Search

9.6.2026 | Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen held a speech at the meeting of the Council of Europe’s Committee on Social Inclusion and Human Dignity in Kouvola on 9 June 2026.

25.2.2026 | Statement by Permanent State Secretary Jukka Salovaara at the High-Level Segment of the United Nations Human Rights Council's 61st session

30.4.2026 | The security situation in the Middle East affects the operation of Finland's missions and VFS application centres in the region. The availability of services may be temporarily limited.

20.4.2026 | EU foreign affairs ministers will convene for a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 21 April. Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will represent Finland at the meeting.

16.6.2026 | The Finnish economy is gradually recovering but is overshadowed by the crisis in the Middle East, higher energy prices and an uncertain economic outlook. Economic growth is boosting general government revenues, but the deficit remains wide according to the Ministry of Finance's economic forecast published on 16 June.

4.5.2026 | Prime Minister Orpo represented Finland at the eighth summit of the European Political Community (EPC) in the Armenian capital of Yerevan on Monday 4 May. The theme of the summit was building the future through unity and stability in Europe.

28.1.2026 | EU foreign affairs ministers will convene for a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 29 January. Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will represent Finland at the meeting.

14.3.2025 | In its meeting on Friday 14 March, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs defined the Government’s main priorities for exerting influence on the European Commission’s work programme for 2025, which was published on 11 February. The Ministerial Committee also discussed the European Commission’s Communication on the Competitiveness Compass and its Vision for Agriculture and Food. In addition, the Ministerial Committee outlined Finland’s positions for four upcoming council meetings.

12.9.2025 | Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen's keynote speech at Kouvola Security Conference on 12 September 2025 Publication date 12.9.2025 10.25 Type: Speech Ladies and gentlemen, Thank you for the warm welcome. It is great to be back in Kouvola, and to s...

10.2.2025 | During its membership of the UN Human Rights Council between 2022 and 2024, Finland defended universal human rights and the multilateral rules-based system. Finland’s key priorities were to ensure accountability and gender equality and to promote and defend the rights of women and girls, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities and LGBTI persons.

8.3.2024 | At the presidential session on 8 March, the President of the Republic appointed an Ambassador to Tehran, a non-resident Ambassador to New Zealand and an authorisation of a Roving Ambassador based at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

28.11.2024 | Finland will receive 500 refugees under the refugee quota in 2025. In its plenary session on 28 November, the Government decided on which refugee groups would be included in the quota and how many places would be reserved for each group.

8.5.2025 | Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen's speech at the NATO Nuclear Policy Symposium on 29 April 2025 Publication date 8.5.2025 11.50 | Published in English on 31.10.2025 at 15.24 Type: Speech Distinguished guests, experts and friends of nuclear polic...

25.8.2025 | Speech by Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen at the Annual Meeting of Heads of Mission on 25 August 2025 Publication date 25.8.2025 15.05 | Published in English on 31.10.2025 at 15.26 Type: Speech Distinguished Ambassadors, ladies and gentlemen, D...

26.2.2024 | In accordance with established practice, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs invited civil society organisations (CSOs) to comment on Finland’s activities at the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council on 12 February. Representatives of more than 40 CSOs participated in a discussion with Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen. The discussion focused on the rights of children and the safety...

11.9.2024 | Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen's speech at the Seoul Defense Dialogue on 11 September 2024 Publication date 11.9.2024 11.22 Type: Speech It is a great honour and my pleasure to address today the 2024 Seoul Defence Dialogue and discuss the mult...

20.1.2023 | EU foreign ministers will convene in Brussels on 23 January. Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will represent Finland at the meeting.

26.2.2024 | Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen at the High-Level Segment of the United Nations Human Rights Council's 55th session on 26 February 2024.

27.2.2023 | Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto at the High-Level Segment of the United Nations Human Rights Council's 52nd session on 27 February 2023.

10.3.2023 | Consultation of civil society has become an established part of Finland’s preparations for the sessions of the UN Human Rights Council. The views of civil society support the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in its work to promote human rights. Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto discussed with a broad spectrum of the Finnish civil society members in February before the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council.