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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.

25.11.2025 | On 25 November, Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen presented a policy document outlining Finland’s Arctic foreign and security policy. The Foreign Minister’s policy document complements Finland’s Strategy for Arctic Policy (2021) and the Government report on Finnish Foreign and Security Policy (2024).

23.1.2026 | The members of the European Council held an informal meeting on Thursday 22 January. Topics on the agenda included recent developments in transatlantic relations, the role of the European Union, and actions needed in the changing geopolitical situation. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo represented Finland at the meeting.

10.3.2026 | The Research and Innovation Council has launched a stakeholder survey on the implementation of the national strategic choices for RDI policy and activities. The survey will be open until Wednesday 29 April 2026. The main target group for the survey consists of key organisations for implementing the choices and putting them to use, including public and private RDI financiers, research organisations, businesses and branches of government, regional actors and other stakeholders.

22.1.2026 | In its meeting on Thursday 22 January, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs discussed the informal European Council, economic support for Ukraine and military mobility.

26.11.2025 | The Ministerial Council of the European Space Agency (ESA) will meet in Bremen, Germany, on 26–27 November 2025. The Council will decide on ESA’s funding for 2026–2028 and the preliminary financial guidelines for 2029–2030. Finland will be represented by Minister of Economic Affairs Sakari Puisto.

5.6.2025 | The EU Arctic Forum, to be held at Levi, Lapland, on 26–27 June 2025, gives European Arctic actors an opportunity to discuss the future of Arctic cooperation at its turning point.

26.6.2025 | Minister for European affairs and ownership steering Joakim Strand spoke at the EU Arctic Forum 26 June 2025, Kittilä, Finland. Check against delivery.

25.10.2024 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will attend the Nordic Council Session in Reykjavik, Iceland, on 28–31 October along with Minister of Education Anders Adlercreutz, who is responsible for Nordic cooperation, and Minister of Science and Culture Sari Multala.

16.11.2021 | Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto presents the priorities of Finland’s Presidency in connection with the Rovaniemi Arctic Spirit conference on 16 November.

9.6.2022 | Sustainable development, contacts between people, transport and logistics will remain as other priorities.

27.5.2022 | Senior officials responsible for Barents cooperation in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and the EU will meet in Kuusamo, Finland, on 30–31 May. Ambassador Jari Vilén will lead the discussion on the next steps during Finland’s Presidency of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council (BEAC).

22.10.2021 | On 25–26 October, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will attend the Foreign Minister’s meeting of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council in Tromsø. The meeting will end Norway’s Chairmanship, after which the Chairmanship will be handed over to Finland for the next two years.

18.5.2021 | Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will attend the Arctic Council Ministerial meeting on 19–20 May in Reykjavik.

16.11.2021 | Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will present the priorities of Finland’s Presidency in connection with the Rovaniemi Arctic Spirit conference on 16 November. In Rovaniemi, the Minister will also meet representatives of the Sámi Parliament and speak at the University of Lapland.

24.8.2023 | On 24 August 2023, the Government appointed the Sámi Climate Council for a four-year term. The Sámi Climate Council is a new independent expert body, tasked with bringing the knowledge base and perspectives of the Sámi people into the climate policy processes.

17.10.2023 | The Sámi Climate Council convened at its first meeting in Rovaniemi on 13 October. The mission of the Council is to bring the knowledge base and perspectives of the Sámi people into the climate policy processes.

22.3.2023 | Finland’s Sámi Parliament and the Finnish Presidency of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council will organise together with the European Parliament a Summit of Barents Euro-Arctic Indigenous Sámi People in Brussels from 22 to 24 March 2023.

Governments and ministers You can browse the information on the site by government, minister, ministerial title and ministry. All ministers are listed for each government, along with their terms of office. The information on individual ministers i...

11.10.2022 | Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine is having wide and unprecedented effects on Arctic cooperation. Many of the basic assumptions of Finland’s Strategy for Arctic Policy, revised just a year and a half ago, have been undermined by the upheavals caused by the war. This is one of the key findings of a report published on 11 October.

9.3.2023 | The Sámi Climate Council to be established under the new Climate Act will begin its work in the spring. The purpose of the Sámi Climate Council is to bring the knowledge base and perspectives of the Sámi people into the climate policy processes.

21.3.2023 | Prime Minister Sanna Marin will take part in the European Council and Euro Summit in Brussels on 23–24 March. The European Council will focus on Ukraine, competitiveness, the single market and the economy, and energy. The meeting will begin with a discussion between the EU leaders and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

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.

22.12.2022 | The Finnish majority state-owned company Cinia is part of an international consortium engaged in planning an Arctic submarine cable that would connect the telecommunication networks of Europe, North America and the Far East. Together with its international partners, Cinia has established a development company to promote this Far North Fiber project that would be the first cable system to pass through the Arctic region, which connects several continents.

4.2.2021 | (Check Against Delivery) 

22.12.2022 | The Finnish majority state-owned company Cinia is part of an international consortium engaged in planning an Arctic submarine cable that would connect the telecommunication networks of Europe, North America and the Far East. Together with its international partners, Cinia has established a development company to promote this Far North Fiber project that would be the first cable system to pass through the Arctic region, which connects several continents.

2.11.2021 | On 2 November, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will visit Copenhagen to attend the 73rd Session of the Nordic Council. At the Nordic Council plenary session, he will deliver a speech on Nordic foreign and security policy cooperation. Finland is chairing the Nordic (N5) cooperation on foreign and security policy in 2021.

26.6.2026 | In its meeting on Friday 26 June, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs outlined its positions on the new package of sanctions proposed by the Commission and the External Action Service in response to Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. The 21st sanctions package expands personal and entity sanctions, sectoral sanctions and sanctions against Belarus. Finland supports the sanctions.

4.2.2021 | (Muutosvarauksin) 

11.5.2026 | The Ministry of Transport and Communications is inviting comments on the draft government proposal concerning the implementation of the Ship-Source Pollution Directive. The necessary amendments would be made to the Act on Environmental Protection in Maritime Transport. Comments may be submitted until 18 June 2026.

4.2.2026 | The Research and Innovation Council has kicked off the implementation of the national strategic choices for research, development and innovation (RDI) policy and activities by inviting key actors to take part in a joint discussion. The stakeholder event on Wednesday 4 February brought together business leaders, researchers, representatives of higher education institutions and research institutes ...

27.2.2026 | At the presidential session on Friday 27 February, the President of the Republic appointed Miia Rantanen to serve as Head of Mission at Finland’s Consulate General in New York and Anna Yletyinen to serve as Head of Mission at the Consulate in São Paulo.

18.11.2025 | Permanent representatives of NATO member states will visit Rovaniemi and Rovajärvi in Finland on 20–21 November. Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will take part in the program on Thursday and Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen on Friday.

9.1.2026 | The Research and Innovation Council has outlined five national strategic choices for research, development and innovation (RDI) policy and activities with a view to boosting sustainable growth and promoting economic and societal renewal while strengthening comprehensive security. The Research and Innovation Council published a report on the strategic choices on 9 January.

8.10.2025 | Minister of Education and Minister for Nordic Cooperation Anders Adlercreutz will visit Japan on 9–12 October. During his visit, he will take part in events at the Osaka World Expo.

11.12.2025 | On 11 December 2025, the Government submitted to Parliament a Union communication concerning the European Commission’s proposed regulations on the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). The proposals are part of the Commission’s proposal for a new multiannual financial framework for 2028–2034.

23.6.2025 | This year, the European Union’s most important Arctic event will take place in Kittilä, on 26–27 June. The event is expected to attract about 350 attendees from across Europe.

2.10.2025 | The Nordic energy ministers met in Helsinki on 1 October. The main topics of the meeting were energy  security and the electricity market. This year Finland holds the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers, together with Åland. Finland was represented by Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala and, on behalf of Åland, by Minister Camilla Gunell.

16.12.2025 | Eight EU Member States stressed the importance of significantly strengthening security at Europe’s eastern external border at the Eastern Flank Summit in Helsinki on 16 December. The Member States on the EU’s eastern flank called for the Union’s support in building credible and united defence capabilities along the border with Russia from north to south. The summit at the House of the Estates was hosted by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.

7.11.2025 | The UN Climate Change Conference COP30 will be held on 10–21 November in Belém, Brazil. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is organising four side events, where the focus will be on the circular bioeconomy, climate change adaptation and resilient food systems. Two of the events will be held at the Finland Pavilion and two at the Nordic Pavilion. Besides these, the Ministry will participate...

24.10.2023 | A Barents Scholarship for Cultural Cooperation in Finland has been awarded to Koli Art Residence. The value of the scholarship is EUR 10,000. Barents Scholarships for Cultural Cooperation were awarded on 24 October in Joensuu in Eastern Finland. Scholarships were also awarded to recipients from Sweden and Norway.

5.10.2023 | The Barents Forest Forum, held on 4–5 October 2023, discussed sustainable forestry in the northern areas of Finland, Sweden and Norway. The Forum concluded Finland's two-year chairmanship of the Forest Sector.

20.9.2023 | The Finnish Government proposes EUR 1.3 billion in appropriations for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The Foreign Ministry will continue to support Ukraine in 2024, as outlined in the Government programme.

25.6.2023 | On Sunday 25 June, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo met with Prime Minister of Iceland Katrín Jakobsdóttir in Reykjavik. Their discussions focused on the situation in Russia, support for Ukraine, and bilateral issues between Finland and Iceland. They also discussed Nordic cooperation, Arctic issues and climate matters.

17.2.2023 | The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has awarded EUR 1,726,000 in discretionary government grants to 26 civil society organisations (CSOs) operating in the field of foreign and security policy.

3.3.2023 | The Barents Region’s green transition gets its own action plan Ministry for Foreign Affairs Publication date 3.3.2023 7.56 Type: News item Barents green transition panel discussion in Kemi, pictured from left to right: Jari Vilén, Liisa Ansala, Mi...

17.6.2022 | Prime Minister Sanna Marins gave a speech at the celebration of the Sámi Parliament’s parliamentary. Term check against delivery.

5.1.2023 | The European Commission has selected projects to receive grants from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). A project coordinated by Cinia Oy received EUR 3.65 million for planning the development of digital backbones in Northern Europe and the Arctic region with Danish Nordunet, the other member of the consortium. Telia received funding for improving cross-border network service continuity. The proje...

5.1.2023 | The European Commission has selected projects to receive grants from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). A project coordinated by Cinia Oy received EUR 3.65 million for planning the development of digital backbones in Northern Europe and the Arctic region with Danish Nordunet, the other member of the consortium. Telia received funding for improving cross-border network service continuity. The proje...

18.12.2023 | Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen at the Hudson Insitute in Washington, D.C. on 18 December 2023.

9.12.2021 | At its meeting on Thursday 9 December, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs outlined Finland’s positions for next week’s European Council, Euro Summit and Eastern Partnership Summit.

23.11.2022 | The Ministerial Council of the European Space Agency (ESA) was held in Paris on 22–23 November 2022. At the Ministerial Council, which is organised every three years, the Member States decide on the priorities, programmes and funding of ESA’s activities for the coming years.

1.9.2022 | The Government proposes EUR 1.3 billion in appropriations for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Support for Ukraine will continue to be at the heart of the Ministry’s budget in 2023.

16.11.2021 | Minister for European Affairs Tytti Tuppurainen is inviting young people from Oulu, North Ostrobothnia and the Barents Euro-Arctic region to share their thoughts about Europe and its future on 30 November in Oulu. That same day, residents of the Oulu area are invited discuss EU matters over coffee with Minister for European Affairs Tuppurainen at an open event at the H20 Konstila café located in the Cultural Centre Valve.

27.10.2021 | Residents of the northernmost parts of Finland will have an opportunity to discuss EU issues with Minister for European Affairs Tytti Tuppurainen in Utsjoki on 2 November. The open discussion forum will focus mainly on cross-border cooperation and the impacts of climate change on the Sámi culture and local livelihoods.

30.1.2023 | Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen and Permanent Secretary Kirsi Pimiä will visit the United States between 29 January and 3 February. Their visit seeks to deepen bilateral relations with the United States counterparts in the Ministry of the Interior’s branch of government and with key stakeholders. They also aim explore recent developments in the areas of internal and national security and migration in the United States.

26.11.2021 | In its session that concluded on 26 November, the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) discussed measures to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping. No significant progress was made at the meeting.

26.11.2021 | In its session that concluded on 26 November, the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) discussed measures to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping. No significant progress was made at the meeting.

20.1.2021 | Prime Minister Sanna Marin has written a letter of congratulations to Kamala Harris, who became Vice President of the United States on 20 January. In her letter, Prime Minister Marin expressed her hope for deeper cooperation with the United States in responding to global challenges.

27.9.2021 | The Government proposes EUR 1.3 billion in appropriations for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The promotion of human rights, the rule of law, democracy, peace, freedom, tolerance and equality in all international activities forms the central element of the value base on which Finland’s foreign and security policy rests. The budget proposal lays special emphasis on measures that strengthen the netw...