EU affairs in the Foreign Service

EU foreign affairs ministers will convene for a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 11 May.

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.

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.

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.

Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Prévot will visit Helsinki on 7 April and meet Finland's Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen.