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16.3.2026 | The EU General Affairs Council (GAC) will meet in Brussels on Tuesday 17 March to discuss the EU’s next multiannual financial framework and continue preparations for the March European Council. The ministers will also agree on amendments to the European Election Act and review the progress of the 2026 European Semester. Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Joakim Strand will represent Finland at the meeting.

13.3.2026 | On Friday 13 March, the Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs discussed the new EU Bioeconomy Strategy and outlined Finland’s positions for four council meetings to be held next week. 

20.11.2023 | Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Anders Adlercreutz will visit the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France on 21–22 November. There, he will meet with the leaders of the European Parliament and its political groups, EU Commissioners, Finnish MEPs and key public officials.

24.8.2026 | Speech by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo at the Annual Meeting of Heads of Mission hosted by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Helsinki on 24 August 2026. Changes possible during the speech.

7.6.2024 | Sunday 9 June is the election day for the elections to the European Parliament, or the European elections. On Sunday, polling stations will be open from 9.00 to 20.00. Preliminary results of the election conducted in Finland will be published on the evening of the election day starting at 20.00.

17.9.2025 | Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Joakim Strand gave a keynote Address to the Institute of International and European Affairs on the 17th of September 2025 in Dublin, Ireland. Check against delivery.

8.5.2024 | Elections to the European Parliament, or European elections, will be held in Finland on Sunday 9 June 2024. In the elections, 15 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will be elected in Finland for a term of five years. The candidates stand for election in the entire country.

12.6.2024 | The recount of votes cast in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament (European elections) conducted in Finland has been completed. The results of the vote recount are now available in the Result Service of the Ministry of Justice.

27.5.2024 | Advance voting in the elections to the European Parliament, or European elections, will be conducted in Finland from 29 May to 4 June 2024 and abroad between 29 May and 1 June 2024. However, many of the advance polling stations located abroad are open for a shorter period than this. The election day is Sunday 9 June 2024.

13.3.2024 | In his speech at the plenary session of the European Parliament, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo underlined the importance of strengthening the Union internally, securing its borders and providing stronger support to Ukraine for the future of Europe. The Prime Minister addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday 13 March as part of the “This is Europe” series of debates. During his two-...

5.6.2024 | According to preliminary data, 1 087 560 votes were cast in advance in the 2024 European elections. This means that approximately 25,3 per cent of eligible voters residing in Finland voted in advance.

29.4.2024 | The Digital and Population Data Services Agency has started sending out polling cards (notices of right to vote) for the 2024 elections to the European Parliament, or European elections. A polling card will be sent to each eligible voter either by letter or via Suomi.fi Web Service in April or May. All polling cards will be sent out by 16 May 2024.

10.5.2024 | The constituency electoral committee of Helsinki has confirmed the nomination of candidates for the 2024 elections to the European Parliament, or European elections. Information on the candidates is available online in the Information and Result Service.

13.3.2024 | In his speech at the plenary session of the European Parliament, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo underlined the importance of strengthening the Union internally, securing its borders and providing stronger support to Ukraine for the future of Europe. The Prime Minister addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday 13 March as part of the “This is Europe” series of debates. During his two-...

9.9.2024 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will travel to Brussels on Tuesday 10 September. There, he will meet with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who has been elected to lead the new Commission as well. Prime Minister Orpo will then meet for discussions with President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, who has also been elected for a new term.

22.3.2024 | The addresses and opening hours of the general advance polling stations for the elections to the European Parliament, or European elections, are now available in the Information and Result Service of the Ministry of Justice. The list includes information on all advance polling stations located both in Finland and abroad.

15.4.2024 | The election day polling station in the European elections is determined based on the voter’s place of residence. The voting register for the European elections, or elections to the European Parliament, to be held in June 2024 will be compiled based on the information contained in the Population Information System on 19 April 2024.

14.11.2023 | The EU General Affairs Council will meet in Brussels on Wednesday 15 November. In the meeting, the council will begin preparations for the December European Council and discuss a wide range of other topical issues, such as the Commission’s work programme for 2024, rule of law issues, EU electoral law and Spain’s request for amendments to the regulation governing the EU’s language regime. Minister ...

28.2.2024 | Today, the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the Member States (Coreper) discussed the due diligence obligations of companies concerning corporate social responsibility, i.e. the EU Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence. Despite Finland’s constructive influence, the proposed Directive failed to receive a qualified majority of votes in Coreper.

18.6.2024 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo took part in the informal meeting of the European Council in Brussels on 17 June, where the EU leaders discussed upcoming appointments to high-level EU roles. The leaders aim to reach a decision on the appointments at the EU summit on 27–28 June.

24.1.2022 | The EU General Affairs Council will meet in Brussels on 25 January. Topics on the agenda for the meeting will include the Commission’s legislative package to strengthen democracy and election integrity, the priorities of the French EU Council Presidency, progress on the Conference on the Future of Europe, the EU’s COVID-19 response measures and relations between the EU and the UK. Minister for European Affairs Tytti Tuppurainen will represent Finland at the meeting.

2.5.2024 | Minister for European Affairs Anders Adlercreutz will open the Europe Day event at Helsinki Central Library Oodi on Tuesday 7 May. After delivering the opening address, Minister Adlercreutz will take part in a discussion with EU Youth Delegate Eetu Leinonen from the Finnish National Youth Council Allianssi. Together, they will discuss what young people would lose if Finland were not an EU Member State.

14.6.2024 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will attend the informal meeting of the European Council in Brussels on 17 June. At the meeting, the EU leaders will discuss the outcome of the European Parliament elections and upcoming appointments to high-level EU roles.

17.1.2024 | In its meeting on 17 January, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs outlined Finland’s policy priorities for the 2024–2029 EU parliamentary term. The Committee also discussed the Commission’s proposal to establish a Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans. In addition, the Ministerial Committee outlined Finland’s positions for the two Council meetings taking place next week.

6.6.2024 | On 20 March 2024, the European Commission proposed a directive that would improve the working conditions of trainees and combat regular employment relationships disguised as traineeships. The proposal contains a number of provisions that would help trainees secure their rights.

17.1.2024 | In its meeting on 17 January, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs outlined Finland’s policy priorities for the 2024–2029 EU parliamentary term. The Committee also discussed the Commission’s proposal to establish a Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans. In addition, the Ministerial Committee outlined Finland’s positions for the two Council meetings taking place next week.

26.1.2024 | The EU General Affairs Council (GAC) will meet in Brussels on Monday 29 January. Items on the agenda will include the priorities of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Defence of European Democracy legislative package and the Council’s annual rule of law dialogue. Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Anders Adlercreutz will represent Finland at the meeting.

13.6.2024 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and acting Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte met in Helsinki on Thursday 13 June. Among other topics, their discussions focused on measures to guarantee European security and economic success.

27.9.2023 | The Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union will hold an informal meeting of Ministers for European Affairs in Murcia on 28 September. The ministers will discuss the EU’s future programme. Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Anders Adlercreutz will represent Finland at the meeting.

4.7.2024 | On Thursday 4 July, the Government nominated Licentiate of Philosophy Henna Virkkunen as Finland’s national candidate for the European Commission, to be appointed for the term 1 November 2024–31 October 2029.

24.8.2026 | “In the current environment, a strong network of diplomatic missions is especially important, enabling Finland to identify changes at an early stage and respond swiftly to foreign and security policy challenges.”

20.6.2023 | Prime Minister Orpo spoke during first visit of the new Government to the Presidential Palace on 20 June 2023. Speech to be checked against delivery.

31.12.2025 | Fellow citizens, The darkest part of winter is now behind us – every day is a little bit longer than the last. Winter storm Hannes, which raged through Finland, has now subsided. I would like to thank the authorities and everyone else who has worked hard to repair the damage caused by the storm. We can be proud of the way Finland comes together in these situations.

7.6.2024 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and acting Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte will meet in Helsinki on Thursday 13 June.

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.

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.

31.12.2023 | Fellow citizens, The coming year will bring plenty of opportunities, but also uncertainties. We have to hope for the best, though it is also wise to prepare for more difficult times.

3.10.2023 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will represent Finland at two meetings hosted by the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU on Thursday 5 and Friday 6 October in Granada, Spain. An extraordinary meeting of the European Council will be held on Friday. It will be preceded on Thursday by the third meeting of the European Political Community, which will bring together the heads of state or government of the EU Member States and 20 other European countries.

26.1.2024 | The proposal for a regulation banning products made with forced labour in the EU market has advanced to trilogues between representatives of the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission. The Regulation is part of a legislative package on responsible business operations.

26.8.2024 | Speech by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo at the Annual Meeting of Heads of Mission in Helsinki on 26 August 2024. Speech to be checked against delivery.