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6.6.2022 | The high-level seminar on developing relations and opportunities for cooperation between Finland and Estonia, which was set to take place in Helsinki on Wednesday 8 June, has been postponed due to the dissolution of the Estonian government. The scheduled meeting between in connection with the seminar will also be postponed.

14.4.2023 | The Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action will discuss financing the green transition and strengthening the role of finance ministries in climate work this Friday in Washington. The ministers will publish a practical guide to help ministries implement climate measures.

23.3.2023 | The Finnish economy will return to growth at the end of the year following a mild recession, barring new surprises. However, the general government deficit will grow as rising prices begin to be reflected in general government expenditure according to the economic survey published by the Ministry of Finance on 23 March.

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.

11.3.2020 | Minister Mikkonen: Commission Action Plan for the Circular Economy an important opening to solve the sustainability crisis – Designing durable and easy-to-repair products Ministry of the Environment Publication date 11.3.2020 9.27 Type: Press rele...

27.9.2022 | The absence of Russia among our trade partners will affect the lives of people and businesses in many ways.

2.11.2022 | Minister of Economic Affairs Lintilä will visit Germany, one of Finland’s most important trading partners, in November. During his visit, the Minister will speak at an event hosted by the German-Finnish Chamber of Commerce and meet with representatives of German and Finnish companies.

8.2.2023 | On Wednesday 8 February, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs agreed on positions for the special meeting of the European Council to be held on 9–10 February and for the meetings of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Ecofin) and the Eurogroup to be held on 13–14 February.

9.2.2023 | Vietnam, with its nearly 100 million inhabitants, is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Keijo Norvanto, Finland’s Ambassador to Vietnam, is fascinated by the forward-looking and dynamic attitude of the Vietnamese people.

7.9.2023 | The purpose of the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) is to strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy by supporting the development of critical technologies and products. Another aim is to ensure the availability of necessary labour and skills in strategic sectors. While the Finnish Government supports the facility’s objective, it does not endorse a completely new EU-level financial instrument.

2.2.2023 | Prime Minister Sanna Marin visited Stockholm at the invitation of Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on 2 February. Their discussions focused on the EU economy and competitiveness, other topical EU matters, Russia’s war against Ukraine, and Finland and Sweden’s joint NATO membership process.

15.8.2022 | In their meeting in Oslo on Monday 15 August, the prime ministers of the Nordic countries confirmed that they would further develop their cooperation on defence and security. As Finland and Sweden become members of NATO, the Nordic countries will become allied partners, which opens up new opportunities for cooperation. The new security situation in Northern Europe also featured prominently in the Nordic prime minsters’ discussion with German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

30.11.2022 | Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern met in Auckland on Wednesday morning local time. This was the first ever visit by a Finnish Prime Minister to New Zealand and the first visit by an EU Head of State or Government to the country since it lifted the travel restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

12.12.2022 | Prime Minister Sanna Marin will attend two meetings in Brussels this week: the EU-ASEAN summit on 14 December and the European Council on 15 December.

30.11.2021 | How will climate change and the green transition affect working life and the labour market? What skills will employees need in the future? Finland has drawn attention to the future of work during its Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers. This topic was examined from the perspective of climate change at a conference held in Helsinki on 30 November 2021.

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.

13.3.2024 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo spoke at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 13 March 2024. Check against delivery.

11.5.2022 | Prime Minister Sanna Marin gave a keynote speech at a high-level seminar exploring the impacts of digitalisation on society in Tokyo on 11 May 2022. Prime Minister’s speech to be checked against delivery.

11.5.2022 | Prime Minister Sanna Marin gave a keynote speech at a high-level seminar exploring the impacts of digitalisation on society in Tokyo on 11 May 2022. Prime Minister’s speech to be checked against delivery.

20.10.2022 | The Government approved an amendment to the EU regional and structural policy programme Innovation and Skills in Finland 2021–2027 concerning the Just Transition Fund (JTF) and decided to submit it to the European Commission.

13.12.2022 | The Strategy on Climate and Nature clarifies the Ministry of Finance’s approach to and role in the preparation of climate and nature policies and the related influencing activities. The Ministry takes a cross-sectoral approach and uses the economic and administrative policy instruments available to it when seeking solutions.

21.10.2022 | On the first day of its meeting, Thursday 20 October, the European Council agreed on measures to mitigate the energy crisis. The EU leaders reaffirmed that, in the face of Russia’s weaponisation of energy, the European Union would remain united in supporting its citizens and businesses.

21.10.2022 | On the first day of its meeting, Thursday 20 October, the European Council agreed on measures to mitigate the energy crisis. The EU leaders reaffirmed that, in the face of Russia’s weaponisation of energy, the European Union would remain united in supporting its citizens and businesses.

13.12.2022 | In its meeting today, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs outlined Finland’s positions for the European Council on 15 December and the EU-ASEAN summit on 14 December, both of which will take place in Brussels. The Ministerial Committee was also briefed on the use of funds frozen as a result of sanctions against Russia to support the reconstruction of Ukraine.

8.12.2022 | The outlook review by officials at the Ministry of Finance highlights measures to improve conditions for prosperity, return general government finances to a sustainable footing, reform public administration and services, and implement the green transition effectively. Corrective action must be taken quickly.

18.11.2022 | Prime Minister Sanna Marin will meet with Icelandic Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir in Reykjavik on Tuesday 22 November.

1.4.2022 | Finland’s new Bioeconomy Strategy has been completed. The strategy aims to double the value added of bioeconomy in an ecologically, socially and economically sustainable manner and to make Finland climate neutral by 2035.

8.3.2023 | The meeting agenda will also include global health and the EU’s competitiveness. Finland is represented by the Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari.

20.10.2022 | The Government session on 20 October discussed the report on Finland’s digital compass. Finland's digital compass is a national strategic roadmap extending to 2030 that provides an overview of Finland's digital transformation and provides the direction for national development work.

1.3.2023 | Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari led a broad delegation on a visit to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan from 21 to 24 February. The Team Finland visit was organised in collaboration with EastCham Finland, which is a Finnish chambers of commerce focusing on the Central Asian market. Emerging economies are interested in Finnish expertise in such sectors as education, energy and the environment.

20.2.2023 | A new young people’s climate change and nature group will be established under the Prime Minister’s Office. The group will be tasked to support the ministries in the planning, implementation and impact assessment of youth participation. The aim is to ensure the fairness of different policy measures from the perspective of future generations.

18.3.2022 | Spain’s recovery and resilience plan focuses on the green and digital transitions, which are also Finland’s priorities. Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari, accompanied by a business delegation, will visit Madrid on 20–23 March to promote cooperation between Spain and Finland.

16.6.2022 | “Terrafame’s battery chemicals plant is a good example of how we are developing the Finnish mining and battery industry towards production of higher value added. Finland is introducing advanced processes and technologies and improving competences in a new area that will enable a responsible green transition,” Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä said at the opening of the plant in Sotkamo on 16 June 2022.

24.10.2022 | Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine creates uncertainty for the international economy and has broad multiplier effects. Rising prices weaken consumers’ purchasing power, increase production costs and reduce willingness to invest. On the other hand, projects related to circular economy, digitalisation and clean energy solutions are progressing quickly in the regions.

16.9.2021 | The regional ministers of the Nordic Council of Ministers discussed multilocality and green recovery at the hybrid meeting held in Helsinki on 16 September 2021. The ministers decided to launch a research project to examine the economic, social and environmental impacts of multilocality in different regions.

15.6.2021 | Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will visit South Korea on 15–19 June.

13.12.2022 | How to reduce emissions from shipping? How to make the most of new technologies to make maritime transport safer? For Finland, solving these questions is crucial. And for this reason, Finland is seeking membership in the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the 2024-2025 term.

13.3.2024 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo spoke at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 13 March 2024. Check against delivery.

13.12.2022 | How to reduce emissions from shipping? How to make the most of new technologies to make maritime transport safer? For Finland, solving these questions is crucial. And for this reason, Finland is seeking membership in the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the 2024-2025 term.

8.3.2022 | Finland wants to introduce a voluntary Green Deal agreement to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic cups and certain food packages. The aim of the agreement is to find the most effective and, from the perspective of the businesses, feasible ways to fulfil the EU obligations. At the same time, the aim is also to boost the development and creation of new solutions and business models that reduce consumption.

24.5.2024 | Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Anders Adlercreutz will attend the UN’s fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) in Antigua and Barbuda on 27–29 May.

31.5.2022 | The high-level UN meeting Stockholm+50 will be held in Stockholm, Sweden on 2–3 June 2022. The meeting will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first UN conference on the environment, assess the environmental actions taken in the past 50 years and present concrete recommendations to improve the state of the environment.

25.11.2022 | Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä is heading a Team Finland visit to Chile and Colombia from 27 November to 2 December 2022 to promote Finnish companies’ exports and internationalisation. A business delegation of 23 people will consist of representatives from the energy, defence, security and space technology sectors, in particular.

30.6.2022 | Finland's share of funding from the EU's Recovery and Resilience Facility will decrease to EUR 1.8 billion at current prices, because Finland’s economy has developed better than forecast. Finland will receive a total of EUR 2.6 billion at current prices from the programmes in the EU's recovery plan (NextGenerationEU). The Ministerial Working Group on Sustainable Growth in Finland has outlined how Finland's Recovery and Resilience Plan will be updated to reflect this change.

7.3.2023 | on March 7 2023 in Doha

15.2.2022 | Prime Minister Sanna Marin will attend the sixth summit of the European Union and the African Union (AU) to be held in Brussels on 17 and 18 February.

25.5.2022 | Under-Secretary of State Nina Vaskunlahti and Director General of Business Finland Nina Kopola will visit Kigali from 28 May to 1 June 2022. They will be accompanied by a business delegation.

10.2.2022 | “This spring will be a critical time in building a carbon-neutral Finland. The Government’s proposals for a reformed Climate Change Act and all three key climate change plans will be finalised within the next few months,” Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Emma Kari said at her briefing on climate change policy.

3.3.2022 | On Monday 7 March, Prime Minister Sanna Marin will visit Tallinn and meet with Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. In their meeting, the prime ministers will discuss the security situation in Europe, bilateral relations between Finland and Estonia and cooperation on topical EU matters.

24.3.2022 | The Government has granted regional councils, which serve as regional development authorities, a total of EUR 33 million for regional development and promotion of contractual cooperation between the central government and regions. The funding is also intended for measures that improve the resilience of regions in the changing operating environment and in anticipation of future structural changes.

4.10.2021 | Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will visit France and Germany on 4–8 October 2021. In Paris, Minister Skinnari will attend the annual OECD Ministerial Council Meeting and meet key French ministers and business representatives. In Stuttgart, Skinnari will participate in the business forum on the future of the automotive industry. The programme includes meetings with key German companies, and decision-makers from the state of Baden-Württemberg.

20.2.2023 | Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will lead a broad delegation on a visit to Uzbekistan from 21 to 23 February and to Kazakhstan from 23 to 25 February. Minister Skinnari is scheduled to meet state leaders of both countries.

27.6.2022 | The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment requests opinions on the proposed programme, regional transition plans and environmental report of the Just Transition Fund (JTF). The Fund mitigates the socio-economic and environmental effects that decarbonisation causes to regional economies and employment in the EU. In Finland, funding will be directed at the reform of the economic structure and measu...

12.12.2022 | Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will lead a Team Finland trade mission to the State of Texas and visit Washington DC from 12 to 16 December.

21.1.2022 | The EU’s environment and energy ministers will convene in informal meetings in Amiens, France on 20–22 January 2022. Emma Kari, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, and Jukka Ihanus, State Secretary to Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä, will represent Finland in the meetings hosted by France.

15.12.2021 | The objective of the Artificial Intelligence 4.0 programme is that Finnish industry’s assets in 2030 are sustainability, capacity for renewal, technological leadership and solutions that enable increasing the carbon handprint. The interim report compiles the concrete objectives and proposed measures for achieving the artificial intelligence vision for 2030. 

18.11.2022 | The EU General Affairs Council will meet in Brussels on Friday 18 November. Items on the agenda include preparations for the December European Council and a discussion on respect for the EU’s common values. In addition, the Commission will present its work programme for 2023. Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Tytti Tuppurainen will represent Finland at the meeting.

1.6.2022 | According to Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta, we need to make fundamental changes to how we think, act and measure success. Dasgupta spoke on Wednesday at a conference organised by the Economic Council around the theme of ecologically sustainable economic policy in the 2020s. The discussions were based on the Dasgupta Review, which has attracted wide international attention and emphasises the economic significance of biodiversity.

1.6.2022 | According to Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta, we need to make fundamental changes to how we think, act and measure success. Dasgupta spoke on Wednesday at a conference organised by the Economic Council around the theme of ecologically sustainable economic policy in the 2020s. The discussions were based on the Dasgupta Review, which has attracted wide international attention and emphasises the economic significance of biodiversity.

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.