Press releases
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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.
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EU Foreign Affairs Council to discuss Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, situation in the Middle East, the Western Balkans and EU-Africa relations
EU foreign ministers will convene in Luxembourg on 14 April. Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will represent Finland at the meeting.
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5,291 votes cast in county elections and 8,310 in municipal elections at advance polling stations abroad
According to preliminary data, a total of 5,291 votes were cast in advance in the 2025 county elections and 8,310 votes in the municipal elections at Finnish missions abroad. In the dual elections, a total of 180 votes were cast on board Finnish vessels. In the 2022 county elections, 2,923 advance votes were cast, and about a hundred crew members cast their vote on board ships. In the 2021 municipal elections, 2,693 advance votes were cast, and over a hundred crew members voted on board ships.
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Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen to visit Washington DC
Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will visit Washington DC on 10 April 2025. She will meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
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Finnish-Ukrainian cooperation project to develop the Ukrainian tax administration
A Finnish-Ukrainian cooperation project will improve the transparency and digitalisation of the Ukrainian tax administration and its capacity to manage and implement reforms. The project will also support the fight against corruption and Ukraine's EU accession.
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Nordic governments to explore legal implications of proposed update to Helsinki Treaty
Last autumn, the Nordic Council called on the governments in the region to update the Helsinki Treaty, which governs Nordic cooperation, by adding new areas of cooperation and examining the contractual status of Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland.
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Trade ministers to discuss EU’s trade relations with United States and China
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will attend an extraordinary meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, in its trade configuration, in Luxembourg on 7 April 2025. The meeting will focus on the EU’s trade relations with the United States and China.
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Foreign Minister Valtonen to visit Sweden
Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will meet Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard in Stockholm on 8 April.
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Finland grants humanitarian aid to Myanmar
Finland provides humanitarian assistance to Myanmar. The damage caused by the recent severe earthquake in Myanmar exacerbates the already challenging humanitarian situation.
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European Court of Human Rights declares inadmissible an application concerning assessment of evidence in criminal proceedings
On 3 April 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) issued its decision in a case brought against Finland on the basis of Article 6 (right to a fair trial) of the European Convention on Human Rights. In the decision, the ECtHR, unanimously, declared the application inadmissible.
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Foreign Minister Valtonen to attend meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs
Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will attend a meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Brussels on 3–4 April.
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Minister Tavio to visit Zambia and attend LDC Future Forum
Finland, Zambia and the United Nations will organise the Least Developed Countries Future Forum (LDC Future Forum) in Lusaka on 1–3 April. The Forum will seek innovative solutions to enhance the resilience of LDCs. The Finnish delegation will be led by Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio. In addition to attending the Forum, Minister Tavio will have several bilateral meetings, including with the President of Zambia, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, and counterpart ministers.
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EU imposes sanctions against individuals and entities that have committed human rights violations and undermined democracy in Belarus
The EU sanctions list includes members of the Belarusian Central Electoral Commission, representatives of the Belarusian judiciary and individuals or entities that are considered to have committed serious human rights violations and undermined democracy in Belarus. The EU Member States approved the additional sanctions on 27 March 2025.
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Suspected hacking into Foreign Service's remote access service
After unusual activity was noticed in the Foreign Service's remote access service, the initial investigation confirmed a suspected hacking incident. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has blocked the use of the service and made a request for an investigation to the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation.
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Kauppapolitiikka: Whose star shines the brightest?
The first issue of the Kauppapolitiikka magazine in 2025 delves deep into current events in international trade and politics. Why is the world economy buzzing, and who wins most when geopolitics change?
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Minister Tavio to attend high-level forum on disaster risk reduction in Oslo
Finnish Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will attend a high-level forum in Oslo on 24–25 March. The forum is organised by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). The event will discuss accelerating financing to reduce disaster risks and to improve global preparedness for risks.
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Senegal’s Foreign Minister Yassine Fall to visit Finland
Senegal’s Minister for African Integration and Foreign Affairs, Yassine Fall, will visit Helsinki on 20 March and meet Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen.
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Foreign Minister Valtonen to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina
Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will visit Bosnia and Herzegovina from 17 to 18 March. This is her first visit to South-Eastern Europe 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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EU Foreign Affairs Council to discuss Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, EU-US relations, situation in the Middle East, and Iran
EU foreign ministers will convene in Brussels on 17 March. Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will represent Finland at the meeting.
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UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to meet Foreign Minister Valtonen
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will visit Finland on 14–15 March on the invitation of Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen. This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Finland and the United Arab Emirates.
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This is FINLAND Magazine 2025–26: Moomins’ anniversary, local food and peacebuilding
This is FINLAND Magazine is now available in English. Part of the 'This is FINLAND' country brand media, promoted across several channels, the Magazine targets an international readership.
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Finland grants EUR 16 million in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has made decisions on humanitarian assistance, prioritising Ukraine, major refugee crises in Africa and the humanitarian situation in the Middle East. Funding is also granted for supporting school meals and promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities. The amount of humanitarian assistance now granted totals EUR 36.5 million, of which EUR 16 million is allocated to Ukraine.
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National Coordinators of the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact) Meet in Helsinki, Finland
Representatives from the United States, Canada, and Finland discussed concrete implementation of this important initiative to build Arctic and Polar icebreakers.
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Finland continues to promote gender equality and human rights loudly at session of UN Commission on the Status of Women
The 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) will take place in New York between 10 and 21 March 2025. Finland will be represented at the session by a broad-based delegation headed by Minister Sanni Grahn-Laasonen.
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European Court of Human Rights delivers decision in cases concerning additional tax on pension income
On 6 March 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) delivered a decision on cases concerning additional tax on pension income. The ECtHR unanimously held that there had been no violation of Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and Article 1 of Protocol No. 12 (general prohibition of discrimination) to the Convention. The ECtHR declared the complaint under Article 13 (right to an effective remedy) of the Convention inadmissible.
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Minister Tavio to attend World Bank’s NB8 group meeting in Stockholm
Ministers from the Nordic and Baltic countries (Nordic-Baltic Eight, NB8) will convene at a meeting of the Governors to the World Bank Group (WPG) in Stockholm on 6 March. The main topics on the agenda are the World Bank’s support to Ukraine, international development financing, job creation and clean transition. Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will represent Finland at the meeting.
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Finland to host high-level event on artificial intelligence and international security
Helsinki Roundtable on AI and International Security, an event to be held at Aalto University on 13 March 2025, will bring together international experts, decision-makers and business leaders to discuss the impacts of artificial intelligence on global security.
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Non-resident Ambassador appointed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo
At the presidential session on 28 February, the President of the Republic appointed a non-resident Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen to visit Ireland and the United Kingdom
Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will visit Dublin, Belfast and London from 3 to 4 March. In Dublin, the Foreign Minister will meet Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Minister for Defence Simon Harris. In Belfast, Minister Valtonen will deliver the Annual Harri Holkeri Lecture on mediation at Queen’s University. In London, she will speak about European security at an event hosted by Chatham House.
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Finnish Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio meets with Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat
The ministers met in Helsinki on 26 February. They discussed the bilateral relations between Finland and Türkiye and EU–Türkiye trade and economic relations.
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Minister Adlercreutz to attend meeting of Ministers for Nordic Cooperation in Copenhagen
Finnish Minister for Nordic Cooperation Anders Adlercreutz will attend the meeting of Ministers for Nordic Cooperation in Copenhagen on 26 February. Finland and Åland are holding the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2025.
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Permanent State Secretary Salovaara to attend UN Human Rights Council session and Conference on Disarmament in Geneva
Permanent State Secretary Jukka Salovaara will visit Geneva, Switzerland, from 25 to 26 February. He will deliver Finland’s address to a High-Level Segment of the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council and to a High-Level Segment of the Conference on Disarmament.
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EU’s 16th sanctions package bans imports of aluminium from Russia and cracks down on shadow fleet
The 16th sanctions package adopted by the European Union on 24 February bans imports of primary aluminium and extends export prohibitions. The package also imposes new sanctions on shadow vessels and those who support the operations of the shadow fleet.
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State Secretary Rajala to travel to New York and Washington
Pasi Rajala, State Secretary to Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen and Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen, will attend meetings on Ukraine at the UN on 24 February. Rajala will travel from New York to Washington DC on 25–26 February.