how Finland’s image will be shaped internationally in the coming years. The new strategy, Making happiness happen, presents Finland as a country that enables people to lead a good life in a well-organised society.
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21.4.2026
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20.4.2026
EU Foreign Affairs Council to discuss Russia’s war of aggression, the Middle East, the South Caucasus and Sudan
EU foreign affairs ministers will convene for a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 21 April. Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will represent Finland at the meeting.
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20.4.2026
Russian citizens are recommended to apply for visa with biometric passport starting from May
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs decided in March that from 1 June 2026, Finland will not accept non-biometric passports issued by the Russian Federation. The objective of the decision is to ensure that travel documents are as reliable as possible. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs advises holders of non‑biometric passports who plan to apply for a visa or residence permit to prepare well in advance for the change.
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17.4.2026
New heads of mission appointed to Warsaw and Oslo
At the presidential session on Friday 17 April, the President of the Republic appointed Maimo Henriksson to serve as Head of Mission at Finland's Embassy in Warsaw and Tanja Jääskeläinen to serve as Head of Mission at Finland's Embassy in Oslo, starting on 1 September 2026.
Press releases