Current Affairs

• 23.6.2025

  ETIAS to become operational in 2026: dual nationals residing abroad to need valid EU passport

  Travelling to the territory of the European Union will change when the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) becomes operational in late 2026. The change will also affect people with dual nationality.

  Press releases
• 23.6.2025

  EU to restrict access for Chinese medical device suppliers to public procurement

  The EU will block access for Chinese medical device economic operators to public contracts worth EUR 5 million or more. Medical devices originating in China may not represent over 50 per cent of the total value of the contract in tenders submitted by other suppliers.

  Press releases
• 23.6.2025

  Finland to co-chair Media Freedom Coalition

  Finland will start as co-chair of the Media Freedom Coalition (MFC), which advocates for media freedom and the safety of journalists. Finland will hold the two-year co-chairmanship together with Germany and succeed Estonia when it concludes its term as co-chair on 30 June.

  Press releases
• 23.6.2025

  EU Artic Forum to begin on Thursday in Kittilä, Finland

  This year, the European Union’s most important Arctic event will take place in Kittilä, on 26–27 June. The event is expected to attract about 350 attendees from across Europe.

  Press releases
• 19.6.2025

  EU Foreign Affairs Council to discuss Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, situation in Middle East, and China

  EU foreign affairs ministers will convene in Brussels on Monday 23 June. Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will represent Finland at the meeting.

  Press releases
• 18.6.2025

  Harnessing AI for Efficient Use of Evaluation Evidence

  The Development Evaluation Unit of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland has launched a new AI-assisted tool called OpenEval, designed to serve the foreign service, stakeholders, and the general public alike. The tool makes it easier to access information from public evaluation reports.

  News
• 18.6.2025

  Appointments: New Under-Secretary of State for internal and external services and Deputy Director General to Department for Asia and Oceania

  At its session on 18 June, the Government appointed Pirjo Tulokas to serve as Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Mikko Kivikoski will continue as Deputy Director General of the Department for Asia and Oceania.

  Press releases
• 18.6.2025

  Public consultation on the decree on export control of dual-use items

  The Ministry for Foreign Affairs invites comments on a decree on certain documents related to export control of dual-use items. The request for comments has been published on the website lausuntopalvelu.fi. Please submit your comments by 15 August 2025.

  Press releases
• 17.6.2025

  EU foreign ministers to discuss situation in Middle East

  EU ministers of foreign affairs will hold an informal video teleconference on Tuesday 17 June. Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will represent Finland at the teleconference.

  Press releases
• 16.6.2025

  Finns more positive towards development cooperation than in previous year

  According to a recent opinion survey, 71% of Finns consider development cooperation to be very important or quite important. Attitudes are more positive than in 2024 (62%). However, development cooperation still divides Finns.

  Press releases
• 13.6.2025

  Foreign Minister Valtonen to meet ministers from Kenya, Benin, Costa Rica and Thailand

  Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will meet Prime Cabinet Secretary of Kenya Musalia Mudavadi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Benin Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica Arnoldo André Tinoco and Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Thailand Russ Jalichandra in connection with the Kultaranta Talks on 16–17 June.

  Press releases
• 13.6.2025

  Transfer agreement boosts reform of Team Finland’s foreign functions

  On 13 June 2025, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Business Finland signed an agreement specifying the key practical arrangements for transferring Business Finland's foreign functions to the Foreign Service and the functions to be transferred. The transfer will take place at the beginning of 2026.

  Press releases
• 13.6.2025

  Elna Nykänen Andersson appointed as Counsellor for Public Diplomacy and Communications to Tokyo

  The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs has appointed Elna Nykänen Andersson to serve as Counsellor for Public Diplomacy and Communications at Finland’s Embassy in Tokyo. The three-year term will start on 1 September 2025. The Counsellor for Public Diplomacy and Communications is in charge of the Embassy’s country brand work, external communications and media relations, and leads the Embassy’s country brand team.

  Press releases
• 13.6.2025

  Finland participates in capital increase of IDB Invest, an investment company operating in Latin America and the Caribbean

  The Government approved Finland’s participation in the third capital increase of IDB Invest, an investment company of the Inter-American Development Bank Group. Through the capital increase, IDB Invest will boost its lending and investments in the private sector and improve its risk-taking capacity and ability to leverage private capital to achieve broader development goals.

  Press releases
• 13.6.2025

  New Head of Mission appointed to Madrid

  At the presidential session on 13 June, the President of the Republic appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Jari Luoto to serve as Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Madrid, starting on 1 September 2025.

  Press releases
• 13.6.2025

  National Coordinators advance work on Icebreaker Collaboration Effort

  Representatives from Canada, Finland and the United States met to discuss the next steps in the ICE Pact collaboration to build Arctic and polar icebreakers.

  Press releases
• 12.6.2025

  Read more about the Foreign Ministry’s trade promotion services

  The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has launched a new trade promotion services website offering comprehensive information on the Ministry’s services to businesses. The new service package comprises four categories.

  News
• 12.6.2025

  Opening Remarks by Minister Elina Valtonen, Conference on Climate and Security

  Opening Remarks by OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Elina Valtonen, OSCE Chairpersonship Conference on Climate and Safety in Hanaholmen, Espoo 11 June 2025.

  Speeches
• 10.6.2025

  Finland’s chairmanship of ICRC Donor Support Group to culminate with annual meeting in Helsinki

  Finland’s chairmanship of the Donor Support Group of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will culminate with the annual meeting in Helsinki on 11–12 June 2025. Finland has co-chaired the ICRC Donor Support Group (DSG) with the ICRC since June 2024. The June annual meeting will discuss challenges to humanitarian access.

  Press releases
• 10.6.2025

  Kauppapolitiikka magazine: network for boosting trade

  The June issue of the Kauppapolitiikka magazine focuses on the current challenges and opportunities of the Finnish economy. The main theme of the issue is economic growth and more specifically the role of exports as the driver of the economy.

  Press releases
• 9.6.2025

  Ministers for Nordic Cooperation to meet in Helsinki

  Finland’s and Åland’s Ministers for Nordic Cooperation Anders Adlercreutz and Annika Hambrudd will co-host the summer meeting of Ministers for Nordic Cooperation in Helsinki on 10–11 June.

  Press releases
• 9.6.2025

  OSCE Chair Finland to convene international conference on climate and security

  The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will host a Conference on Climate and Security in cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment in Hanasaari, Espoo, on 11 June. The Conference is one of the main events of Finland’s OSCE Chairpersonship. Experts will discuss a range of issues on climate, peace and security at the event, including the environmental and climate impacts of conflicts and the role of businesses and civil society in strengthening climate security.

  Press releases
• 9.6.2025

  Foreign Minister Valtonen to visit Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

  Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will visit Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on 10–11 June. This is her first visit to Central Asia as the Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The aim of the visit is to strengthen the OSCE’s partnership in the region.

  Press releases
• 6.6.2025

  Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Tavio to visit Japan

  Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will visit Japan on 9–12 June 2025 as a member of the official delegation of the President of the Republic, Alexander Stubb. In Japan, Minister Tavio will visit Tokyo and Osaka.

  Press releases
• 6.6.2025

  EU publishes communication on digital foreign policy advocated by Finland

  Finland welcomes the EU international digital strategy, which was published as a joint communication of the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on 5 June 2025.

  Press releases
• 5.6.2025

  Finland and the US co-host seminar in Helsinki against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction

  The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Finnish Customs in cooperation with the United States hosted a regional seminar of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) aimed at preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The seminar was held in Helsinki, Finland, on 3–5 June 2025.

  News
• 5.6.2025

  EU Arctic cooperation under the midnight sun

  The EU Arctic Forum, to be held at Levi, Lapland, on 26–27 June 2025, gives European Arctic actors an opportunity to discuss the future of Arctic cooperation at its turning point.

  News
• 5.6.2025

  Overhaul of the Finnfund Act circulated for comments

  A consultation round on the draft Government proposal on a comprehensive revision of the Finnfund Act was launched by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Comments are welcomed online at lausuntopalvelu.fi until 23.59 on 30 June 2025.

  Press releases
• 4.6.2025

  Finland to chair OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in 2026

  Finland has been selected to chair the Ministerial Council Meeting of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD in 2026. The ministers of the OECD countries confirmed the selection at the OECD’s Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris on 4 June.

  Press releases
• 2.6.2025

  Minister Tavio to attend OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris

  The Ministerial Council Meeting of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD will be held in Paris on 3–4 June 2025. Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will represent Finland at the meeting. The main theme of the meeting is stronger growth through rules-based trade, investment and innovation.

  Press releases
• 2.6.2025

  Tunisian Foreign Affairs Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti to meet Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen in Helsinki

  Mohamed Ali Nafti, Tunisia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, will visit Helsinki on 3 June and meet Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen.

  Press releases
• 28.5.2025

  Government proposal on withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention submitted to Parliament

  On 28 May 2025, the Government approved a proposal on withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel mines. The proposal will now be submitted to Parliament. The withdrawal also necessitates the consent of Parliament, approval of the President of the Republic and submission of the instrument of withdrawal to the UN Secretary-General.

  Press releases
• 26.5.2025

  UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher to visit Finland

  On his visit to Finland on Tuesday 27 May, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher will meet with Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio.

  Press releases
• 26.5.2025

  EU ministers of development to discuss the future of global development financing

  The EU Foreign Affairs Council will meet in its development configuration in Brussels on 26 May. Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will represent Finland at the meeting.

  Press releases
• 25.5.2025

  Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen to visit Lebanon and Jordan

  Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will visit Lebanon and Jordan on 26–27 May. While in Lebanon, she will also visit the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

  Press releases
• 23.5.2025

  New heads of mission appointed

  At the presidential session on 23 May, the President of the Republic appointed the following persons to serve as heads of missions: Petri Puhakka, Kathmandu; Kirsikka Lehto-Asikainen, Paris; Eija Rotinen, Bogota; Antti Putkonen, Baghdad; Ville Cantell, Reykjavik; Lasse Keisalo, Lima; Katja Ahlfors, Dakar; Teemu Turunen, London; and Stefan Lindström, Houston. In addition, the President of the Republic appointed the Ambassador to Pretoria, Pekka Metso, to serve as non-resident Ambassador to Mauritius.

  Press releases
• 21.5.2025

  State Secretary Rajala to attend meeting of EU and African Union foreign ministers in Brussels

  A meeting between EU and African Union (AU) foreign ministers will be held in Brussels on 21 May. State Secretary Pasi Rajala will represent Finland at the meeting. This year marks the 25th anniversary of multilateral relations between the EU and the African Union.

  Press releases
• 20.5.2025

  EU’s 17th sanctions package cracks down on Russia’s shadow fleet

  In its 17th sanctions package, the European Union continues to respond to Russia’s ongoing war of aggression in Ukraine, to Russia’s destabilising measures against the EU and third countries and to the deterioration of the domestic human rights situation in the country. A significant number of vessels belonging to the Russia’s shadow fleet were added to the EU sanctions list.

  Press releases
• 19.5.2025

  Joint donor statement on humanitarian aid to Gaza

  Whilst we acknowledge indications of a limited restart of aid, Israel blocked humanitarian aid entering Gaza for over two months. Food, medicines and essential supplies are exhausted. The population faces starvation. Gaza’s people must receive the aid they desperately need.

  Statements
• 19.5.2025

  EU Foreign Affairs Council to discuss Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and situation in the Middle East

  EU foreign ministers will convene in Brussels on Tuesday 20 May. Political Secretary of State Pasi Rajala will represent Finland at the meeting.

  Press releases
• 19.5.2025

  New Team Finland Executive Group aims for stronger and clearer guidance on export promotion

  Minister of Economic Affairs Wille Rydman and Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio appointed a new Team Finland Executive Group on 16 May 2025.

  Press releases
• 16.5.2025

  Baltic Sea NATO allies and EU agree on cooperation to protect critical undersea infrastructure

  The Baltic Sea NATO allies and the European Union have agreed on a Memorandum of Understanding to protect critical undersea infrastructure.

  Press releases
• 15.5.2025

  New development policy investment strategy emphasises mobilisation of private capital

  The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has adopted a development policy investment strategy for 2025–2027. The strategy guides the use of the appropriation allocated to development policy loans and investments in accordance with the Government Report on International Economic Relations and Development Cooperation. The general terms and conditions for development policy loans and investments are published concurrently with the strategy.

  Press releases
• 14.5.2025

  Minister Valtonen to attend meeting of the Council of the Baltic Sea States in Estonia

  Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will attend the foreign ministers’ meeting of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) in Vihula, Estonia, on 15–16 May.

  Press releases
• 14.5.2025

  EU trade ministers to discuss EU-US trade relations and economic security

  Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will attend a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in its trade configuration in Brussels on 15 May 2025. The Council will exchange views on the EU’s trade relations with the United States and economic security. The ministers will also discuss the EU’s ongoing trade negotiations.

  Press releases
• 14.5.2025

  Ministry for Foreign Affairs launched a Sanctions e-Service

  In the Foreign Ministry's Sanctions e-Service at palvelu.um.fi you can ask about sanctions, submit an application for an authorization, report on the implementation of sanctions and report on the circumvention of sanctions. The service makes it easier for companies, authorities and citizens to approach the Sanctions Unit with sanctions matters. The European Commission has also launched a Sanctions Helpdesk for small and medium-sized enterprises.

  Press releases
• 14.5.2025

  Foreign Minister Valtonen to attend informal meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs

  Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will attend an informal meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Antalya in Türkiye on 14–15 May.

  Press releases
• 13.5.2025

  Maximum amount of corporate fine to rise due to national implementation of Sanctions Criminalisation Offences Directive

  New legislation that enters into force on 20 May 2025 will implement the Sanctions Criminalisation Directive of the European Union in Finland. The purpose of the Directive is to ensure that offences against sanctions are punishable in all EU Member States and that the related national penal provisions meet a common minimum level.

  Press releases
• 13.5.2025

  Minister Tavio to lead trade mission to Singapore and Malaysia

  Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will make an export promotion visit to Singapore and Malaysia on 19–23 May. The Minister will be accompanied by a delegation of some 30 companies.

  Press releases
• 12.5.2025

  Foreign Minister Valtonen to attend UN peacekeeping ministerial meeting

  Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will attend the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin on 13–14 May.

  Press releases