Search

12.6.2026 | In its meeting on Friday 12 June, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs discussed the Commission’s AccelerateEU communication, which contains measures to respond to peaks in the prices of imported fossil fuels caused by the situation in the Middle East. The ministerial committee also discussed the EU’s human rights sanctions, the post-2030 climate architecture, the CSAM regulation and the annual report on the measures taken by Finland in EU litigation.

18.12.2025 | A report based on the Government Programme assesses the need for personal sanctions related to cartels. According to the report, there is no clear need for personal sanctions; instead, competition processes should be accelerated in general. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will begin an investigation into the matter.

9.5.2025 | The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will organise a consultation round on amending the unemployment security sanctions from 9 May to 19 June 2025. The aim is to clarify and simplify the sanctions and to make the job search of jobseekers and their participation in employment-promoting services more efficient. Another objective is to prevent prolonged unemployment and to shorten periods of unemployment.

20.5.2025 | In its 17th sanctions package, the European Union continues to respond to Russia’s ongoing war of aggression in Ukraine, to Russia’s destabilising measures against the EU and third countries and to the deterioration of the domestic human rights situation in the country. A significant number of vessels belonging to the Russia’s shadow fleet were added to the EU sanctions list.

13.5.2025 | New legislation that enters into force on 20 May 2025 will implement the Sanctions Criminalisation Directive of the European Union in Finland. The purpose of the Directive is to ensure that offences against sanctions are punishable in all EU Member States and that the related national penal provisions meet a common minimum level.

28.3.2025 | The EU sanctions list includes members of the Belarusian Central Electoral Commission, representatives of the Belarusian judiciary and individuals or entities that are considered to have committed serious human rights violations and undermined democracy in Belarus. The EU Member States approved the additional sanctions on 27 March 2025.

18.12.2023 | The EU’s new restrictive measures against Russia include a ban on the import of diamonds, a tighter oil price cap and a broader scope of prohibitions on imports, exports and transit of goods. A new measure will require Russian-owned companies operating in the EU to provide notification of transfers of funds. Sanctions on individuals will be targeted at persons organising illegal elections in the territor...

23.2.2024 | The EU’s 13th package of sanctions is one of the largest agreed since the launch of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in terms of the number of sanctioned individuals. A total of 194 individuals and entities will be added to the list. They are individuals and companies that support Russian armed forces and individuals who have participated in the forced transfer of Ukrainian children. Export bans will...

23.6.2023 | The European Union introduces significant new instruments in its eleventh package of restrictive measures against Russia to prevent circumvention and evasion of sanctions, particularly through third countries. These instruments include several facilities for targeting sanctions against parties that circumvent sanctions and assist in such circumvention. Export bans, bans on transit through Russia and individual sanctions lists are expanded.

1.12.2023 | Effective implementation of sanctions requires an understanding of sanctions and their application. In order to expand Finns’ knowledge of sanctions, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has published an online course on sanctions open to all. The course covers not only the basic aspects of sanctions that are repeated across all sanctions systems, but also the special features of the sanctions against Russia.

4.8.2023 | The European Union has imposed new sanctions on Belarus in response to the deteriorating internal situation in Belarus and to the country’s involvement in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The EU Member States approved further sanctions against Belarus on 3 August 2023.

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.

31.5.2022 | At the special meeting of the European Council, which began on 30 May in Brussels, the EU leaders agreed to impose new sanctions on Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine. The leaders were joined by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky via video conference for a discussion at the beginning of the meeting. Finland was represented at the meeting by Prime Minister Sanna Marin.

26.2.2022 | The Member States of the European Union approved the sanctions on Friday 25 February and the sanctions have entered into force.

28.10.2021 | The EU already requires that footwear and textile products clearly indicate what material the item is made of.  The Government now proposes to Parliament legislation based on the EU Market Surveillance Regulation, which would specify companies’ obligations related to labelling of materials. The proposed law also enables the imposition of penalty payments for incorrect or deficient labelling. 

19.1.2023 | On Thursday 19 January, the President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy decided that Finland will participate in the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) with a maximum of 50 soldiers serving in training and advisory tasks.

8.5.2026 | EU foreign affairs ministers will convene for a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 11 May.

22.9.2025 | Employment services and the service process for jobseekers will be reformed to better meet individual needs, in line with the Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government. The aim is that more people would find employment quicker. The Government proposes amendments to the legislation on the service process of jobseekers and the jobseeker profiles. At the same time, the sanctions system for unemployment security will be overhauled.

22.9.2025 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has today published three memorandums assessing the combined impacts of the Government’s changes to social security during this parliamentary term. The memorandums focus particularly on the impacts of the comprehensive reform of social assistance.

29.4.2026 | The Ministry of Transport and Communications invites comments on a draft government proposal concerning the implementation of the Non-Road Mobile Machinery and Euro 7 Regulations. The proposal also introduces amendments to certain national provisions. Comments may be submitted until 10 June 2026.