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30.7.2025 | During the summer, there have been significantly more drownings and serious near misses than usual at public swimming areas. The Ministry of the Interior, the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes), the National Police Board of Finland and the Finnish Swimming Teaching and Lifesaving Federation met on 30 July to discuss safety at swimming areas.

13.12.2019 | -

8.10.2019 | -

28.11.2025 | Finnish Biodiversity Award 2023–2024 was given to an actor that had done something inspiring to halt biodiversity loss. The winner of the competition was Crowdsorsa mobile game that has already helped fight against invasive alien species in Finland on a total of 4 million square metres. Honourable mentions were awarded to the cities of Kauniainen and Vantaa. The prizes were awarded by Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala.

30.10.2025 | A working group of the Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Defence has been appointed to explore how nature restoration and other ways to make use of natural barriers can support national defence and border security especially in eastern Finland.

12.8.2025 | The Siikajoki Vapaaksi environmental association is set to restore the Pöyrynkoski rapids, enabling the free ascent of migratory fish in the river. The project was formally launched on Tuesday 12 August at Revonlahti School in Siikajoki, North Ostrobothnia. Formally conveying favourable greetings to the event, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah noted that the project was a superb example of a remediation exercise promoted by local parties and prepared in broad partnership.

29.1.2026 | Finland will contribute to NATO’s peacetime maritime activities in 2027. In its plenary session on 29 January 2026, the Finnish Government endorsed a report, presented by Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen, on the Finnish Defence Forces’ participation in NATO’s collective peacetime activities in 2027.

26.11.2020 | The COVID-19 situation has worsened almost throughout Finland but particularly in the Greater Helsinki area and the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa. New restrictions and recommendations have already been introduced and will be introduced not only in the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa but also elsewhere in the country. However, in South Savo, for example, transmission chains have been kept well under control.

29.1.2026 | The Government will provide targeted separate funding to South Karelia and Vakka‑Suomi for measures that promote re‑employment and improve skills. Both regions have faced an abrupt structural change (ASC, or ÄRM in Finnish) that has required regional action. In addition, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has decided to allocate European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funding to impr...

12.6.2025 | Nordic Council of Ministers for Fisheries, Aquaculture, Agriculture, Food and Forestry convened at its annual ministerial meeting in Kuopio on 11–12 June 2025. Among the topics discussed were security of supply and opportunities related to the bioeconomy, and the ministers also met young farmers. Ministers from Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark as well as the autonomous regions of Åland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland attended the meeting. Iceland was represented by the State Secretary.

22.11.2024 | As part of the legislative reform of basic education in the arts, the Ministry of Education and Culture has charted the experiences of children and young people participating in basic education in the arts when engaging in the arts as a recreational activity. Children and young people must be consulted in all legislative drafting concerning them. The consultation was conducted using an open online survey.

27.8.2025 | Finland needs more exports, investments and ambitious R&D activities to boost our economy.

9.10.2024 | On 9 October 2024, the Ministerial Committee on Economic Policy discussed and supported the new outlines for the ownership policy concerning Metsähallitus for 2024–2027. Besides the reconciliation of different needs, new objectives have also been included. Among the topics concerned are the economic benefit from the operations of Metsähallitus to the State and promotion of biodiversity and renewable energy.

15.5.2025 | In March, the European Commission submitted a proposal for a new return regulation that aims to improve the effectiveness of the return of persons staying illegally in the EU and to prevent unauthorised movements within the Schengen area. The regulation would replace the current Return Directive. The Government informed Parliament of the Commission's proposal by submitting a Union communication on 15 May.

10.6.2025 | The growth of the creative industries and the creative economy is based on companies in the sector, their growth and internationalisation. Compared to its reference countries, such as Sweden, Finland has so far not really known how to make use of immaterial value creation. The creative industries still have a considerable amount of untapped potential for economic growth in Finland.

30.11.2021 | Under the migratory fish programme NOUSU led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the State of Finland contributes to the restoration of the Virtaankoski Rapid in the River Tainionvirta that discharges into Päijänne, the second largest lake in Finland. The regulating dam of the small-scale hydropower plant will be demolished to free the river. The company that owns the power plant will be transferred to Hiitolanjoki Voima Oy at the beginning of 2022.

16.10.2024 | The Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16) will convene in Cali, Colombia on 21 October–1 November 2024. The main objective of COP16 is to agree on the implementation of the global biodiversity targets and the related monitoring. Finland’s delegation will be led by Minister of Climate and the Environment Kai Mykkänen.

8.8.2025 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health proposes appropriations of EUR 14.8 billion for the Ministry and its branch of government for 2026. This is about EUR 475 million less than in the 2025 Budget. The funding of wellbeing services counties is not included in the appropriations for the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and its branch of government. Instead, it falls under the main title of the Ministry of Finance.

17.2.2025 | The Ministry of Transport and Communications requests comments on the draft government proposal concerning the competent authorities in rail transport. Comments can be submitted until 14 March 2025.

18.12.2020 | For the first time, a comprehensive maritime spatial plan has been prepared for the Finnish marine area, compiled in an extensive cooperation process between various actors. The plan is a presentation with a map covering both territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone. It outlines, for example, significant and potential areas for underwater natural and cultural values, energy production, fishing, aquaculture, shipping and tourism.