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23.8.2021 | Distinguished Ministers and Heads of Mission, Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to the 2021 Meeting of Heads of Mission! As you can see from the picture, I am here in the familiar Engel Hall in the newly renovated premises of Merikasarmi. While on the face of it this space may appear to be the same as before, the Ritarikatu Hall, where the panel discussions are being held, is not easily recognisable.

5.7.2021 | Government of Finland and UNICEF partnership helps address the education and water, sanitation and hygiene needs of children and families amidst the pandemic.

26.1.2021 | The Ministry of Education and Culture has prepared a comprehensive action plan to prevent bullying, teasing, violence and harassment in schools and educational institutions. The Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health formulated the measures for the action plan.

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.

16.1.2023 | The report contains the results of the Labour Market Roadmap project by occupation and region and proposes solutions to improve the availability of labour. According to the report, that divides occupations into those suffering from labour shortage, mismatch or surplus, the increase in labour market mismatch is largely explained by the growing number of atypical employment relationships. 

26.8.2021 | Finland suspended its development cooperation with Afghanistan after Taliban took control of the country. However, the results of development cooperation in the past 20 years will not be lost, says Senior Specialist Merja Mäkelä.

3.6.2021 | On 3 June, the Government decided to extend the restrictions on entry into the country until 27 June 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, and we do not yet have adequate measures available to replace the restrictions. For this reason, and to curb the spread of COVID-19 variants, both internal border controls and restrictions on external border traffic will continue. Some amendments will be made to the decisions adopted on 20 May. These will enter into force on 7 June.

28.6.2022 | Finns are clearly much more worried about the state of nature on the global scale than about the state of Finnish nature. A barometer on the connection to nature was conducted to find out about our relationship with nature and with preserving biodiversity, and how the responsibilities should be divided between the different stakeholders.

17.6.2021 | The entrepreneurship programme Draft Program of the Karelia University of Applied Sciences in Joensuu and the Kuopio Living Lab product development and testing service concept of the City of Kuopio are the winners of Finland’s national competition for the European Enterprise Promotion Awards.

28.3.2021 | Restaurants and other food and beverage service businesses must remain closed to customers until 18 April 2021 in regions where it is necessary to stop the escalation of the COVID-19 epidemic.

11.8.2022 | The Government’s proposal to amend the act on residence permits for researchers has been sent out for comments. It would extend the duration of residence permits to make it easier for researchers to stay in Finland and conduct research. At the same time, it would improve the position of researchers conducting postgraduate research. 

4.11.2021 | The fourth supplementary budget proposal for 2021 will reduce the central government’s net borrowing requirement for this year by approximately EUR 2.2 billion. The proposal takes into account changes in needs estimates resulting from the economic upturn and increases in tax revenue estimates. On the whole, the supplementary budget proposal envisages a reduction of approximately EUR 249 million in appropriations for 2021.

4.11.2021 | The fourth supplementary budget proposal for 2021 will reduce the central government’s net borrowing requirement for this year by approximately EUR 2.2 billion. The proposal takes into account changes in needs estimates resulting from the economic upturn and increases in tax revenue estimates. On the whole, the supplementary budget proposal envisages a reduction of approximately EUR 249 million in appropriations for 2021.

7.12.2021 | Dear friends, Over the last couple of years, European societies have been faced with an unprecedented amount of sudden change and turmoil. It has been impossible to miss how immensely important resiliency is for our societies. Our ability to adapt to new circumstances has been greatly tested, underlining the need to invest in skills – that is to say, to invest in people. Europe’s future wellbeing ...

4.8.2022 | Minister of Finance Annika Saarikko’s draft budget for 2023 has been drawn up amidst an uncertain economic outlook. The draft budget totals approximately EUR 79.5 billion with a deficit of around EUR 6.3 billion. Borrowing will decrease by approximately EUR 2.5 billion from the total budgeted for 2022. The proposal will be published in full at budjetti.vm.fi on Friday 5 August.

12.8.2021 | The 2022 budget proposal of Minister of Finance Annika Saarikko implements previous Government decisions.

5.8.2021 | The Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) have updated their recommendations on how to organise early childhood education and care, primary and lower secondary education, upper secondary education and higher education. The autumn term will start with the same health security practices as before: good hygiene and ventilation will be ensured; unnecess...

22.6.2021 | Rowda Olad and Abdirizaq Ahmed share a common goal: they want to promote peace in Somalia. As part of a communication project in Somalia and funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, active youth, like Olad and Ahmed, tell about their work to promote peace development.

3.5.2024 | On 3 May, the Ministry of Education and Culture published the 2024 Bildung Review, which compiles statistical and other information on the administrative branch of the Ministry, its development and situation in international comparison. The themes for 2024 are regionality, life cycle and the fields of education and culture. The objective of the annually published review is to create an overall picture of the extensive administrative branch as a whole.

9.9.2021 | The budget proposal of Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Government for 2022 builds sustainable growth for the future in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. The budget proposal aims to support post-pandemic recovery, accelerate investments, enable environmentally sustainable growth and increase the availability of skilled labour. The goal is to safeguard people’s wellbeing and to ensure favourable conditions for sustainable economic growth in the long term.

9.9.2021 | The budget proposal of Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Government for 2022 builds sustainable growth for the future in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. The budget proposal aims to support post-pandemic recovery, accelerate investments, enable environmentally sustainable growth and increase the availability of skilled labour. The goal is to safeguard people’s wellbeing and to ensure favourable conditions for sustainable economic growth in the long term.

5.4.2022 | Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Government has agreed on the General Government Fiscal Plan for 2023–2026. In its spending limits discussion, the Government decided on extensive measures that will strengthen security, create a vision for the future and build sustainable growth.

5.4.2022 | Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Government has agreed on the General Government Fiscal Plan for 2023–2026. In its spending limits discussion, the Government decided on extensive measures that will strengthen security, create a vision for the future and build sustainable growth.

18.11.2022 | Minister of Education Li Andersson has awarded eight education providers 13 new authorisations to provide vocational education and training to complete a qualification as of 1 January 2023. The decision will expand the supply of education in English especially in the fields of cleaning and property services, accommodation, restaurant and catering services, tourism services, health and social services, and mechanical engineering and production technology.

7.6.2022 | Speech to Parliament presenting the 2021 Government Annual Report for referral debate on Tuesday 7 June at 14.00

16.4.2024 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government has agreed on the General Government Fiscal Plan for 2025–2028. The Government has made decisions that will improve the sustainability of public finances and create conditions for reversing the trend in indebtedness. The decisions aim to safeguard the key factors for future prosperity: employment, security, and knowledge and competence. Fairness has been one of the guiding principles of the decisions.

16.4.2024 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government has agreed on the General Government Fiscal Plan for 2025–2028. The Government has made decisions that will improve the sustainability of public finances and create conditions for reversing the trend in indebtedness. The decisions aim to safeguard the key factors for future prosperity: employment, security, and knowledge and competence. Fairness has been one of the guiding principles of the decisions.

26.8.2026 | "The Nordic region is perhaps the world's strongest regional brand. We should be able to make even better use of it than we do today. Our goal is clear: we want to make the Nordics the world's most integrated region," says Minister of Education Anders Adlercreutz, responsible for Nordic cooperation.

1.9.2022 | The budget proposal for 2023 of Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Government builds sustainable growth for the future, secures purchasing power and assists people with the hike in electricity prices. The budget proposal responds to the effects of Russia’s war of aggression and inflation, improves safety and security, security of supply, and energy self-sufficiency, and provides further investment in research and development and in the green transition.

19.1.2026 | The International Monetary Fund (IMF) published its annual report on the Finnish economy on Monday 19 January. According to the IMF, efforts to strengthen public finances will have to continue for several years.

30.9.2021 | In Finland, 83.8 per cent of the target population for COVID-19 vaccination, i.e. people who are 12 years of age or over, have received at least their first vaccine dose, and 69.7 per cent also their second vaccine dose. Between 22 and 29 September, the uptake of the first vaccine dose grew by 0.4 percentage points and the uptake of the second dose by 2.5 percentage points.

1.9.2022 | The budget proposal for 2023 of Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Government builds sustainable growth for the future, secures purchasing power and assists people with the hike in electricity prices. The budget proposal responds to the effects of Russia’s war of aggression and inflation, improves safety and security, security of supply, and energy self-sufficiency, and provides further investment in research and development and in the green transition.

25.5.2021 | The third supplementary budget proposal for 2021 will boost growth, bring forward investment, respond to spending requirements caused by the coronavirus, and alleviate harm that the virus has caused to businesses and to children and young adults. The supplementary budget will initiate reforms and investment under the European Union recovery instrument.

25.5.2021 | The third supplementary budget proposal for 2021 will boost growth, bring forward investment, respond to spending requirements caused by the coronavirus, and alleviate harm that the virus has caused to businesses and to children and young adults. The supplementary budget will initiate reforms and investment under the European Union recovery instrument.

22.4.2026 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government has agreed on the General Government Fiscal Plan for 2027–2030. Both the global economy and Finland’s finances are facing challenges. In its spending limits session, the Government focused on new targeted measures to strengthen people’s confidence in the future and improve the conditions for growth and employment.

25.2.2021 | The Government submitted the first supplementary budget proposal for 2021 to Parliament on Thursday 25 February. The supplementary budget makes special provisions for needs arising from the COVID-19 situation.

10.11.2021 | In its informal meeting on Wednesday 10 November, the Government discussed the COVID-19 situation and the measures needed to address it. The Government decided to adopt in full the action plan implementing the revised hybrid strategy to manage the pandemic. Restaurant restrictions will continue, as will the preparations for expanding the use of the COVID-19 passport. The Government also proposed t...

25.2.2021 | The Government submitted the first supplementary budget proposal for 2021 to Parliament on Thursday 25 February. The supplementary budget makes special provisions for needs arising from the COVID-19 situation.

8.4.2022 | On assignment by the Government, the Finnish Immigration Service has prepared a procedure where persons in temporary protection are granted the reception services they need without municipalities establishing a reception centre. Municipalities will receive compensation from the central government for providing the agreed services.

14.3.2022 | EU ministers responsible for employment and social affairs will meet to discuss gender equality in boards of listed companies, prevention of discrimination in recruitment and ways of increasing diversity in working life. The ministers will also discuss the reception of Ukrainian refugees.