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31.7.2026 | The Finnish Environment Institute and the Finnish Navy removed oil from the wreck of the coastal defence ship Ilmarinen between 14 and 24 July 2026. In addition, the Finnish Border Guard, which was prepared for environmental response operations, and the Diving Medical Center participated in the operation. Over the course of two weeks, approximately 60,000 litres of oil was recovered from the vessel’s fuel tanks, but the wreck could not be completely emptied yet.

5.3.2026 | Finland has provided Ukraine with an extensive package of equipment for combating oil spills. The package included donations compiled by the Finnish Border Guard and rescue departments, and materials procured by the Ministry of the Interior. A total of 35 truckloads of oil spill response equipment were delivered to Ukraine.

12.8.2024 | Investigations on methods for removing oil from the sunken coastal defence ship Ilmarinen will continue between 12 and 18 August 2024 on the Navy’s multipurpose vessel Louhi. As a result of the amendment to the Environmental Protection Act that entered into force at the beginning of 2023, the responsibility for monitoring and gathering information on hazardous shipwrecks has been assigned to the Finnish Environment Institute, which now coordinates the research carried out at Ilmarinen.

5.6.2024 | Press release by the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom and the Finnish Border Guard:

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.

22.9.2022 | The Government proposes on 22 September 2022 a fuel subsidy for fuel oil used in mobile machinery. The proposal would amend the Act on Fixed-Term Fuel Subsidy for Transport Companies. When the Act entered into force in September this year, Parliament issued a resolution calling for the rapid preparation of a similar subsidy for fuel oil.

11.5.2022 | A UN led agreement has been reached to transfer the oil from FSO Safer moored off the coast of Yemen in the Red Sea. Funds for the oil transfer operation are collected in a pledging conference in the Hague on 11 May. Finland will support the operation with one million euros.

11.10.2021 | The Finnish Navy will launch a diving operation in the Archipelago Sea with the aim to empty the fuel tanks of shipwreck Beatris of oil. The shipwreck could become a source of oil spills in the near future. One of the aims of the programme to enhance the effectiveness of water protection, coordinated by the Ministry of the Environment, is to locate and clean up hazardous shipwrecks in the Baltic Sea. Before this, three shipwrecks that may cause risks have been cleaned up.

7.10.2022 | On 6 October 2022, the European Union imposed new sanctions on Russia in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The eight package of sanctions will ban transport of Russian oil that exceed a pre-established price cap and add new import and export bans.

11.7.2022 | The distribution obligation of biofuel oil aims at replacing light fuel oil used especially in building-specific heating and machinery with biofuel oil. The draft amendments to the distribution obligation of biofuel oil and the Sustainability Act have been sent out for comments.

8.4.2022 | Finland will release 369,000 barrels of crude oil to the market from the emergency stockpiles maintained by the National Emergency Supply Agency. In this way Finland will participate in the unanimous decision made by the Governing Board of the International Energy Agency (IEA) on 1 April 2022, according to which IEA member countries will release oil products to the market from their emergency stocks.

Government press releases The ministries communicate openly about the preparation of matters, the decision-making process and the effects of decisions. The Government and its ministries usually communicate about important issues at least through a...

11.5.2026 | The Ministry of Transport and Communications is inviting comments on the draft government proposal concerning the implementation of the Ship-Source Pollution Directive. The necessary amendments would be made to the Act on Environmental Protection in Maritime Transport. Comments may be submitted until 18 June 2026.

16.6.2026 | The Finnish economy is gradually recovering but is overshadowed by the crisis in the Middle East, higher energy prices and an uncertain economic outlook. Economic growth is boosting general government revenues, but the deficit remains wide according to the Ministry of Finance's economic forecast published on 16 June.

26.6.2026 | In its meeting on Friday 26 June, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs outlined its positions on the new package of sanctions proposed by the Commission and the External Action Service in response to Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. The 21st sanctions package expands personal and entity sanctions, sectoral sanctions and sanctions against Belarus. Finland supports the sanctions.

25.6.2026 | The clean energy transition continues to make good progress: the use of fossil energy sources keeps decreasing in industry, electricity production and heating. The trend in emissions takes us in the right direction, but more work will be needed in all sectors to reach the climate targets nationally and at the EU level.

31.3.2026 | Over the past few weeks, Ukraine has carried out massive drone strikes on Russian oil facilities in the Gulf of Finland. On Sunday 29 March 2026, two drones strayed into the territory of Finland. The Government was briefed on the situation by the authorities on Tuesday 31 March 2026.

30.4.2026 | Economic recovery in Finland will be further delayed as a result of the crisis in the Middle East. The general government deficit will widen and remain large according to the Economic Forecast published by the Ministry of Finance on 30 April.

4.5.2026 | The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) met in London from 27 April to 1 May 2026. As expected, the Committee’s 84th session again allowed more time for negotiations on measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships. 

30.3.2026 | EU energy ministers will hold an informal video conference on Tuesday 31 March 2026 to formulate a common response to the effects of the Persian Gulf crisis on energy markets. Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala will represent Finland at the meeting.