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27.6.2025 | The President of the Republic approved the legislative amendments on aviation on 27 June 2025. The amendments aim to improve aviation safety and security. The Acts will enter into force on 1 September 2025.

3.5.2024 | GPS interference in aviation has been debated in public. The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom published a press release saying that it is safe to fly to and in Finland. Traficom is responsible for flight and aviation safety as well as for monitoring GPS interference.

24.7.2026 | The EU approved its 21st sanctions package on 23 July. The package continues to increase pressure on Russia by weakening Russia’s ability to wage its war of aggression in Ukraine. The new sanctions enter into force on 23 July 2026. The package contains a record number of new listings. The EU also expands sanctions on the energy and financial sectors and on the shadow fleet and similarly expands the import and export ban lists. The package also tightens sanctions against Belarus.

25.3.2022 | Texas is known for its energy and technology industries, which makes it a promising export market for Finnish companies. Finnair’s new direct flight connection to Dallas is a sign of the growth potential. Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will visit Texas and Washington from 27 March to 1 April 2022.

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.

28.8.2021 | Finland’s relief efforts in Afghanistan were complemented late on the night of Friday 27 August, when the employees of the company responsible for the security of Finnish Embassy personnel were successfully led inside the gates of Kabul Airport. The total number of these employees and their family members is 83 persons. Assisted by US troops, the group managed to get on a flight away from Kabul early this morning.

23.4.2026 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government has agreed on the General Government Fiscal Plan for 2027–2030. The Government has agreed on significant transport investments across Finland. 

8.1.2021 | Suspension of passenger flights from the UK extended Ministry for Foreign Affairs Publication date 8.1.2021 19.49 Type: News item The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom has decided to continue to suspend passenger flights from th...

17.7.2026 | On 17 July 2026, the European Commission gave a proposal to amend the EU Emissions Trading Directive. According to the proposal, the scope of emissions trading in both aviation and maritime transport would expand. The reform is based on the EU’s decision on the 2040 climate target. The EU ‘s net emissions will be reduced by 90 per cent by 2040, compared to 1990.

7.7.2026 | The NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum, held in Ankara on 7 July 2026, witnessed several announcements of defence industry initiatives that will strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defence, and therefore also Finland’s security.

30.4.2026 | FINNISH GOVERNMENT PO Box 23, FI-00023 Government, Finland vn.fi/en Tel. +358 295 16001 VALTIONEUVOSTO PL 23, 00023 Valtioneuvosto vn.fi p. 0295 16001 1(8) Spending limits session of Prime Minister Orpo’s Government on 21–22 April 2026 Entries in ...

16.2.2026 | The visit was cancelled because the connecting flight to Greenland was cancelled due to weather conditions.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo visited Kyiv on 28 May 2025. Finland supports Ukraine On 24 February 2022, Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine in breach of the UN Charter and international law. Finland strongly condemns Russia’s military actions in...

24.11.2025 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo is of the view that the negotiations between Ukraine and the United States in Geneva have moved the Ukraine peace plan in the right direction. On Monday 24 November, Prime Minister Orpo attended an informal meeting of EU leaders on the status of the peace negotiations.

7.1.2026 | Finland’s term as Chairperson of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) ended on the last day of 2025. Last year marked 50 years since the CSCE meeting in Helsinki and the adoption of the Helsinki Final Act. The principles enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act are as relevant today as they were fifty years ago because they represent the essence of humanity: the yearning for freedom, cooperation and peace.

20.5.2025 | The Ministerial Committee on Economic Policy decided on 20 May 2025 to fully finance flight connections between six regional airports and Helsinki up to 27 February 2028. Air connections to the city of Savonlinna, however, will be funded out of government funds up to 50 per cent only. The decision is based on the spring 2026 government discussion on spending limits.

4.6.2025 | The EU Transport and Telecommunications Council will convene in Luxembourg from 5 to 6 June 2025. Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne will represent Finland at the meeting.

12.11.2024 | The Ministry of Transport and Communications requests comments on a draft government proposal for amending legislative amendments to improve aviation safety. Provisions on the permission to set up obstacles to air navigation under the Aviation Act would also be amended at the same time. The deadline for submitting comments is 31 December 2024.

28.6.2024 | The Ministry of the Interior has set up a project to prepare legislative amendments on the use of air carriers’ passenger name record (PNR) data in the prevention of terrorist offences and serious crime.

19.4.2024 | On Friday 19 April, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen paid a visit to the Imatra border crossing point to learn more about the situation at Finland’s eastern border. From there, they headed to the Old Town Hall in Lappeenranta, where they continued the bilateral discussions they had started the day before on their flight from Brussels after the special European Council.

5.9.2023 | On 5 September 2023, the Government published a report on public transport procurements and public service obligations. It provides information on purchase of air transport services and on the impacts and future prospects of flight connections to support decision-making in the government budget session. 

5.3.2026 | March 2026 1 Finland simplification proposals Contents 1. Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) (EU) 2023/1791 ................................................. 3 2. Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) (EU) 2022/2577 ....................................

5.4.2023 | New Long-Range Air Defence System for the Finnish Defence Forces Ministry of Defence Publication date 5.4.2023 13.58 Type: Press release The Ministry of Defence has authorised the Finnish Defence Forces to procure the David’s Sling system as the n...

19.1.2024 | In 2023, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the missions abroad provided consular services to approximately 244,000 customers. The demand for advisory services remained high. Over the course of the year, the Ministry’s 24/7 service was contacted around 8,000 times in total.

11.8.2025 | The Ministry of Transport and Communications proposes that EUR 3.78 billion be allocated to its administrative branch for 2026. This is about EUR 60 million less than in the 2025 Budget.

29.4.2025 | FINNISH GOVERNMENT PO Box 23, FI-00023 Government, Finland vn.fi/en Tel. +358 295 16001 VALTIONEUVOSTO PL 23, 00023 Valtioneuvosto vn.fi p. 0295 16001 1(11) Government discussions on the General Government Fiscal Plan 22–23 April 2025 Entries in t...

13.4.2023 | Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and the energy crisis that characterised the whole year affected the operations of state-owned companies and ownership steering in many ways in 2022.

9.10.2023 | The Government proposes that nearly EUR 3.6 billion be allocated to the administrative branch of the Ministry of Transport and Communications for 2024.

22.12.2021 | The President of the Republic approved the amendments to the Aviation Act and certain related acts on Wednesday, 22 December 2021. After the amendments, the acts will be in line, for example, with the recent EU regulation.

22.12.2021 | The President of the Republic approved the amendments to the Aviation Act and certain related acts on Wednesday, 22 December 2021. After the amendments, the acts will be in line, for example, with the recent EU regulation.

24.8.2021 | At an extraordinary meeting on 24 August, the Finnish Government decided to complement its earlier decisions and announced that Finland could admit to the country a maximum of 45 additional Afghan former employees of the Finnish Embassy in Kabul together with their families. Finland can also admit a new group of persons representing security sector employees together with their families, totalling a maximum of 83 persons.

9.9.2021 | The rescue and evacuation operation in Afghanistan was in many ways unique and historic. Finland evacuated more than 400 people from Afghanistan in three weeks. This was possible through cooperation with national and international actors and between different departments of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The relief team at Kabul Airport played a key role, but the input of dozens of people both in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Helsinki and in many foreign missions was also required.

13.8.2021 | In response to the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, the Finnish Government decided at an extraordinary meeting on 13 August that Afghans who have worked for Finland, the EU and NATO can be admitted to Finland with their families and issued residence permits.

13.8.2021 | In response to the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, the Finnish Government decided at an extraordinary meeting on 13 August that Afghans who have worked for Finland, the EU and NATO can be admitted to Finland with their families and issued residence permits.

2.2.2023 | The Government submitted the first supplementary budget proposal for 2023 to Parliament on Thursday 2 February.

2.2.2023 | The Government submitted the first supplementary budget proposal for 2023 to Parliament on Thursday 2 February.

2.9.2022 | A working group of State Secretaries was tasked to examine how Russia’s attack on Ukraine has affected the economy of eastern Finland and what measures are needed to strengthen the region’s vitality. The working group has proposed to the Government short-term measures for the 2023 budget proposal, reallocation of funding using existing funding sources, and long-term measures. The measures focus...

5.8.2022 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health proposes appropriations of about EUR 15.8 billion for the Ministry and its administrative branch for 2023. This is about EUR 0.2 billion less than in the 2022 Budget. The decrease is mainly due to the end of the Government Programme projects and changes in the needs assessment.

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.

25.2.2023 | On 25 February 2023, the EU imposed new sanctions as a response to Russia’s continued attacks against Ukraine’s civilian targets and critical infrastructure. The tenth package of sanctions introduces new export bans on critical technology, industrial products and dual-use items. In addition, the EU introduces new measures to prevent the circumvention of sanctions.

2.2.2024 | Finland’s Navy and Air Force to participate in NATO’s collective peacetime missions Ministry of Defence Publication date 2.2.2024 11.22 Type: Press release “In 2024, the Finnish Navy will deploy one vessel and the Finnish Air Force a detachment of...

19.1.2023 | In 2022, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the missions abroad provided consular services to a total of approximately 256,000 customers. The demand for advisory services, in particular, continued to grow. During the year, the ministry’s 24/7 service received more than 8,000 contacts in total.

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.

28.11.2021 | As of 15.00 on Sunday 28 November, Finland will restrict entry into the country at its external borders for travellers who have been in Botswana, Eswatini, South Africa, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia or Zimbabwe during the 14 days prior to their arrival in Finland. The Government adopted a decision on the matter on 28 November.

25.11.2021 | Restrictions on external border traffic will continue as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread. Despite the increase in vaccination coverage, there is still a risk that the carrying capacity of the healthcare system will be exceeded. For this reason, the validity of the decision made on 4 November will be extended until 19 December. However, people may still enter Finland from all countries upon presenting an approved certificate of a full course of vaccination.

7.10.2021 | Restrictions on entry will be lifted for residents of Kuwait in traffic arriving in Finland from Kuwait. The Government adopted a decision on the matter on 7 October and the decision will enter into force on 11 October. No other changes will be introduced to the restrictions. The existing restrictions on entry at external borders will be extended until 24 October. However, people may still enter Finland from all countries upon presenting an approved certificate of a full course of vaccination.

22.8.2021 | Intensive efforts are under way to evacuate Finns and Afghans who have been working for the Finnish Government from Afghanistan. Around ten people were evacuated from Kabul on Saturday, and a group of 52 have boarded evacuation flights so far on Sunday. This brings the total number of evacuees to 110 at present. The evacuees are Finnish citizens or permanent residents of Finland, along with other persons who have been working for Finland, the EU and NATO, together with their families.

12.8.2021 | A few changes will be made to the restrictions on entry at external borders based on current incidence rates. The Government adopted a decision on the matter on 12 August and the decision will enter into force on 16 August. However, people may still enter Finland from all countries upon presenting an approved certificate of a full vaccine course.

2.9.2021 | A few changes will be made to the restrictions on entry at external borders based on current incidence rates. The Government adopted a decision on the matter on 2 August and the decision will enter into force on 6 August. The restrictions will continue until 19 September. However, people may still enter Finland from all countries upon presenting an approved certificate of a full vaccine course.

4.11.2021 | Restrictions on external border traffic will continue. Vaccination coverage is not yet sufficient in Finland, and there is still a risk that the capacity of the healthcare system will be exceeded. For this reason, the validity of the decision made on 14 October will be extended until 28 November. However, people may still enter Finland from all countries upon presenting an approved certificate of a full course of vaccination.

14.10.2021 | Restrictions on entry will be lifted for residents of the countries and regions on the EU’s green list. In addition, the Vainikkala border crossing point will open to passenger traffic. The Government adopted a decision on the matter on 14 October and the decisions will enter into force on 18 October. Other restrictions on entry at external borders will be extended until 7 November. However, peo...

5.8.2021 | Changes are being made to the restrictions on external border traffic based on COVID-19 incidence rates, as the epidemic continues to spread vigorously in many parts of the world. The Government adopted a decision on the matter on 5 August. The decision will enter into force on 9 August and will remain in force until 22 August 2021. However, people may still enter Finland from all countries upon presenting an approved certificate of a full vaccine course.

16.9.2021 | Restrictions on entry will be reinstated for residents of Singapore in traffic arriving in Finland from Singapore. The Government adopted a decision on the matter on 16 September and the decision will enter into force on 20 September. No other changes will be introduced to the restrictions. The existing restrictions on entry at external borders will be extended until 10 October. However, people ...

19.8.2021 | A few changes will be made to the restrictions on entry at external borders based on current incidence rates. The Government adopted a decision on the matter on 19 August and the decision will enter into force on 23 August. The restrictions will continue until 19 September. However, people may still enter Finland from all countries upon presenting an approved certificate of a full vaccine course.

22.1.2021 | On 22 January, the Government decided to tighten the restrictions on entry into Finland. The new restrictions will enter into force on 27 January and will remain in force until 25 February. The new restrictions aim to reduce cross-border traffic in order to prevent the spread of the new COVID-19 variants. The epidemiological situation in Finland differs considerably from that in other Schengen countries.

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.

23.8.2021 | Distinguished Ambassadors, Ladies and Gentlemen, This year has shown very clearly the importance of foreign policy and the work of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. I do not mean just the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan and the tasks related to it, but all the events of the past few months: the global response to the coronavirus crisis, international efforts to halt climate change, work to promote ...

22.2.2021 | In 2020, the Unit for Consular Assistance provided nearly twice as much guidance compared to the previous year. In the spring, during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, personal guidance and advice were given to tens of thousands of travellers stranded abroad. Thousands of travellers were assisted in returning to Finland after air traffic ground to a sudden halt.