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15.10.2021 | The centenary of Finland’s independence in 2017 showed that small-scale everyday matters with positive aspects that are characteristic of Finnishness can also be celebrated in connection with official anniversaries. This emerges from a study produced by the Center for Cultural Policy Research Cupore, Owal Group and Demos Helsinki. The three thematic reports of the study assessed the impacts of Finland’s centenary year.

9.6.2021 | Next year will mark 100 years since the Åland Islands gained autonomy. The autonomy celebrations will take place throughout the centenary year, from 9 June 2021 to 9 June 2022. Self-government is a part of Finnish democracy and gives the Finnish administrative structure its unique and multi-dimensional nature. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland is a part of the anniversary events.

1.7.2021 | Prime Minister Sanna Marin met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Thursday 1 July.

19.3.2021 | Nordic Day is celebrated on 23 March in all the Nordic countries and Åland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland in honour of the fundamental treaty of Nordic cooperation, which was named after Helsinki and was signed on 23 March 1962. It defines the duties and composition of the Nordic Council and Nordic Council of Ministers and, in general, the main areas and methods of Nordic cooperation.

14.12.2021 | Today, ministers responsible for civil preparedness or their deputies from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Finland met via videoconference in the framework of so-called Haga cooperation. Finland’s Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen chaired the meeting, which ended Finland’s 2021 chairmanship of the Haga cooperation.

24.8.2022 | On 24–26 August 2022, Europe Forum Turku will gather Finnish opinion-makers and citizens to discuss Finland’s role in Europe. The Ministers and public officials of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will contribute as speakers to many of the Forum events. In addition, Europe Information of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will have a stand in the Hansatori Shopping Centre on Friday 26 August.

24.8.2021 | On 25–27 August, the Europe Forum 2021 in Turku will gather Finnish opinion-makers and citizens to discuss Finland's role in Europe. The event will offer a wide range of discussions on the future of the EU and the position of Finland and the EU in the changing world order. During the Forum, the Ministers and public officials of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will contribute as speakers to events organised by other parties.

2.12.2022 | On 2 December 2022, ministers responsible for civil preparedness or their deputies from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Finland met in Reykjavik in the framework of so-called Haga cooperation. State Secretary Akseli Koskela from the Ministry of the Interior represented Finland at the meeting.

14.11.2022 | Children’s Rights Week kicked off today with a special session at the Government Palace, where children of different ages from all over Finland could discuss things on their minds with several ministers.

5.4.2022 | To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the autonomy of Åland, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will organise a seminar in The Hague on 5 April in cooperation with the Government of Åland and the Embassies of Finland and Sweden in The Hague.

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15.11.2023 | On Tuesday 14 November, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo attended a European Council dinner discussion on the EU’s forthcoming Strategic Agenda and policy guidelines for 2024–2029 in Copenhagen. In addition to Prime Minister Orpo, the prime ministers of Sweden, Denmark, Latvia, Bulgaria, Ireland and the Czech Republic took part in the discussion.

23.2.2023 | Friday 24 February marks the one-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will mark the day in many ways. Finland wants to show its solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people and to commemorate the victims of Russia’s aggression.

4.10.2023 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo met with French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday 4 October. Their discussions focused on cooperation between Finland and France, especially in the energy sector, along with topical EU issues. Prime Minister Orpo also had a meeting with French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne.

3.11.2023 | More than 800 invited guests are expected to attend the state funeral of former President of the Republic Martti Ahtisaari in Helsinki on Friday 10 November. In addition to state protocol, the invited guests will reflect former president Ahtisaari’s decades-long international career.

8.11.2023 | Many of the guests invited to former president Martti Ahtisaari’s state funeral reflect his decades-long international career. The state funeral on Friday 10 November will be attended by several international dignitaries.

27.11.2023 | Two children born in 2013 from each municipality of Finland have been invited to the Government Palace for the celebration. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will personally welcome each guest at the start of the event. Ministers Riikka Purra, Sari Multala and Sari Essayah will also be in attendance.

11.6.2024 | The Strategic Research Council (SRC) has decided on the research themes it will propose to the Government for 2025. Chair of the Strategic Research Council Anu Kaukovirta submitted the proposal to State Secretary Risto Artjoki on 11 June 2024 at the Government Palace.

30.1.2025 | The EU leaders will meet for an informal retreat in Brussels on 3 February. The main topic on the agenda will be European defence. The leaders will also meet for discussions with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will represent Finland at the meeting.

18.6.2025 | The Strategic Research Council (SRC) has decided the strategic research themes it proposes to the Finnish Government for 2026. Mikael Fogelholm, Chair of the SRC, submitted the proposal to State Secretary Risto Artjoki on 18 June 2025 at the Government Palace.

13.11.2025 | Nordic ministers responsible for civil preparedness or their deputies will meet in Helsinki on 13 November. This so-called Haga ministerial meeting will be chaired by Finnish Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen. The ministers will discuss topical issues related to crisis preparedness in the Nordic countries.

25.2.2026 | Varkaus – a living industrial cultural heritage – was awarded the Cultural Heritage Label by the European Commission. The label is designated to sites located in the European Union that strongly embody the history, culture and integration of Europe.

3.6.2026 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on 3 June. Their discussions focused on bilateral relations, the defence industry, the situation in Ukraine and the EU’s multiannual financial framework.

20.6.2023 | Prime Minister Orpo spoke during first visit of the new Government to the Presidential Palace on 20 June 2023. Speech to be checked against delivery.

20.6.2023 | Sanna Marin spoke on the outgoing Government’s farewell visit to the Presidential Palace on 20 June 2023. Speech to be checked against delivery.

22.2.2023 | Friday 24 February marks the one-year anniversary of Russia starting its full-scale aggression against Ukraine. Finland strongly condemns Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. The Finnish Government will show its support to Ukraine by flying the Finnish and Ukrainian flags on 24 February.

19.6.2023 | The new Government of Finland will be appointed on Tuesday 20 June. On Monday 19 June, President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö will meet with Speaker of Parliament and leader of the government formation talks Petteri Orpo at Mäntyniemi and then inform Parliament of the nominee for Prime Minister.

19.6.2023 | The new Government of Finland will be appointed on Tuesday 20 June. On Monday 19 June, President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö will meet with Speaker of Parliament and leader of the government formation talks Petteri Orpo at Mäntyniemi and then inform Parliament of the nominee for Prime Minister.

22.2.2024 | Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago. The Finnish Government will show its solidarity with Ukraine by flying the Finnish and Ukrainian flags on the anniversary of the start of Russia’s invasion on Saturday 24 February. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ main building, Merikasarmi, will be illuminated in blue and yellow, the colours of the Ukrainian flag.

9.2.2024 | In connection with the presidential session on Friday 9 November 2024, the Government thanked President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö for the excellent cooperation during his terms in office. Niinistö’s term as President of the Republic will end on 1 March 2024.

22.11.2024 | November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, as designated by the United Nations (UN). Violence against women is also a significant problem in Finland, and solving this problem is everyone’s responsibility. The Government Palace and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ main building, Merikasarmi, will be illuminated in orange as part of the international campaign.

22.8.2024 | In honour of Ukrainian Independence Day on Saturday 24 August, the Government will fly the Ukrainian flag at Senate Square in front of the Government Palace and at Martti Ahtisaari Square in the courtyard of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ main building Merikasarmi, which will also be illuminated in blue and yellow in the evening.

24.2.2025 | Ukraine and its people have been fighting against Russia’s illegal war of aggression for three years. The Finnish Government will show its solidarity with Ukraine by flying the Finnish and Ukrainian flags on the anniversary of the start of Russia’s invasion on 24 February. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ main building, Merikasarmi, will be illuminated in the colours of the Ukrainian flag. The Presid...

4.2.2022 | Designed by the distinguished German architect Carl Ludvig Engel, the main Government Palace building in Helsinki was completed in 1822. A new trilingual book 200 Years of the Government Palace provides an illustrated history of the building.

16.3.2022 | In its meeting on 16 March 2022, the Ministerial Committee on Economic Policy decided to support the plan to modernise government premises.

9.9.2022 | Members of the public will have a rare opportunity to explore the Government Palace and House of the Estates at an open house event for the palace’s 200th anniversary on Sunday 25 September. The Government Palace and House of the Estates will open their doors to the public on 25 September at 9.00.

22.8.2025 | Finland’s state leadership will attend events marking Ukraine’s independence day in Helsinki.

24.11.2025 | The UN’s international Orange the World campaign to end violence against women begins on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 November. This year, the focus of the campaign is on eradicating digital violence against women and girls.