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17.3.2023 | The climate and ecological crisis and the sustainability gap in general government finances cannot be solved separately. Actions that strengthen general government finances can be targeted so that they systematically take the economy, legislation, taxation, incentives and governance structures towards the green transition. This is the conclusion of the Outlook Review published by the Ministry of the Environment.

24.2.2022 | Minister of Finance Annika Saarikko will represent Finland at the informal meeting of ministers for the economy and finance (Ecofin) to be held in Paris on 25–26 February and in the Eurogroup on 25 February. The security policy situation in Europe will also come up during the meetings.

15.11.2024 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has launched the Room for Growth project to come up with ideas for new ways to boost economic growth. As part of the project, a discussion event will be held on Tuesday 19 November at 15.00–16.30 at Aalto University. The event will be streamed live and released as a recording on the government video service.

27.6.2025 | The clean energy transition is progressing at a good pace, thanks in part to the emissions trading system. However, reaching Finland’s climate targets will require more action in the effort sharing sector, and especially in the land use sector where emissions increased compared to the previous year.

25.6.2024 | Europe is facing strong economic headwinds. With vulnerable supply chains, high energy costs, and substantial investments needed to reach net-zero, the EU has reached a point where we cannot afford to ignore our competitiveness problems.

12.1.2022 | The European Commission wants to increase opportunities for a successful social economy in Europe. The Commission’s interest in the matter is based on the benefits that the social economy can bring for employment and the economy as a whole. The Commission published its action plan for the social economy on 9 December 2021.

11.2.2025 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Speech at the Action AI Summit Closing Ceremony, Paris 11 February 2025. Check against delivery.

30.5.2024 | EU Energy Ministers will meet in Brussels on May 30. The aim is to adopt the Council conclusions on promoting sustainable electricity network infrastructure. The ministers will also discuss the future of the REPowerEU plan and the status of the Green Deal. Finland will be represented at the meeting by Minister of Climate and the Environment Kai Mykkänen.

30.10.2024 | By summer 2023, only three years had passed since the publication of the sectoral low-carbon roadmaps in 2020. A provision in Petteri Orpo’s government program from June 2023 mandated the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and various sectors to revisit the roadmaps in light of the evolving operating environment. With this mandate, the update process began in autumn 2023. By autumn 2024, all 14 participating sectors had completed their updates.

7.10.2022 | The four rounds of applications under the Low-carbon Built Environment Programme have provided EUR 13.6 million in funding for projects that promote climate work related to the built environment. At least two more application rounds will be organised, and the next one will begin at the Ministry of the Environment on 17 October 2022. The third application round of Business Finland will be open until the end of October.

14.10.2021 | The Ministers will discuss the experiences gained in research and innovation cooperation between Finland and China and their future. A particular aim is to accelerate joint projects in the fields of low-carbon economy, circular economy, and food and health.

13.6.2024 | Minister of Climate and the Environment Kai Mykkänen meets Polis on 13 June in Helsinki.

19.12.2024 | Finland is preparing a country pavilion for the next UN Climate Change Conference to be held in Belém, Brazil, from 10 to 21 November 2025. The Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs support the preparation of the pavilion in cooperation with companies, municipalities, universities and non-governmental organisations.

21.5.2021 | On 17 May, the European Commission published a communication on promoting a sustainable blue economy in the EU. The Communication sets out a detailed agenda for the blue economy. A sustainable blue economy is a fundamental part of the broader European Green Deal, which is indispensable for the future of Europe. Sustainable blue economy is not possible without clean and healthy oceans and seas.

9.9.2021 | The GTK Mintec pilot plant and laboratories in Outokumpu, operated by the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK), will get new office and laboratory facilities. This will facilitate the development of sustainable mining and the circular economy to respond to the challenges of climate change, the green transition and digitalisation.

1.12.2023 | Action Over Words – Speech by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo at the opening of the COP28 Climate Conference Finland Pavilion, 1 December 2023. Subject to changes.

16.1.2024 | An adequate number of companies have made the committed to the Green Deal agreement on single-use plastic portion packs. This year, companies will define ambitious reduction targets for their own operations. In Finland further measures are needed to achieve the recycling targets set in the EU for plastic packaging waste.

1.12.2023 | Action Over Words – Speech by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo at the opening of the COP28 Climate Conference Finland Pavilion, 1 December 2023. Subject to changes.

26.5.2021 | On 26 May, the Ministry of Finance published Finland's Sustainable Growth Programme and the Recovery and Resilience Plan it includes. The Government is due to adopt the programme on 27 May.

9.12.2025 | A delegation of Finnish Members of Parliament from the Development Policy Committee visited Zambia on 22–28 November to discuss with the country’s political leadership the development of cooperation between Finland and Zambia and to learn about topical development issues in the country.

26.5.2021 | On 26 May, the Ministry of Finance published Finland's Sustainable Growth Programme and the Recovery and Resilience Plan it includes. The Government is due to adopt the programme on 27 May.

26.4.2024 | According to the joint statement of the For Forest group composed of four forested countries of the European Union, a sustainable bioeconomy must be at the core of the next European Commission’s Work Programme. A total of 16 EU Member States have joined the statement of Finland, Sweden, Austria and Slovenia to be discussed at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on Monday 29 April.

18.6.2024 | Sustainability work in government ownership steering emphasises climate and nature work, human rights, diversity, sustainability in remuneration and companies’ responsibility for their value chains. These are the main objectives of the new state-owner’s sustainability programme, which identifies the sustainability themes most critical to the State's company portfolio and sets portfolio-level objectives and indicators for them.

12.4.2024 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and other EU Heads of State or Government met for a discussion on the next EU Strategic Agenda on Thursday 11 April in Warsaw. In addition to Orpo, the Prime Ministers of Estonia, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland and Spain attended the dinner meeting.

13.3.2023 | At their meeting on 13 March, the EU social affairs and employment ministers will discuss the labour market situation of temporarily displaced Ukrainians and the situation of children. The ministers will also exchange views on the European Semester for economic policy coordination and the related sustainable growth survey and joint employment report.

20.9.2023 | Finland will make its first country strategy for India. The DESI Initiative will strengthen Finland’s competitive positioning on the Indian market.

8.12.2023 | Finland will use new REPowerEU funding to speed up the transition to clean energy. The EU’s Economic and Financial Affairs Council approved the REPowerEU chapter of Finland’s Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) on Friday 8 December.

1.3.2023 | In a joint letter to the presidents of the European Commission and European Council, Finland and nine other EU Member States call for a long-term strategy to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and global influence. The countries hope that the European Council can adopt the strategy this spring. The European Council will discuss the European economy and competitiveness in its meeting at the end of March.

1.3.2023 | In a joint letter to the presidents of the European Commission and European Council, Finland and nine other EU Member States call for a long-term strategy to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and global influence. The countries hope that the European Council can adopt the strategy this spring. The European Council will discuss the European economy and competitiveness in its meeting at the end of March.

16.3.2021 | The first meeting of the Nordic Council of Ministers for Digitalisation during Finland’s 2021 Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers discussed the digital green transition and decided on the priorities for cooperation over the next four years. According to Minister Paatero, the Nordic and Baltic countries can serve as an example for mitigating climate change through a value-based, inclusive digital transformation that also boosts competitiveness.

9.6.2023 | The level of wellbeing among people in Finland may fall if we do not invest in education, social capital and the reduction of health inequalities, according to a recent policy paper by the OECD. The policy paper describes the combined effects of the sustainability of people’s wellbeing, the economy and the environment. It is possible to create solutions to the challenges of economic sustainability with the help of information.

17.5.2023 | A decision on the overall level of business subsidy expenditure could serve as a tool for maintaining policy discipline. A clear exit strategy is needed to abolish the more flexible state aid rules. According to the annual report of the Research Division on Business Subsidies published on 17 May 2023, R&D activities should be expanded to more sectors and aid policy should be targeted more efficiently in order to achieve the R&D objectives.

29.11.2021 | Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland The key to Finnish recovery and resilience Timetable for RRP preparations 29.11.20212 | Sept Oct–Nov Nov Jan Feb Mar Apr Coordination group between ministries set up Consultations with stakeholders Report t...

23.10.2023 | The EU General Affairs Council (GAC) will meet in Luxembourg on Tuesday 24 October. The meeting will focus mainly on preparations for the October European Council. The GAC will also continue its annual rule of law dialogue with country-specific discussions. Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Anders Adlercreutz will represent Finland at the meeting.

19.1.2024 | Finnvera is a very important player in the financing sector of Finnish SMEs, which performs its basic tasks professionally. Its service processes are efficient and high in quality, and it regularly receives excellent customer feedback, finds an assessment of Finnvera carried out by 4FRONT Oy and published by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment on 19 January 2024.

17.3.2023 | On 16 March 2023, the Commission issued legislative proposals to promote climate neutral “net zero technologies” and the availability of critical raw materials. Both proposals aim to speed up the green transition and strengthen the EU’s self-sufficiency. Technologies that accelerate the green transition are at the heart of global technological competition. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will organise a consultation on the proposals for stakeholders on 28 March 2023.

10.10.2022 | Minister of Finance Annika Saarikko will attend the annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington on 13–15 October. The Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action will also meet on 12 October, and Minister Saarikko will chair the meeting.

25.5.2023 | There are major differences between regions, sectors and companies concerning future expectations. Some regions anticipate a slowdown in growth, but others already see positive signs emerging in the future. These are the conclusions from the recently published Regional Development Prospects.

23.8.2023 | "The exceptional times we have been living in recent years have emphasised the importance of Nordic cooperation. Finland has also a lot to offer to other Nordic countries, and we should learn from others in many sectors of society. Through Nordic interaction, we will be able to effectively advance various matters," says minister Anna-Maja Henriksson in her speech.

22.3.2023 | Will government support undo fair competition, asks the March issue of Kauppapolitiikka magazine. The issue’s theme is the future of open trade.

5.10.2023 | The Government approved the proposal for the REPowerEU chapter of Finland’s Recovery and Resilience Plan. The chapter includes measures to speed up environmental permit procedures, research on clean energy and investments in the clean transition.

24.10.2022 | Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will visit Saudi Arabia and Qatar from 24 to 27 October 2022. During his visit, Minister Skinnari will meet Saudi Arabian and Qatari ministers and representatives of business life. In addition, he will deliver a keynote address at the international Future Investment Initiative Forum (FII), which will be held in Riyadh on from 25 to 27 October.

5.2.2023 | Minister Ville Skinnari is visiting Qatar from 5 to 7 February 2023. On 5 February, he inaugurated the new Embassy of Finland in Doha as a representative of the Finnish State. The Embassy started operations in December 2021. Besides the inauguration ceremony, Minister Skinnari’s programme in Doha includes meetings with authorities, researchers and representatives of business and industry. The visit aims to continue to foster good relations and promote trade between Finland and Qatar.

16.11.2023 | Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland, together with Åland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland are engaged in official Nordic cooperation within the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Nordic Council. The exceptional times we have been living in recent years have emphasised the importance of Nordic cooperation.

14.12.2022 | Prime Minister Sanna Marin attended the first summit of the EU and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ASEAN in Brussels today.

3.3.2023 | Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez met today in Helsinki. In their meeting, discussions focused on measures to strengthen the EU’s strategic economy and other major issues in EU policy, the war in Ukraine, and Finland’s deepening allyship as the country becomes a member of NATO.

30.10.2023 | Finland and the Australian state of New South Wales will strengthen their cooperation to promote carbon neutrality and to develop solutions advancing it. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the matter was presented at an event in Australia on 30 October 2023. Finland was represented by Ambassador Satu Mattila-Budich.

12.4.2024 | At the presidential session on 12 April, the President of the Republic appointed eight new Ambassadors and three new non-resident Ambassadors.

31.1.2024 | The REACT-EU additional funding allocated to regions and sectors most affected by the coronavirus pandemic has largely met the long-term development needs of companies and entrepreneurs. According to a recently completed final evaluation of the REACT-EU additional funding, the funding has been implemented successfully, considering the other pandemic-related funding instruments used at the same time.

5.9.2023 | Finland is using new REPowerEU funding to promote the transition to clean energy. The Ministry of Finance is requesting comments on its proposal for projects to be funded.

3.2.2023 | The EU General Affairs Council (GAC) will meet in Brussels on Monday 6 February. The meeting will focus on preparations for the February Special European Council. The GAC will also discuss relations between the EU and the United Kingdom and receive an overview of Sweden’s priorities for its Presidency of the Council of the EU. Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Tytti Tuppurainen will represent Finland at the meeting.

15.11.2022 | On 15 November 2022, Finland's Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakka and Estonia's Minister of Entrepreneurship and Information Technology Kristjan Järvan signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Finnish and Estonian ministries on advancing the digital transformation in the field of logistics.

14.11.2022 | Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade of Finland Mr Ville Skinnari will lead a trade mission to South Africa and Namibia from 14 to 18 November. The programme of the visit includes meetings with representatives of South African and Namibian governments, central banks and businesses.

15.11.2022 | On 15 November 2022, Finland's Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakka and Estonia's Minister of Entrepreneurship and Information Technology Kristjan Järvan signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Finnish and Estonian ministries on advancing the digital transformation in the field of logistics.

15.9.2023 | On Friday, 15 September, the Finnish Government’s Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs outlined Finland’s positions on the EU Regulation on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment (Taxonomy Regulation) and the Commission communication on a sustainable finance framework. In addition, the Ministerial Committee outlined Finland’s positions on Spain’s request...

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.

12.9.2022 | How do we guide Finland forward in the midst of global uncertainty? Ministries’ futures review provides tools for decision-makers Ministry of Defence Publication date 12.9.2022 12.06 Type: Press release Government Communications Department, Minist...

30.11.2022 | On Tuesday 29 November, Minister-President of Flanders Jan Jambon made a working visit to Finland focusing on innovation, the green transition, foresight, academic cooperation, data and digitalisation, and trade and investment. As European innovation leaders, Finland and Flanders are at the forefront of research and technology.

12.9.2022 | The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and accelerating climate change have led to a situation in Finland and globally where the future seems rather uncertain. In the midst of uncertainty, decision-making is difficult. Finland will hold parliamentary elections in spring 2023, and the new Government Programme will outline policies for the next few years.

9.11.2022 | Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas will attend a seminar on cooperation between Finland and Estonia at the House of the Estates in Helsinki on Tuesday 15 November. Other Finnish and Estonian ministers will also attend the event.