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30.5.2023 | An informal meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs will be held in Oslo from 31 May to 1 June. This will be the second meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs which Finland attends as a member of the Alliance.

13.12.2024 | In their meeting on Friday 13 October, the President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy finalised the Government’s Defence Report. The report will proceed to Parliament once it has been endorsed in the government plenary session.

13.11.2024 | New trilateral arrangement formalizes collaboration on the production of Arctic and polar icebreakers

10.10.2023 | Minister of Defence Häkkänen to attend NATO defence minister meeting Ministry of Defence Publication date 10.10.2023 12.06 Type: Press release Finland’s Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen will attend a meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence at NATO ...

22.3.2024 | On Friday 22 March, the second day of its meeting, the European Council discussed responding to concerns raised by EU farmers and enabling Ukraine to export its grain. On the second day of the meeting, EU leaders also held a Euro Summit and a celebratory session with the EEA countries.

19.5.2025 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo gave a speech at the Finland in NATO – Two Years in the Alliance event at Finlandia Hall. Speech to be checked against delivery.

17.9.2021 | The high-level meetings of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 76) will start in New York on Monday 20 September. Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will attend ministerial events in New York and have bilateral meetings with his counterparts and with representatives of the UN. Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will represent Finland at several high-level meetings held in virtual format during the week.

6.6.2023 | On Tuesday 6 June, the President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed topical NATO issues and preparations for the upcoming NATO Summit in Vilnius.

27.9.2024 | Finnish defence administration proposes Mikkeli as site for NATO Multi Corps Land Component Command Ministry of Defence Publication date 27.9.2024 12.04 Type: Press release Finland's defence administration proposes Mikkeli, the town where the Finn...

27.11.2023 | Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will attend a meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Brussels on 28–29 November.

13.12.2023 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will attend the Western Balkans Summit on Wednesday 13 December and the European Council meeting on Thursday 14 and Friday 15 December in Brussels.

15.11.2023 | On Thursday 16 November, Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Anders Adlercreutz will travel to Prague, where he will meet with Czech Minister for European Affairs Martin Dvořák and Minister of Industry and Trade Jozef Síkela. Minister Adlercreutz will also attend the high-level Prague European Summit.

7.11.2019 | European Business and Nature Summit kicks off in Madrid Ministry of the Environment Publication date 7.11.2019 3.44 Type: Press release The European Business and Nature Summit is taking place on 7–8 November in Madrid. The meeting brings businesse...

31.10.2023 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo emphasised the need to work together to improve comprehensive security at the meeting of Nordic prime ministers in Oslo on Tuesday 31 October. He also spoke about the matter at the Nordic Summit with the region’s prime ministers and heads of government, which took place during the 75th Session of the Nordic Council.

4.9.2023 | Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will attend the informal meeting of EU development ministers in Cádiz in Spain in 4–5 September.

11.3.2022 | Minister of Finance Annika Saarikko will represent Finland in the meeting of EU and euro area finance ministers on 14–15 March.

25.2.2019 | “More active dialogue and deeper cooperation between the EU and the League of Arab States is needed to effectively address the global challenges”, Prime Minister Juha Sipilä noted at the first EU-League of Arab States summit. The heads of state or government from Europe and the League of Arab States met in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt on 24–25 February to find ways to respond to challenges relating to migration, climate change and terrorism.

2.4.2024 | Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will attend the meeting of NATO Foreign Affairs Ministers in Brussels on 3–4 April.

22.3.2023 | On Wednesday 22 March, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs outlined Finland’s positions for the European Council meeting, the Euro Summit and the meeting of the EU Energy Council, and discussed the proposal for a regulation on CO2 emission standards for new heavy-duty vehicles.

18.6.2024 | NATO defence ministers support objectives of Finland's NATO integration Ministry of Defence Publication date 18.6.2024 15.13 Type: Press release At their meeting of 14 June 2024, NATO defence ministers gave their political backing to establishing ...

10.5.2023 | Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will visit Stockholm, Sweden, from 11 to 13 May. He will attend the Road to Vilnius seminar, the Gymnich Informal Meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers and the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum. Minister Haavisto will also have a number of bilateral meetings in Stockholm.

18.6.2024 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo took part in the informal meeting of the European Council in Brussels on 17 June, where the EU leaders discussed upcoming appointments to high-level EU roles. The leaders aim to reach a decision on the appointments at the EU summit on 27–28 June.

14.8.2024 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal met in Helsinki on 13–14 August. Their discussions focused on cooperation between Finland and Estonia, improving European security and defence, and other topical EU matters.

15.4.2024 | President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will meet in Lappeenranta, Finland on Friday 19 April. They will also visit Finland’s eastern border.

30.8.2022 | The coastal nations around the Baltic Sea will dramatically boost their use of offshore wind power and take other measures to promote the production of renewable energy. They will also develop the energy distribution network between their countries to secure energy supply. The countries agreed to intensify their cooperation at the Baltic Sea Energy Security Summit held at the official residence of the Danish Prime Minister in Marienborg on Tuesday 30 August.

9.7.2021 | The Economic and Financial Affairs Council will discuss the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and at the same time decide on the adoption of Council Implementing Decisions on twelve Member States’ recovery and resilience plans. Finland considers that the re-covery and resilience plans of these countries meet the set requirements and can therefore adopt the Council Implementing Decisions on the plans. 

13.6.2024 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and acting Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte met in Helsinki on Thursday 13 June. Among other topics, their discussions focused on measures to guarantee European security and economic success.

3.4.2023 | On 4 April, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will deposit Finland's instrument of accession to the North Atlantic Treaty. Minister Haavisto will deposit the instrument of accession in Brussels with the Government of the United States. Finland will become a NATO member country at the moment of the deposit. Minister Haavisto will also represent Finland at the meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs starting on the same day.

14.6.2019 | Japan has invited Finland to participate in the meeting of energy and environment ministers, which is part of the programme of Japan’s presidency of the G20 Summit. The Ministerial Meeting on Energy Transitions and Global Environment for Sustainable Growth will take place in Karuizawa on 15–16 June 2019. Finland is one of the so-called outreach countries invited to the meeting. The themes of the meet...

31.10.2022 | On Tuesday 1 November, the Nordic prime ministers will meet in Helsinki in connection with the 2022 Session of the Nordic Council.

21.5.2025 | FINNISH GOVERNMENT PO Box 23, FI-00023 Government, Finland vn.fi/en Tel. +358 295 16001 VALTIONEUVOSTO PL 23, 00023 Valtioneuvosto vn.fi p. 0295 16001 1(44) Useful phrases for correspondence This collection of useful phrases for correspondence in ...

20.10.2021 | Prime Minister Sanna Marin will attend the European Council meeting in Brussels on 21–22 October.

30.6.2023 | On 30 June, on the second day of the meeting, the European Council continued the discussion on migration, which it had started on the previous day.

18.2.2022 | At their summit meeting in Brussels on 17 and 18 February, leaders of countries of the European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU) agreed on strengthening and deepening their cooperation.

15.12.2021 | At their summit in Brussels on Wednesday 15 December, the EU Member States and the countries in the Eastern Partnership adopted a joint declaration and a revised programme for Eastern Partnership policy beyond 2000. The long-term policy objectives emphasise recovery, resilience and reform. Prime Minister Sanna Marin represented Finland at the summit.

4.3.2025 | Speech by Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen about Finland’s approach to European security at an event entitled "Keeping the peace on NATO’s longest border with Russia", hosted by Chatham House on 4 March 2025.

29.8.2022 | EU foreign affairs ministers will meet at the Informal Meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers (Gymnich) in Prague in the Czech Republic on 30–31 August. Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will represent Finland at the meeting. The foreign ministers will discuss the EU’s relations with Africa and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They will meet the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia.

21.9.2021 | Finland joined the international Global Learning Network of the World Economic Forum. Minister of Education Li Andersson participated in the World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Development Impact Summit on 21 September. A central theme at the meeting was to find solutions to close the education gap in education systems around the world that arose during the pandemic.

10.2.2023 | The special meeting of the European Council held on 9 February discussed support for Ukraine, migration and measures to support the European economy and competitiveness. At the summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to EU leaders to increase support for Ukraine and to intensify sanctions against Russia.

22.10.2021 | Prime Minister Sanna Marin will visit Berlin on Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 October.

27.2.2019 | As the first ever Nordic country, Finland will host the International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) on 14 and 15 March 2019. ISTP brings together countries with the best performing or rapidly improving education systems as measured by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).

16.9.2022 | The high-level meetings of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 77) will start in New York on Monday 19 September. Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto and Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will attend ministerial events in New York and have bilateral meetings with their counterparts and with representatives of the UN. Minister Skinnari also has Team Finland programme.

13.10.2023 | Minister of Education Anna-Maja Henriksson will visit India on 16–20 October to promote the export activities of Finnish education operators and to meet Indian ministers and education authorities. The visit will focus on comprehensive level and upper secondary vocational education in the three southern states of India, which have shown a clear interest in Finland: Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Na...

9.12.2021 | At its meeting on Thursday 9 December, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs outlined Finland’s positions for next week’s European Council, Euro Summit and Eastern Partnership Summit.

29.9.2021 | On Wednesday 29 September, Prime Minister Sanna Marin will attend a video meeting with the President of the European Council and the leaders of four other EU Member States.

15.6.2023 | Minister of Defence Kaikkonen to attend NATO defence minister meeting Ministry of Defence Publication date 15.6.2023 9.00 Type: Press release Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen will attend the NATO defence minister meeting at NATO Headquarters in...

20.9.2021 | The high-level week of the United Nations General Assembly, which marks an annual special event for global cooperation, begins on 20 September. The week provides Finland with an opportunity to strengthen its cooperative relations and to highlight themes that are important for foreign and security policy.

23.8.2023 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo is on a visit to Ukraine and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv this morning. Orpo will also attend the third Crimea Platform Summit. In his meeting with Zelenskyy, Orpo stressed that Finland’s strong and unwavering support to Ukraine would continue.

19.10.2022 | In its meeting on Wednesday 19 October, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs discussed the October European Council, three other upcoming meetings and the EU’s single market emergency instrument. Topics on the agenda for the October European Council (20–21 October) include Ukraine and Russia’s war of aggression, food security and critical infrastructure, energy and economic issues, and external relations.

22.6.2023 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will attend the summer meeting of Nordic prime ministers in Iceland on Sunday 25 and Monday 26 June. The Icelandic Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers has also invited Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to the meeting. This is Petteri Orpo’s first trip abroad as Prime Minister.

23.8.2023 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo is on a visit to Ukraine and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv this morning. Orpo will also attend the third Crimea Platform Summit. In his meeting with Zelenskyy, Orpo stressed that Finland’s strong and unwavering support to Ukraine would continue.

20.10.2021 | In its meeting on Wednesday 20 October, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs discussed the rise in energy prices and other issues on the agenda at the October European Council.

19.10.2021 | On Tuesday 19 October, Prime Minister Sanna Marin will attend a video meeting with the President of the European Council and the leaders of three other EU Member States.

19.9.2022 | World leaders are meeting again in the high-level week of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York. The week is an opportunity for Finland to reinforce partnerships, to emphasise the significance of the UN and multilateral cooperation in addressing global problems and to highlight themes that are important for Finland’s foreign and security policy.

5.5.2021 | In its meeting on Wednesday 5 May, the Ministerial Committee for European Union Affairs outlined Finland’s positions leading up to the Social Summit, the informal meeting of heads of state or government and the EU-India Leaders’ Meeting to be held in Porto on 7 and 8 May.

6.10.2021 | At their informal dinner meeting on 5 October, the EU Heads of State or Government held a strategic discussion about the EU’s role on the international stage. The meeting took place in Slovenia, which currently holds the EU Council Presidency. Topics on the agenda included security, trade policy and relations between the EU and China.

19.7.2023 | EU foreign ministers will convene in Brussels on 20 July. Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will represent Finland at the meeting. The ministers will also have an informal exchange of views with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken via videoconference.

27.10.2023 | On 26 October, on the first day of the European Council meeting in Brussels, the EU leaders discussed the situation in the Middle East. The European Council condemned Hamas’ attacks on Israel and called on Hamas to immediately release all hostages while underlining the importance of ensuring protection of all civilians and enabling humanitarian access and aid to reach those in need in Gaza. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo represented Finland at the meeting.

22.6.2022 | Prime Minister Sanna Marin will attend the European Council in Brussels on 23–24 June, the meeting of the EU and Western Balkan leaders on 23 June, and the Euro Summit on 24 June. 

18.6.2021 | Prime Minister Sanna Marin will attend a video meeting of EU leaders on Friday 18 June.