Search

18.8.2025 | Finland’s decisions on humanitarian assistance this year have prioritised support to Ukraine, major refugee crises in Africa and the humanitarian situation in the Middle East. The number of people in need of assistance continues to grow. By the end of July, Finland had provided a total of approximately EUR 97.5 million in vital humanitarian assistance in 2025, nearly EUR 18 million of it to Ukraine.

7.9.2023 | At its meeting on 7 September, the Government decided that Finland would no longer grant temporary protection and new residence permits to those third-country nationals who have fled Ukraine and who were not granted international protection or a permanent residence permit by Ukraine. This decision will not affect the protection already granted or the validity of the residence permits already issued.

13.6.2025 | The home affairs ministers from all the EU Member States are meeting for the Justice and Home Affairs Council of 13 June in Luxembourg. The agenda includes the continuation of temporary protection for refugees from Ukraine, the EU Internal Security Strategy as well as the return of persons staying illegally in the EU. Finland will be represented at the meeting by Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen.

5.11.2024 | In their meeting on Tuesday 5 November, the President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed the situation at the eastern border and in the sea area, held a preparatory discussion on the priorities of civilian and military intelligence for 2025 and discussed Finland’s objectives for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29).

11.11.2025 | Finland will grant a total of EUR 13.5 million in humanitarian assistance at the end of the year. The total funding for humanitarian assistance in 2025 is over EUR 111 million. The funds granted at the end of year will go to humanitarian crises in Ukraine, Nigeria, Sudan, Gaza, Yemen and Afghanistan.

13.9.2023 | On Wednesday 13 September, the Government appointed Eriikka Koistinen, Master of Social Sciences, as Director of Communications at the Ministry of the Interior from 18 September 2023 to 17 September 2028.

22.12.2022 | Estonia has received a considerable number of Ukrainian refugees considering the size of the country, and the local reception system is overburdened. To ease the situation of the refugees, Finland and Estonia will offer the opportunity for interested Ukrainians to move to Finland by group transport. Preparations for this arrangement began at Estonia’s request and they are being carried out in cooperation between the Estonian and Finnish authorities.

7.12.2022 | EU home affairs ministers will gather in Brussels on Thursday 8 December for a meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council. Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen will represent Finland at the meeting. The ministers will discuss topics including the overall state of the Schengen area and Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

23.3.2023 | Considerable increases are proposed to appropriations in the administrative branch of the Ministry of the Interior in the technical spending limits presented in the new General Government Fiscal Plan 2024–2027. The appropriation level of the Ministry of the Interior will be c. EUR 2.4 billion at the beginning of the spending limits period, decreasing to c. EUR 1.9 billion in 2027. This represents an increase of EUR 179 to 547 million per year compared to the previous spending limits decision. 

27.7.2022 | Austria has invited the EU ministers responsible for integration to an informal ministerial conference to discuss the integration in the EU countries of people who have fled Ukraine as a result of Russia’s war of aggression. The ministers will meet in Vienna on 28 July.

24.2.2023 | According to the Citizens’ Pulse survey conducted by the Prime Minister’s Office, Finns’ support for the sanctions against Russia and for receiving Ukrainian refugees has remained strong throughout Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. All in all, 89 per cent of respondents support the EU’s economic sanctions on Russia, while 80 per cent support receiving Ukrainian refugees.

18.1.2023 | Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen has expressed her deepest condolences to Ukraine and to the families of the people who were killed in the helicopter crash on 18 January. The crash resulted in the death of Ukraine’s Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskyi and other members of the ministry’s leadership.

4.10.2024 | Finland is one of the strongest supporters of Ukraine in Europe. Finland has sent wide-ranging support to Ukraine; defence material; civilian material; humanitarian aid; and development cooperation. In a short period, Ukraine has become Finland’s most significant partner in development cooperation. Finland also supports Ukraine as part of the European Union.

4.12.2025 | The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs has awarded approximately EUR 311 million to Finnish civil society organisations (CSOs) for multiannual, programme-based development cooperation and humanitarian work in 2026–2029. Programme-based support, which is the main form of funding for CSOs for development cooperation work, will be awarded to 23 CSOs.

3.2.2023 | More than 45,000 people who fled Ukraine last year may be eligible for a municipality of residence in 2023 after residing in Finland for one year, with about 13,000 already satisfying the qualifying period of residence in March–April. On registering a municipality of residence, they will leave the reception services system and become clients of municipalities and wellbeing services counties. This will make them a more integrated part of society in Finland.

16.1.2023 | Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Tytti Tuppurainen visited the Romanian capital of Bucharest on Monday 16 January. In several high-level meetings, discussions focused on support for Ukraine in defending itself against Russia’s illegal war of aggression, the rule of law, EU enlargement and securing access to energy across Europe, among other topics.

28.6.2022 | Minister of Social Affairs and Health Hanna Sarkkinen will visit Tallinn on 29 June to meet with Estonia’s Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo. The topics to be discussed include the situation of Ukrainian refugees and the social security systems in both countries and developing them. 

2.3.2023 | Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen, Minister of Local Government Sirpa Paatero, Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen and Minister of Education Li Andersson stress the importance of smooth daily life for people who have fled Ukraine. Those who have secured a municipality of residence will have the same rights, services and duties as permanent residents in Finland.

22.12.2023 | Finland will provide EUR 17.3 million in humanitarian aid to Sudan, Ukraine, Burkina Faso and Lebanon through the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

21.11.2024 | On Thursday 21 November, the Government submitted its proposal to Parliament to amend the budget proposal for 2025. Some items in the proposal concern the Government's EUR 4 billion investment programme. The proposal will increase the revenue estimate by EUR 67 million and the requirement for appropriations by EUR 405 million.