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26.5.2026 | Today, the Ministry of the Environment informed the Finnish Supervisory Agency and, together with the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, the municipal building control authorities about the accident in Helsinki in September 2025 and the progress of the investigations. Based on the tests, the Safety Investigation Authority issued a press release and an accident threat notification on 21 May 2026 concerning fibre cement boards used in balcony railings.

1.10.2026 | The Government proposes legislative amendments to promote the operation of existing shooting ranges and facilitate the establishment of new ones. On 1 October 2026, the Government submitted to Parliament a proposal to amend the Act on Shooting Ranges and the Environmental Protection Act.

23.9.2021 | At its 65th General Conference, the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA elected Finland to the IAEA Board of Governors for a two-year term from September 2021 to September 2023 with a possible extension for a third year.

15.1.2026 | Veikkaus Oy’s monopoly on running gambling games will end. Under the new Gambling Act, the running of betting games, online slot and casino games, and online money bingo will be opened to competition under a licensing system. In its session on 15 January, the Government proposed that the President of the Republic approve the Gambling Act on 16 January. Most provisions of the new act will enter into force on 1 July 2027. 

11.11.2025 | The Ministry of the Interior invites comments on proposed amendments to the Act on Shooting Ranges and the Environmental Protection Act. In line with the Government Programme, the aim is to simplify the environmental permit processes and legislation concerning shooting ranges. The public consultation remains open until 23 December 2025.

21.1.2026 | The Ministry of the Interior has published three new guides containing practical instructions on how to use and maintain civil defence shelters and on how to draw up emergency plans. The guides are intended, for example, to support building owners (such as housing companies) and other building operators.

27.3.2025 | The Government proposes that the President of the Republic approve the bill for cybersecurity act and set its date of entry into force on 8 April 2025. The President of the Republic is to approve the bill on Friday 4 April 2025.

20.3.2025 | Today, the Government submitted to Parliament a legislative proposal on a new gambling system. The Government proposes to end Veikkaus' gambling games monopoly in betting and in online slot machine and casino games at the end of 2026, and to open the provision of these games to competition.

24.11.2022 | On Thursday 24 November, the Government appointed Liisa Siika-aho as Director General of the Department for Insurance and Social Security at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. She will take up her duties on 1 December 2022. The appointment is for a fixed term until 30 November 2027.

13.3.2025 | The Government proposes that the President of the Republic appoint Dr Olli Rehn as Governor of the Bank of Finland. Dr Rehn’s second seven-year term would begin on 12 July.

23.5.2024 | On 23 May 2024, the Government submitted to Parliament a proposal concerning the national implementation of the EU Directive on measures for a high common level of cybersecurity across the Union (NIS 2). The aim of the Directive is to strengthen cybersecurity in critical sectors at the EU and national level.

3.7.2024 | The Ministry of the Interior is requesting comments on the draft government proposal for a new gambling act. The reform of the gambling system is based on the Government Programme. Under the proposal, Veikkaus Oy would no longer hold the monopoly to arrange betting and online slot machine games and casino games. These games would be opened up to competition by means of licensing as laid out in the Government Programme.

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.

2.5.2024 | Amendments to the EU Regulation on minimum breaks and rest periods were published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 2 May 2024. Specific rules were included in the Regulation to change the driving times and rest periods in the occasional passenger transport sector. In most cases, occasional passenger transport means chartered transport by bus or coach. The sector has special characteristics that the goods transport or regular coach and bus transport sectors do not share.

20.12.2023 | The start of 2024 will see the entry into force of amendments to acts and decrees. This press release provides a summary of the most important changes.

15.9.2023 | The ministerial working group on reforming society held its first meeting on 14 September 2023. This working group will seek to reform public administration and digitalisation, thereby strengthening Finland as a whole.

24.11.2022 | On Thursday 24 November, the Government appointed Anna Cantell-Forsbom as Director General of the Department for Clients and Services in Healthcare and Social Welfare at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. She will take up her duties on 1 December 2022. The appointment is for a fixed term until 31 May 2024. During this time, she will be deputising for Satu Koskela as Director General.

23.3.2023 | Several amendments will made to the Rescue Act and the Act on the Emergency Services Academy. For example, the obligation to purchase and maintain smoke detectors in apartments will be transferred from the residents to the owner of the building from the beginning of 2026.

22.9.2022 | The Government proposes several amendments to the Rescue Act and the Act on the Emergency Services Academy. For example, it is proposed that the obligation to purchase and maintain smoke detectors in apartments be transferred from residents to building owners.

27.5.2022 | As part of the implementation of the National Child Strategy, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Child Strategy team will launch a joint study to explore earlier and ongoing work done by other countries to examine international adoptions and related shortcomings.