Press releases
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Foreign Minister Valtonen is visiting Lviv
The EU foreign ministers convened for an informal meeting hosted by High Representative Kaja Kallas and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha in Lviv, Ukraine, on 9 May. A meeting on the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine was also held in connection with the foreign ministers’ meeting. Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen represented Finland at the meeting in Lviv.
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Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Artists at Risk (AR) and City of Helsinki to launch pilot programme to support human rights defenders
During 2025, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Artists at Risk (AR) and the City of Helsinki will implement a pilot programme to provide temporary support and protection to human rights defenders in Finland. The programme will support a three-month temporary stay relocation in Finland.
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Minister for Foreign Affairs Valtonen to participate in informal meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers in Warsaw
The EU Foreign Affairs Ministers will convene at an informal meeting (Gymnich) in Warsaw, Poland on 7–8 May. Poland holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU during the first half of this year, and Poland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski will host the meeting together with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas. Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will represent Finland at the meeting.
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Secretary-General of International Telecommunications Union to visit Finland at invitation of Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen and Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne
Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen, Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne and Director General of the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom Jarkko Saarimäki will meet Secretary-General of International Telecommunications Union Doreen Bogdan-Martin in Helsinki on 6 May 2025.
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Foreign Minister Valtonen to speak about European security in Germany
Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will visit Berlin on 5 May to participate in discussions on topical foreign and security policy matters.
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Markus Hippi appointed as Press Counsellor in London
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has appointed Markus Hippi as Press Counsellor at the Embassy of Finland in London from 1 June 2025 to 31 July 2028. Hippi has served as Press Counsellor at the Embassy of Finland in London since 11 July 2023.
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Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio to lead trade mission to Morocco
Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will visit Morocco with a business delegation on 28–30 April 2025.
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International conference in Helsinki sought practical solutions to protect critical underwater infrastructure
A large group of international experts attended a conference held in Helsinki on 23 April 2025 focusing on the protection of critical underwater infrastructure and the threats posed to it by international maritime transport. Co-operation between different authorities is needed to address these wide-ranging threats.
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Finland to open Consulate General in Houston, Texas
On 25 April 2025, President Alexander Stubb approved an amendment to the Decree of the President of the Republic on the Locations of Finland’s Diplomatic Missions. The amendment will establish Finland’s Consulate General in Houston, Texas, in the United States as of 1 July 2025.
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New heads of mission appointed
At the presidential session on 25 April, the President of the Republic appointed the following persons to serve as heads of missions: Okko-Pekka Salmimies, Bern; Pekka Voutilainen, Hanoi; Jukka Siukosaari, Copenhagen; Riina-Riikka Heikka, Nairobi; Olli Kantanen, Stockholm; Eevamari Laaksonen, Pristina; Minna Laajava, Los Angeles.
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Foreign Minister Valtonen to attend meeting of Nordic and Baltic foreign ministers in Denmark
Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will attend the NB8 meeting bringing together Nordic and Baltic foreign ministers in Bornholm, Denmark, on 28–29 April. Ministers from Poland, France and Germany will also participate in the meeting.
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Niina Pesonen appointed to serve as Foreign Ministry’s Director General for Human Resources
On Thursday 24 April, the Government appointed Niina Pesonen to serve as Director General for Human Resources of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
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Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf to meet Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen in Helsinki
The Algerian Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad and African Affairs, Ahmed Attaf, will visit Helsinki on 24 April and meet Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen.
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Government proposal to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention sent out for comments
Withdrawal from of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, known as the Ottawa Convention, requires a government proposal. Comments on the draft proposal may be given until 16 May 2025.
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Global official development assistance declined in 2024
The official development assistance (ODA) declined in 2024 both in Finland and globally. Ukraine, which is heavily affected by Russia’s war of aggression, is the largest recipient of Finland’s ODA for the third consecutive year.