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15.9.2022 | On Thursday 15 September, the Government approved the proposals for the Building Act, the Act Amending the Land Use and Building Act and the Act on the Built Environment Information System. The acts are to enter into force on 1 January 2024.

11.11.2021 | On 11 November 2021, the Government approved Finland’s participation in the Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme, an interregional co-operation programme of the European Union. This programme plays a key role in implementing the EU Baltic Sea Strategy.

1.3.2022 | The food industry has renewed its commitment to materials efficiency to promote more sustainable food production, distribution and consumption in 2022–2026. The Finnish Food and Drink Industries’ Federation, the Finnish Grocery Trade Association and the Finnish Hospitality Association MaRa have signed the commitment together with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of the Environment.

21.9.2021 | Minister Ville Skinnari will visit Lisbon on 21–24 September 2021. The aim of the visit is to strengthen the commercial relations between Finland and Portugal. Portugal offers significant opportunities for Finnish companies in such areas as bioeconomy and circular economy, energy, climate and digital transitions.

8.7.2022 | On 8 July 2022, the Government decided on the grant authorisations under the Finnish structural funds programme, Sustainable growth and jobs 2014–2020, for 2022 and the last allocation of funds of the programming period 2014–2020 to the intermediary bodies.

6.9.2022 | In future, the Ministry of the Environment will focus even more strongly on three themes: comprehensive solutions to the ecological sustainability crisis, leading the green transition and living environments that support wellbeing.

12.9.2022 | The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and accelerating climate change have led to a situation in Finland and globally where the future seems rather uncertain. In the midst of uncertainty, decision-making is difficult. Finland will hold parliamentary elections in spring 2023, and the new Government Programme will outline policies for the next few years.

14.4.2021 | Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä and Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will make a virtual Team Finland visit to Sweden on 15 April 2021. The visit is intended to intensify trade relations between Finnish and Swedish companies, particularly in the food and beverage industries, the textile industry and the sustainable healthcare sectors.

27.9.2021 | The Competitiveness Council will discuss the EU’s climate package, ‘Fit for 55', from an industrial perspective, the role of better regulation in developing competitiveness and the internal market, and the governance reform of the European Research Area. 

12.9.2022 | How do we guide Finland forward in the midst of global uncertainty? Ministries’ futures review provides tools for decision-makers Ministry of Defence Publication date 12.9.2022 12.06 Type: Press release Government Communications Department, Minist...

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.

14.3.2022 | Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will visit Vienna and Bratislava on 14–16 March.

14.4.2021 | Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä and Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will make a virtual Team Finland visit to Sweden on 15 April 2021. The visit is intended to intensify trade relations between Finnish and Swedish companies, particularly in the food and beverage industries, the textile industry and the sustainable healthcare sectors.

25.3.2021 | On Thursday 25 March, the Government of Finland received an international Catalyst 2030 Award for sustainable development. The award was presented to the Finnish National Commission on Sustainable Development, which is chaired by the Prime Minister. Finland was recognised for its participatory approach to implementing the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In its statement, ...

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.

8.11.2021 | Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will visit Brazil from 8 to 12 November 2021. The Minister will have bilateral meetings with, among others, Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos França, and Minister of the Institutional Security Cabinet of the Presidency of the Republic Augusto Heleno, with whom bilateral discussions have already taken place virtually in December 2020.

29.4.2021 | In its mid-term policy review, the Government published a sustainability roadmap that describes the current state of social, economic and ecological sustainability in Finland and sets goals for 2030. The roadmap gives specific form to the Government Programme’s goal of a socially, economically and ecologically sustainable society.

3.3.2022 | On 3 March, the Government adopted a decision on the action plan for Finland’s maritime policy. The plan includes 44 concrete measures for all maritime sectors. The action plan places particular emphasis on protection of the seas, the maritime cluster and marine production.

5.10.2021 | Minister for Foreign Affairs Haavisto will meet Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vincent Biruta in Helsinki on 6 October.

6.10.2021 | The Summit held on Wednesday 6 October focused on deepening cooperation between the EU and the Western Balkans. Topics discussed at the meeting included the EU membership perspective of the Western Balkans, deepening economic cooperation and managing the COVID-19 crisis.