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14.5.2025 | In the Foreign Ministry's Sanctions e-Service at palvelu.um.fi you can ask about sanctions, submit an application for an authorization, report on the implementation of sanctions and report on the circumvention of sanctions. The service makes it easier for companies, authorities and citizens to approach the Sanctions Unit with sanctions matters. The European Commission has also launched a Sanctions Helpdesk for small and medium-sized enterprises.

12.9.2025 | Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen's keynote speech at Kouvola Security Conference on 12 September 2025 Publication date 12.9.2025 10.25 Type: Speech Ladies and gentlemen, Thank you for the warm welcome. It is great to be back in Kouvola, and to s...

18.4.2024 | In the evening on Wednesday 17 April, the special European Council discussed the security situation in Europe and the Middle East. The European Union condemned Russia’s attacks on Ukraine and called for swift military assistance. Ukraine is in urgent need of support, especially when it comes to air defence. The EU leaders also expressed their concern over the tense situation in the Middle East and called on all parties to avoid the use of force.

10.2.2025 | During its membership of the UN Human Rights Council between 2022 and 2024, Finland defended universal human rights and the multilateral rules-based system. Finland’s key priorities were to ensure accountability and gender equality and to promote and defend the rights of women and girls, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities and LGBTI persons.

16.8.2024 | On Friday 16 August, the President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed Finland’s preparations for its chairpersonship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2025 and the priorities of its chairpersonship programme.

28.11.2024 | Finland will receive 500 refugees under the refugee quota in 2025. In its plenary session on 28 November, the Government decided on which refugee groups would be included in the quota and how many places would be reserved for each group.

8.3.2024 | At the presidential session on 8 March, the President of the Republic appointed an Ambassador to Tehran, a non-resident Ambassador to New Zealand and an authorisation of a Roving Ambassador based at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

4.10.2024 | On Friday 4 October, the President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed Finland’s Middle East policy, the situation in the Middle East and the security of Finns in the region.

19.4.2024 | In their meeting on Friday 19 April, the President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed the situation in the Middle East, especially the strike launched on Iran early this morning.

25.8.2025 | Speech by Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen at the Annual Meeting of Heads of Mission on 25 August 2025 Publication date 25.8.2025 15.05 | Published in English on 31.10.2025 at 15.26 Type: Speech Distinguished Ambassadors, ladies and gentlemen, D...

8.5.2025 | Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen's speech at the NATO Nuclear Policy Symposium on 29 April 2025 Publication date 8.5.2025 11.50 | Published in English on 31.10.2025 at 15.24 Type: Speech Distinguished guests, experts and friends of nuclear polic...

26.2.2024 | In accordance with established practice, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs invited civil society organisations (CSOs) to comment on Finland’s activities at the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council on 12 February. Representatives of more than 40 CSOs participated in a discussion with Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen. The discussion focused on the rights of children and the safety...

16.4.2024 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will represent Finland at the extraordinary European Council on 17–18 April in Brussels, where discussions will focus on the tense situation in the international arena. Items on the EU leaders’ agenda include the ongoing events in the Middle East and Ukraine, relations with Türkiye and Europe’s long-term competitiveness.

16.6.2023 | The UN Human Rights Council convenes for its 53rd Regular Session from 19 June to 14 July in Geneva, Switzerland.

23.10.2023 | Border States met in Vilnius to discuss EU sanctions circumvention, especially trade routes and patters, and agreed on concrete common measures to further strengthen implementation of sanctions and prevention of sanctions circumvention.

11.9.2024 | Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen's speech at the Seoul Defense Dialogue on 11 September 2024 Publication date 11.9.2024 11.22 Type: Speech It is a great honour and my pleasure to address today the 2024 Seoul Defence Dialogue and discuss the mult...

17.4.2024 | In its meeting on Wednesday 17 April, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs outlined Finland’s positions for the special European Council to be held in Brussels on 17 and 18 April. Items on the agenda for the meeting include the ongoing events in the Middle East and Ukraine, relations with Türkiye and Europe’s long-term competitiveness.

20.1.2023 | EU foreign ministers will convene in Brussels on 23 January. Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will represent Finland at the meeting.

26.2.2024 | Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen at the High-Level Segment of the United Nations Human Rights Council's 55th session on 26 February 2024.

21.4.2023 | EU foreign ministers will convene in Luxembourg on 24 April. Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will represent Finland at the meeting.