An article by Mr. Pertti Torstila, Under Secretary of State, "Finnish Foreign Representations Serve All Finns" in the journal Suomen Silta Nr. 6-2001
Under Secretary of State
Pertti Torstila
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
"Finnish Foreign Representations Serve All Finns"
In the previous issue of the Finland Bridge, Juha Savolainen, the Finnish Expatriate Parliament’s secretary, well described well our foreign representations’ role from the parliament’s and expatriates’ point of view. The Foreign Ministry welcomes warmly the hand that has been extended. Finnish embassies and consulates abroad are meant for you, too. The ministry sees Finnish expatriates as an important resource for the country.
The Finnish Foreign Ministry has sent staff from Finland to 97 locations around the world. Of these, 76 are embassies. Regarding the extent of our representation network, we are among the four smallest EU countries, along with Denmark, Austria and Ireland. The representations have small staffs. Of the above-mentioned 97 sites, 65 have only one or two career diplomats. Of the embassies, 19 have only one diplomatic official in addition to the ambassador. Our embassies are small representations, but each understands the importance of providing good service to Finnish citizens.
Finnish missions assist and protect Finns overseas
The Foreign Ministry and representations assist and protect Finns overseas. The current terrorism, which is affecting the whole world, gives our representations new demanding duties. Finnish representatives in New York -- at the consulate and the permanent mission to the United Nations -- as well as at the Washington embassy, have worked around the clock under stress and pressure. They have devoted all of their time and energy and deserve the gratitude of all Finns.
Consular services
Throughout history, consular services have been the right and duty of all independent states. Although we belong now to the European Union, and Nordic cooperation in the field of consular services has progressed, the fact remains that only Finland’s own representations represent our country and handle Finnish citizens’ rights and interests abroad.
The idea of joint representations of EU countries, which has been raised in public discussion, will not be realized in the near future. The EU countries have not been able to reach solutions for common office spaces. Although the five Nordic countries’ embassy complex in Berlin, which is set on a common property, is a significant co-project and space solution, each Nordic country operates there on a national basis, managing its own affairs. Establishing joint EU or Nordic embassies is not possible as long as states have their own rules and regulations, and their activities are based on national legislation, budget power and control. Therefore a network of our own, well-run Finnish representations is an irreplaceable channel of influence. It must be kept up, in both its outward image and contents.
The network of Finnish foreign representation and budget cuts
The network of Finnish foreign representation is threatened by budget cuts. Embassies will be closed down unless the deep budget deficits straining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are resolved. A report called "Challenges of the Finnish Foreign Administration in the Early 21st Century", submitted by Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja to the Finnish Parliament in June, emphasizes these issues. At the moment the report is the subject of lively debate in the parliamentary committees and the media.
Many signs indicate that the Foreign Ministry and our embassies, "The first defense line of Finland’s security and service of the citizens," will receive a new kind of understanding and support from both the public and decision makers due to the present difficult challenges. The fate of the five million additional euros that the Foreign Ministry needs to ensure its services in 2002 should not, without a policy decision, lead to a closing of vital sites of operation overseas. The parliament is expected to decide on the matter before Christmas.
The world has changed and insecurity increased
Over the last few years, the world has changed in Finland’s vicinity as well. The Soviet Union is no more, communism has collapsed, Central and Eastern Europe have been liberated, Germany is united, the Baltic Countries have become independent and Finland has joined the European Union. The changes have not been without problems, however, and they are still going on.
The international order has become more complicated also outside Europe, and insecurity has increased. It is not inappropriate to say that after the black day in Manhattan and Washington D.C. on September 11, 2001, we live in a different world. In the fight against international terrorism, information gathering and preventive work have a decisive significance. The prime asset in diplomacy is to prevent a confrontation in advance -- it is better to be safe than sorry. Things lost in diplomacy cannot be replaced even with money.
On our own continent, the Balkan region is a constant reminder of this fact. Foreign representations have maintained their significance in diplomacy and inter-state relations even in the era of information technology.
The foreign administration’s services for Finnish citizens abroad
Juha Savolainen illustrates, with clear examples, how important the Foreign Ministry considers the expatriate communities to be for our country. The foreign administration’s services support Finnish citizens abroad literally from cradle to grave: from the registration of the birth of a Finnish child and paternity and child support issues to organizing the home transport of a Finnish citizen deceased overseas. The representations take care of Finns who are in distress or have become sick or are otherwise fallen into trouble. In the year 2000, 6.5 million Finns travelled overseas. The number of passports issued abroad are on the increase. Our main consulate in St. Petersburg issues more than 200,000 visas a year.
There are more than 1.3 million Finns living outside our national borders. For instance at the Finnish Embassy in London, consular affairs have doubled in a few years. There are already nearly 20,000 Finns living in Britain and the number is still growing as more and more Finns are studying or working in the country. There are now a couple thousand Finnish nurses working in Britain. In Germany, Frankfurt and its surrounding areas have a community of thousands of Finns. There are a great number of similar examples in other countries. Finnish expatriates have integrated in their new home countries and achieved positions and duties that are often important from the former home country’s point of view.
Expatriates support Finland’s aspirations with their work. They play an important role in channeling and spreading information about Finland in their countries of residence.
The Foreign Ministry supports the realization of dual citizenship in Finland. Dual citizenship, which is presently being carried out, will further increase the significance of expatriates. The Foreign Minister hopes that all Finns living abroad, permanently or temporarily, will send their contact information to the local representation to ensure the information flow in both directions.
The Foreign Ministry has increased its cooperation with the Finnish Expatriate Parliament
The Foreign Ministry has increased its cooperation with the Finnish Expatriate Parliament, which is an important communication channel for all expatriates. Minister Tuomioja met the parliamentary Speakers’ Council in the spring, and Speaker Pertti Paasio gave a talk at the ambassadors’ meeting in Helsinki in August. Meetings connected with making the cooperation more concrete will continue during the autumn. Our goal is to provide better information to the Finnish expatriate communities, activate them, support their interest promotion as well as to understand this resource 100 percent and make efficient use of it for the good of Finland.
In the light of recent events, Finland's foreign representations have increased their readiness in anticipation for similar exceptional situations. The representations will continue their activities and are prepared to provide assistance as required by the consular service law in possible crisis situations. This help also covers Finnish expatriates. Assistance procedures can be sped up if the representations have contact information for all Finns living in their area of operation. Especially representations located in countries prone to crisis maintain a list of people for use in crisis situations. For Finns living in areas that are unstable or with unstable developments, the Foreign Ministry recommends sending their contact information to the local representation. The information acquired thus is always handled confidentially according to privacy protection regulations and the consular service law.