Press releases
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EU Foreign Affairs Council to discuss Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, situation in the Middle East, Georgia and the Mediterranean
The Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union will meet in Brussels on 15 July. State Secretary Pasi Rajala will represent Finland at the meeting.
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UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development to start on Monday – Finland to present its Voluntary National Review led by Prime Minister Orpo
The United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development will convene in New York from 14 to 23 July. The annual forum reviews progress made by the world’s countries in attaining the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
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EU trade ministers to discuss EU-US trade relations
Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will attend an extraordinary meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in its trade configuration in Brussels on 14 July 2025. The Council will exchange views on the EU’s trade relations with the United States and the ongoing trade agreement negotiations with various trading partners. The ministers will also hold a policy debate on EU–China trade relations.
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Finland presented the instrument of withdrawal from the Ottawa Anti-Personnel Landmines Convention
Finland presented the instrument of withdrawal from the Ottawa Anti-Personnel Landmines Convention on 10 July 2025. The withdrawal shall take effect in January 2026. Finland will continue its support for the humanitarian goals of the Convention.
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Director General appointed for Euro-Atlantic Department
At its session on Thursday 10 July, the Government appointed Sari Rautio as the new Director General of the Euro-Atlantic Department.
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Ministry for Foreign Affairs issues written warning to Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Lisbon
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs issued a written warning in accordance with the Act on Public Officials in Central Government to the Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Lisbon, Ambassador Titta Maja-Luoto, on 7 July.
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Non-resident Ambassador appointed to Eswatini
At the presidential session on 4 July, the President of the Republic appointed a new non-resident Ambassador.
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2,600 seasonal work visas granted to foreign wild-berry pickers
About 2,600 wild-berry pickers were granted a seasonal work visa for Finland for summer 2025. About 60 applicants received a negative decision.
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Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen to propose terminating posting of Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Lisbon
The purpose of terminating the posting is to ensure that the Embassy’s staff have a favourable working environment.
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Finland to support Ukraine in decentralised energy production and mapping of forest resources
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio has made a decision on funding for a cooperation project between the Natural Resources Institute Finland, the Finnish Forest Centre, State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Research Institute of Forestry and Forest Melioration. The project’s total budget is EUR 1.037 million in 2025–2028.
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International Conference on Financing for Development begins in Seville – Minister Tavio to represent Finland
The United Nations’ fourth International Conference on Financing for Development will take place in Seville, Spain, from 30 June to 3 July. The aim of the conference is to reform the international financial architecture for development cooperation and accelerate funding for sustainable development. Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will represent Finland at the conference.
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New ambassadors appointed to Doha and Zagreb
At the presidential session on 27 June, the President of the Republic appointed Juha Mustonen to serve as Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Doha and Sirpa Oksanen to serve as Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Zagreb.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.