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23.8.2021 | Distinguished Ambassadors, Ladies and Gentlemen, This year has shown very clearly the importance of foreign policy and the work of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. I do not mean just the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan and the tasks related to it, but all the events of the past few months: the global response to the coronavirus crisis, international efforts to halt climate change, work to promote ...

31.8.2021 | As part of its Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2021, Finland will organise the Council’s ministerial meetings. Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä will chair three meetings of the Nordic Council of Ministers for Sustainable Growth. The meetings of ministers in charge of economic affairs and regions will take place on 16 September, while energy ministers will convene on 17 September. All meetings will be organised as hybrid meetings from Helsinki.  

21.12.2022 | “Even though this year will go down in the history books for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we have still been fortunate enough to record some favourable developments,” writes Pekka Haavisto, Minister for Foreign Affairs, in relation to the 2022 year in foreign policy.

20.5.2021 | The report ordered by the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment assesses whether Finland could use the so-called community sponsorship integration model when accepting refugees. According to the reports, the model could make the integration of refugees in Finland faster and support the integration work led by the state and municipalities.

23.2.2021 | The research project ordered by the Government surveys what types of complementary pathways for legal migration are available in different countries for use by people residing abroad who are in need of international protection. The focus is on work- and study-based pathways. This international comparison can help to support the consideration of the need of complimentary pathways in Finland as well as the international community’s efforts to find new solutions.

8.3.2022 | Ukraine is Finland’s long-term partner country. Due to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Finland grants humanitarian assistance in response to the acute distress and strengthens Ukraine’s sustainability in the midst of the war through development cooperation.

7.4.2022 | In such humanitarian crises as the one in Ukraine, many actors are involved. How is work divided, where are relief items purchased, and how can private individuals help? Moreover, are available humanitarian resources sufficient to meet the needs of those affected by crises? Riikka Mikkola, Senior Adviser for Humanitarian Assistance at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, answers these questions.

10.3.2021 | Madam President, Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen,

10.3.2021 | Madam President, Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen,

10.3.2021 | Madam President, Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen,

20.10.2021 | Today, on 20 October, the ministers of the coastal states around the Baltic Sea responsible for marine protection and the European Commission adopted the updated Baltic Sea Action Plan. The Baltic Sea coastal states and EU have implemented the Action Plan since 2007. The Action Plan sets down the common objectives and agreed measures until 2030.

22.9.2021 | Finland and Germany have signed a joint declaration based on the countries’ joint desire to support the progress of the proposed regulation on European digital identity, and to accelerate the development of joint European solutions based on digital identity. Minister of Local Government Sirpa Paatero and Minister of State to the Federal Chancellor and Government Commissioner for Digital Affairs Dorothee Bär signed the joint declaration on Wednesday 22 September 2021.

30.3.2022 | The humanitarian situation in Ukraine worsens day by day. According to UN estimates, more than six million people are now in need of humanitarian assistance. Riikka Mikkola, Senior Adviser at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, answers questions on Finland’s assistance.

19.8.2021 | Finland will provide EUR 3 million through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR to help Afghan refugees. On the World Humanitarian Day celebrated today, the crises in Afghanistan and Haiti remind us of the global humanitarian distress.

24.11.2022 | The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland Antti Kurvinen gave a speech at the Finnish Nature Centre Haltia in Espoo, where high-level European decision-makers convened to explore solutions that forests can offer in the pursuit of good living environments.

14.10.2021 | The three-year term 2022-2024 is Finland’s first full membership in the Human Rights Council. Finland will continue its long-term work to promote universal human rights.

13.12.2021 | The Technical Assistance and Information Exchange instrument (TAIEX) funded by the European Union celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. In Finland, the milestone was marked by a publication and a seminar.

27.1.2021 | Euroopan unionin urheiluministerit ovat komissaari Mariya Gabrielille osoitetussa kirjeessään vaatineet ihmisoikeuksien turvaamista kansainvälisissä urheilutapahtumissa. Ministerit uusivat vuonna 2013 tehdyn julkilausuman, jossa vedottiin kansainvälisten ihmisoikeussitoumusten kunnioittamiseen urheilun suurtapahtumien, kuten olympialaisten, paralympialaisten ja maailmanmestaruuskilpailujen, järjestämisessä.

24.6.2021 | On Thursday 25 June, Finland hosted a meeting of the Nordic ministers of agriculture. Finland holds the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2021. The meeting was held via video conferencing, and it was chaired by Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Jari Leppä. The theme of the ministers’ policy discussion was the sustainable Nordic food systems.

12.5.2022 | The European Commission has approved the EU regional and structural policy programme, Innovation and Skills in Finland 2021–2027, and Finland’s partnership agreement among the first in the whole EU. The programme promotes the vitality, employment and wellbeing of the regions. The partnership agreement describes the strategic direction and mutual coordination of different funds.