Current affairs

As part of the programme of Finland's Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the European Commission will co-organise a media event Stronger Together – Eastern Partnership Media Conference in Helsinki on 11–12 December. The aim of the event is to support the EU's Eastern Partnership (EaP) policy and to promote reforms, civil society activities and resilience of societies in the partner countries.

The first of December marks the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Antarctic Treaty. In the early 20th century, seven countries (Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom) staked a claim to some part of the territory of Antarctica. Some of those territorial claims overlapped.

Belgium, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden attach the utmost importance to the preservation and full implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) on Iran’s nuclear programme by all parties involved.

Sustainable Arctic and Antarctic policies play an integral role in combating climate change. In the seventh part of the “Sustainable Foreign Policy” series, Petteri Vuorimäki, Finland’s Ambassador for Arctic and Antarctic Affairs, tells us about Finland’s expertise in dealing with cold conditions and its active role in polar policy. Arctic issues will also be discussed at the a Clean and Global North event at Finlandia Hall on 29 November.

Finland and Estonia will start to develop the Albanian Security Academy in a two-year Twinning project. The project supports the capacity of the Security Academy to provide high-quality security sector training and to carry out research activities. A joint tender by Finland and Estonia won the tender competition for the project.