Government press releases

Draft amendments to Private Roads Act sent out for consultation

Ministry of Transport and Communications — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:40:00 GMT

The current Private Roads Act entered into force at the start of 2019. The act clarified the responsibilities related to the construction, maintenance and use of private roads. Based on the feedback from the authorities applying the act and responses to an expost evaluation survey carried out in 2024, the Ministry prepared an assessment memorandum on the amendment needs in spring 2025 and launched a legislative project to update the act.

The proposed amendments concern, among other issues, appeals relating to road charging, the administration of private road maintenance associations, road shareholders’ right of access to information, and the placing of public utility infrastructure in road areas.

The key aim of the draft proposal is to improve private road maintenance by simplifying the administration and decision‑making of private road maintenance associations. The amendments would also improve traffic safety on private roads and strengthen the protection of road shareholders under the law. More broadly, the aim is to clarify, specify and harmonise certain provisions of the Private Roads Act.

What’s next?

Comments may be submitted until 11 May 2026. The government proposal is due to be submitted to Parliament in summer 2026, and the act is set to enter into force on 1 January 2027.

Inquiries:

Laura Rantanen, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 342 175, laura.rantanen@gov.fi

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Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot to visit Helsinki

Ministry for Foreign Affairs — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 06:17:00 GMT

Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen and Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Prévot will discuss bilateral affairs between Finland and Belgium as well as foreign and security policy matters.

The main topics will be Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, support for Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, transatlantic relations and European security.

“As a founding member of the EU and NATO, Belgium is a close ally for Finland. We are working together to strengthen European security, support Ukraine and respond to the challenges posed by Russia’s shadow fleet and hybrid threats. We also see opportunities to deepen cooperation between our countries. Commercial relations, in particular, have great potential for growth,” says Foreign Minister Valtonen.

While in Helsinki, Foreign Minister Prévot will visit a civil defence shelter in Helsinki's Merihaka district to gain insight into Finland’s comprehensive security approach. He will also tour the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats and visit a Finnish icebreaker to learn about the situational picture of the Baltic Sea.

Inquiries

Paavo Kotiaho, Diplomatic Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 295 351 016
Aleksi Vakkuri, Director, Unit for Central, Western and Southern Europe, tel. +358 295 350 627

The email addresses of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs are in the format firstname.lastname@gov.fi.

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Laura Quist appointed to serve as Diplomatic Adviser to Prime Minister Orpo

Government Communications Department — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 11:30:00 GMT

Quist will take up her duties on 1 April 2026. She is transferring to Prime Minister Orpo’s staff from her post as Diplomatic Adviser to Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio. Quist has previously worked at the Embassy of Finland in Stockholm and at the Department for Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. She holds a Master of Arts degree from the University of Helsinki.

Marja Koskela, who has served as Diplomatic Adviser to the Prime Minister since 1 August 2023, will now focus on assisting the Prime Minister in matters related to foreign and security policy.

Inquiries: Laura Quist, Diplomatic Adviser (International Affairs), tel. +358 295 160 492; Marja Koskela, Diplomatic Adviser (Foreign and Security Policy), tel. +358 295 160 978, Prime Minister’s Office

The email addresses of the Finnish Government are in the format firstname.lastname@gov.fi.

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New Security of Supply Act enters into force, National Emergency Supply Council appointed

Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 11:05:00 GMT

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment also appointed a steering group for the same three-year term to support the guidance and supervision of NESA. The steering group will monitor NESA’s funding, strategic decisions and achievement of performance targets, and address important financial and operational issues.

Jan Hjelt, Director General at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, and Olli Ruutu, Director General at the Ministry of Defence, were appointed chair and vice-chair of the steering group, respectively. All ministries are represented in the steering group, which will later be complemented with representatives of Finnish business and industry based on proposals by the National Emergency Supply Council.

“In our changing world, security of supply is more important than ever before. Cooperation is the key strength of Finland’s security of supply. In future, too, cooperation between the authorities, businesses and civil society organisations will remain at the core of our security of supply system,” says Minister of Economic Affairs Sakari Puisto.

NESA to become agency while strategic stockpile fee will rise

The new security of supply legislation will enter into force on 1 April 2026. Both the Security of Supply Act and the Security Stockpiling Act have been reformed. NESA will become an agency to better meet the requirements of a changed security environment and the agency’s status as an authority will thereby be clarified.

Minister of Economic Affairs Puisto has appointed Janne Känkänen, the current Chief Executive Officer of NESA, as NESA’s interim Director General until the Government appoints a new Director General. Känkänen has headed NESA since 2020.

With NESA becoming an agency its funding will be transferred to the Budget. Security of supply measures are financed from the National Emergency Supply Fund with the proceeds of the strategic stockpile fee in order to ensure sufficient funding. The strategic stockpile fee will rise from the beginning of April so that its proceeds would increase by approximately EUR 56 million to EUR 92 million in 2026. The fee is levied on fuels and electricity as part of energy taxation.

NESA’s activities are steered and supervised by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. In addition, other ministries will remain responsible for security of supply in their respective sectors, as previously.

Inquiries:
Lotta Laitinen, Special Adviser to the Minister of Economic Affairs, tel. +358 295 049 058
Henri Backman, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 063 581
Jan Hjelt, Director General, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 048 940 (appointment of NESA’s interim Director General)

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Government supports modernising EU rules on connectivity

Ministry of Transport and Communications — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 10:24:00 GMT

The European Commission published its proposal for a new regulation on digital networks on 21 January 2026. The regulation seeks to harmonise and update EU rules on communications networks. The Commission aims at creating an effective single market by facilitating cross-border business and reducing the administrative burden on companies.

The Government supports the development of the EU single market for electronic communications. It considers it important that regulation on electronic communications forms a clear and coherent whole that reflects technological change.

The Government supports the parts of the proposal that would lighten regulation and make it more flexible and remove administrative burden from businesses. Measures to streamline regulation could even go further than proposed by the Commission.

The Government welcomes efforts to create a more consistent approach to spectrum policy in the EU. The use of radio spectrum, which is limited and has major social and economic importance, should be as efficient as possible. Predictable spectrum planning encourages investment.

Spectrum policy should aim for a shared commitment among Member States to bring frequencies into use quickly. At the same time, it is important that the actions of leading countries in spectrum policy are not slowed down. The Government considers it essential that EU regulation allows sufficient national flexibility, for example in relation to licensing processes and the terms of spectrum licences.

Digital Networks Act would harmonise EU rules on connectivity

The Commission’s proposal for a Digital Networks Act would introduce a Single Passport authorisation, allowing telecom operators to notify once in a single Member State in order to operate in all Member States. Providers of satellite communication services would receive an EU‑level authorisation, supporting the development of EU‑wide satellite services and strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy.

Under the proposal, spectrum licences giving the right to use frequencies would in principle be valid indefinitely, and their renewal would be possible without a new licensing process. The use of all available spectrum would also be improved, for example by increasing spectrum sharing.

The proposal includes administrative reforms concerning the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC), the Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG) and the BEREC secretariat. The authorities would receive new tasks, including drawing up a Union Preparedness Plan for Digital Infrastructures.

The DNA would also encourage the transition to fibre networks by regulating the phase‑out of copper networks and further developing market regulation. The proposal includes new resilience measures for European electronic communications networks, as well as provisions on universal service, net neutrality and users’ rights.

What’s next?

The Council, made up of the EU Member States, and the European Parliament will now form their positions on the Commission’s proposals.

Inquiries:

Mirka Meres-Wuori, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 295 342 061, mirka.meres-wuori@gov.fi
Satu Kaskinen, Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 295 342 044, satu.kaskinen@gov.fi

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Germany joins For Forest Group+ of forested EU countries as its eighth member

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 10:17:00 GMT

The key objective of the strategic For Forest+ partnership is to develop cooperation on forest-related matters, share information on best practices and seek common positions on forest policy matters, all in alignment with sustainable forest management. The Group was set up by Finland, Sweden, Austria and Slovenia in 2022, France joined the group in 2024 and Italy and Latvia in 2025.

“With Germany as a member, the For Forest Group+ is now much stronger. The wide interest in the group shows how impactful this kind of constructive and active cooperation can be,” Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah says.

The topical matters affecting the use of forests discussed by the ministers included the application of the EU Birds Directive in the forestry sector, the EU Deforestation Regulation, implementation of the LULUCF Regulation and post-2030 climate architecture of the EU. The ministers took a field trip to forest sites of the Swedish state-owned forest company Sveaskog to learn about forest management that also strengthens biodiversity.

The For Forest Group+ meeting discussed the implementation of the EU’s Forest Strategy, where it is important to also take into account forest policy that falls within the competence of the Member States and the work done in the context of Forest Europe, the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe. The report on the state and development of Europe’s forests published on Friday 27 March is based on the criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management defined in the Forest Europe process.

The State of Europe’s Forests 2025 report

Inquiries:

Tapio Luoma-aho
Special Adviser to the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry
+358 295 162 340
firstname.lastname@gov.fi

Erno Järvinen
Senior Ministerial Adviser, Head of Forests and Bioenergy Unit
+ 358 295 162 150
firstname.lastname@gov.fi

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Authorities’ instructions for when you see a drone

Ministry of the Interior — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 16:45:00 GMT

This press release responds to questions raised by the recent incident. In any incident, you will feel safer and more confident when you know what to do.

All unusual drone sightings are always investigated

The police and other authorities give regular updates on changes in the security situation and on any incidents or emergencies. The police investigate all unusual drone sightings reported to them. These sightings usually involve drones flying near critical infrastructure or in areas where aviation is prohibited or restricted. Most reports turn out to be linked to hobby flying or normal air traffic.

Authorities use emergency warnings and warning sirens

The competent authorities are responsible for warning the public. The authorities use many channels to publish the warnings. If there is an imminent danger, an emergency warning will be issued and/or a public warning siren sounded. Emergency warnings are broadcast on the radio and sent through the 112 Suomi app and, if necessary, shown on television. The emergency warning is also shown on teletext page 112.

Public warning sirens may be used to warn people of an imminent danger. The public warning signal is a rising and falling sound that lasts for one minute, or a warning issued using loudspeakers. When you hear the public warning signal, go indoors.

The all-clear signal is a continuous sound that lasts for one minute. It means that the threat or danger has passed.

The Ministry of the Interior has launched a project to develop a new feature for the Emergency Response Centre Agency’s 112 Suomi app to warn the public of airborne threats.

How to seek shelter indoors

Go indoors if you receive an emergency warning of a potentially dangerous drone, or you see or hear a drone that moves strangely or otherwise causes concern (e.g. flies in a prohibited area or very low). Once inside, stay in the middle of the building and keep away from windows.

If you cannot get inside, find a place that is as safe as possible.

Call the emergency number if you need to report a sighting

The 112 Suomi app sends you official emergency warnings based on your location. Make sure the app has permission to access your location and send notifications so you can use all its features. You can download the 112 Suomi app from the App Gallery, Google Play or App Store.

Call the emergency number 112 when

you see a drone in a no-fly zone
you see a drone that flies near an important site, such as:
- power plant
- airport
- port
- water treatment plant
- large telecommunications or official building
you find a drone that has fallen on the ground.

Answer the emergency response centre operator's questions and follow the instructions.

Do not call 112 with general questions about the security situation.

What to do if you find a fallen drone or see a flying drone

If you find a suspicious drone or drone parts on the ground, move away to a safe distance and call the emergency number 112. Answer the emergency response centre operator's questions and follow the instructions. Keep others away from the object. Do not share your location or a photograph of the drone on social media.

If you see a drone near critical infrastructure or in no-fly zones, assess the situation and act with caution. If needed, call 112 and report what you have seen. Answer the emergency response centre operator's questions and follow the instructions. Make sure you stay safe and, if necessary, go to the nearest indoor space away from doors and windows. Follow further updates from the authorities.

Knowledge and skills are an important part of preparedness. You will feel safer and more confident when you know what to do in different situations.

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Prime Minister Orpo: Finland’s security situation stable despite drone incident

Prime Minister's Office — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:20:00 GMT

“The war is coming closer to us, and its effects have now reached our country’s borders. However, we must not forget what this is about: Russia’s full-scale war of aggression is now in its fifth year, and Ukraine has the right to defend itself,” said Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.

The goal of Ukraine’s strikes is to limit Russia’s ability to fund the war using oil revenue. The attacks on Russian oil facilities are likely to continue.

According to the authorities, the drones may have strayed into Finnish territory due to countermeasures by Russia. Ukraine has apologised to Finland for the incident.

“The authorities are working closely together to investigate these incidents. There is no indication that the drones were sent to Finland deliberately. Finland is not currently facing a military threat,” said Prime Minister Orpo.

Finland has stepped up its surveillance and anti-drone capabilities

The Defence Forces have invested in anti-drone defence since 2018 and have increased their monitoring and countering capabilities as necessary. Finland has also increased its anti-drone readiness as a result of Russia’s war of aggression and is continuously monitoring the development of drone technology. The authorities have the capacity to further increase their preparedness if needed.

Discussions between the Government and the authorities have also highlighted the need for more effective communication with citizens.

“We have agreed that in the future, we will focus especially on communication to citizens. We take the security of Finns very seriously,” said Prime Minister Orpo.

Next, the Government will look into whether it is possible and necessary to speed up the implementation of some of the plans already under way to improve and develop drone defence and countering capabilities. The Government will decide on the matter in its session on spending limits in April at the latest.

The investigation of the incident by the National Bureau of Investigation and the Border Guard is ongoing.

Inquiries:

Marja Koskela, Diplomatic Adviser to Prime Minister Orpo, tel. +358 295 160 978

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IMO promotes digitalisation and facilitation of maritime traffic

Ministry of Transport and Communications — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:33:00 GMT

The Committee approved amendments to the FAL Convention concerning the facilitation of international maritime traffic. The most important amendments are the rules for advance passenger and crew information (API) that will promote maritime safety and crime prevention and rules to improve the cyber security of the maritime single window systems that will facilitate electronic business.

The advancement of digitalisation is a key theme in the Committee’s work. The meeting discussed the IMO Strategy on Maritime Digitalization, and the work will continue in the Correspondence Group. Presentations were also given concerning ways to promote the digitalisation of maritime traffic, and a new version of the IMO Compendium on Facilitation and Electronic Business was approved. The Compendium is a key tool for promoting electronic information exchange.

The meeting decided to begin the work to develop non-binding cyber regulation of shipping and create guidelines for the management of maritime information at ports. Matters related to stowaways and measures to fight against the smuggling of drugs were discussed as well.

What’s next?

The Facilitation Committee will meet again in spring 2027.

Inquiries:

Ritva Hautanen, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Transport and Communications, tel. +358 295 342 081, ritva.hautanen@gov.fi
Netta Lahtinen, Chief Specialist, Traficom, tel. +358 295 347 046, netta.lahtinen@traficom.fi

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Prime Minister Orpo highlights Finland’s perspective and EU funding needs in meeting with Taoiseach of Ireland Martin in Finland

Government Communications Department — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 09:15:00 GMT

Ireland will take over the Presidency of the Council of the EU on 1 July 2026. In preparation for the Presidency, Taoiseach Micheál Martin is travelling to several European capitals. Negotiations on the EU’s multiannual financial framework for 2028–2034 will be under way during Ireland’s Presidency. In Tuesday’s meeting, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo noted that Ireland will play a key role in the negotiations.

“We have to reach an agreement on EU funding by the end of this year. In Finland’s view, the overall level of the proposed financial framework is too high. It is essential to find a level that does not make Finland’s burden of payment unreasonably heavy but enables the implementation of key priorities, such as strengthening defence and competitiveness, and secures our major receipts, such as funding for agriculture. Particular attention should be paid to Finland’s unique position as both a Member State on the EU’s eastern external border and a net contributor to the EU budget,” said Minister Orpo.

Prime Ministers Orpo and Martin also discussed topical international issues, especially Ukraine and developments in the Middle East.

“We need to deliver the EUR 90 billion in loan financing already promised to Ukraine as soon as possible. At the same time, we need to move forward with the 20th package of sanctions against Russia. Russia is benefiting from high energy prices and the fact that international attention has shifted from Ukraine to the Middle East,” Prime Minister Orpo said.

Finland and Ireland are close partners with a shared recent history in peacekeeping, among other areas. In the discussions, Prime Minister Orpo pointed out that there is potential to boost bilateral trade in a variety of sectors, such as energy solutions, cybersecurity, the pharmaceutical industry and medical technology.

Inquiries: Elisa Tarkiainen, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister in EU Affairs, tel. +358 50 595 7751, Minna Kivimäki, State Secretary for EU Affairs, tel. +358 295 160 431 and Marko Ruonala, Chief Communications Specialist, tel. +358 50 522 8233, Prime Minister’s Office

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Minister of Science and Culture Talvitie visits Ukraine

Ministry of Education and Culture — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 09:01:00 GMT

The meeting underlined the central role of culture in times of crisis and in Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction. Discussions drew attention to the need for coordinated international cooperation. Participants stressed the importance of Ukrainian cultural organisations’ determination, and how remarkable it is that they can continue their work despite the war.

“It is important to note how relations between Finland and Ukraine have deepened so markedly as a result of Russia’s war of aggression. Finland continues its strong support for Ukraine’s reconstruction, especially in education and training, civil defence and the protection of cultural heritage. Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture has shown interest in the concrete cooperation initiatives proposed by Finland, and we will take them forward together,” said Minister of Science and Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie.

Finland’s address at the meeting emphasised the role of culture in building a society’s resilience and Finland’s long-term support for Ukraine’s cultural sector. The Minister stressed that culture is part of comprehensive security and that the situation in Ukraine shows how culture can be both vulnerable and resilient in times of crisis.

New tools for protecting Ukraine’s culture

The meeting introduced the Culture Resilience Alliance, established in summer 2025, which Finland joined in October 2025. The Alliance brings together governments, funders, organisations and cultural actors to support Ukrainian culture. Discussions focused on bolstering the cultural sector during reconstruction, widening international cooperation and sharing expertise on preparedness.

Finland highlighted three initiatives now in preparation as part of the European Commission’s Team Europe for Cultural Heritage in Ukraine: cooperation between the National Museum of Finland and Ukraine on collections and exhibitions, support from the Finnish National Gallery for conserving Ukrainian artworks and sharing expertise on digital long‑term preservation. Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture has expressed interest in discussing all three initiatives, as well as wider cooperation in the cultural sector.

The meeting also reviewed the work of the Ukraine Cultural Heritage Fund (UCHF) and its upcoming projects. The Fund focuses on protecting cultural heritage damaged in the war, carrying out emergency measures to stabilise conditions, and supporting long‑term restoration. Finland is not currently a donor but is monitoring developments and considering the Fund’s potential role in future discussions.

The day’s discussions showed a strong international commitment to supporting Ukraine’s cultural sector and ensuring that cultural reconstruction keeps pace with the country’s wider recovery. Participants emphasised the importance of long-term cooperation and the fact that culture underpins both resilience and peacebuilding.

According to Minister Talvitie, the Lviv meeting confirmed that protecting culture is a shared European responsibility. “Our common message was clear: culture builds trust, deepens a sense of identity and is one of the cornerstones of future reconstruction.”

Inquiries:
Kirsi Lindroos, Director, tel. +358 295 330 393
Tapani Sainio, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 295 330 336

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EU energy ministers to discuss response to situation caused by Middle East war

Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:20:00 GMT

The ministers will discuss the security of energy supply, price trends and the European Union’s readiness to react to possible market disruptions. The aim is to form a common situation picture and to support the EU’s coordinated response amid increased uncertainty in the energy market.

“It is important to consider a common approach to the sharp rise in oil and gas prices caused by the crisis in the Persian Gulf. At the same time, we need to remember that the crisis affects Member States differently. Fuel prices have risen considerably in Finland too, which has a harmful impact on everyday lives and expenses of citizens and companies. However, we do not suffer from fuel shortages and the higher fuel prices have not caused a spike in electricity prices,” minister Sari Multala says.

“Finland has been able to phase out fossil fuels in its energy production almost completely, which means that higher fossil fuel prices do not affect the availability or price of electricity here. On the other hand, we still have work to do in the transport sector as the rising fossil fuel prices are putting pressure on commuters and commercial services, in particular. We are currently looking at the alternatives to find the most appropriate and cost-effective ways to respond to the crisis,” Multala adds.

According to Cyprus, the current President of the Council of the EU and convener of the meeting, the objective is to ensure that rising energy prices do not excessively harm Europe’s competitiveness or citizens’ wellbeing. Europe has already spent about EUR 13 billion more on fossil fuel imports since the start of the current crisis compared with a normal situation, Cyprus states.

The discussions are likely to explore possible temporary and targeted support measures for households and companies, energy saving initiatives, ways to strengthen security of supply and other means to alleviate price pressures and to ensure the stability of the energy market.

The Commission has previously emphasised that the selected measures should be reasonably priced and short in duration so as not to cause a long-term burden on public finances. Targeted measures should be directed at households and companies most impacted by the price increases instead of broad-based aid that is prone to distort the market and strain public finances.

The Commission reminds the Member States that Europe’s energy transition is a strategic objective and that no short-term crisis should undermine European climate goals.

Inquiries:
Riku Huttunen, Director General, Minister of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 50 431 6518 Elina Johansson, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 50 301 4607
Juuso Kilpinen, Special Adviser to the Minister of Climate and the Environment, tel. +358 50 322 9636

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Large project to make asylum procedures more efficient

Ministry of the Interior — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:15:00 GMT

In the project, the asylum application process will be examined from the registration stage up to when applicants who have received a favourable decision move from the reception system to a municipality or applicants who have received a negative decision are removed from the country.

The aim is to make the processing time of asylum applications shorter, while also achieving cost savings. The results of the project will help enhance the planning of the reception network and reception capacity.

Since the asylum process is one that requires close cooperation and smooth flow of information between different authorities, it is only by joint efforts that it can be streamlined.

The Ministry of the Interior, as project leader, has requested the following to appoint their representatives to the project: the Ministry of Justice, the Finnish Border Guard, the National Police Board of Finland, the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service, the Finnish Immigration Service, the National Legal Services Authority, the National Courts Administration and the Office of the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman. The project will run until 28 February 2027.

The project is based on the Government Programme's entries on making the asylum system more efficient and streamlining voluntary and forced returns of those whose application has been rejected.

From the perspective of central government finances, it is also important to further develop practices in order to achieve the productivity goals set for the Ministry of the Interior’s branch of government and to adapt operations to the available appropriations.

The project will also support the national implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. The pact, which applies from June, is designed to ensure that asylum procedures are as well-organised as possible.

Inquiries:
Sanna Sutter, Director of Development and Steering, tel. +358 295 488 200, firstname.lastname@gov.fi

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Minister Adlercreutz to attend EU foreign ministers’ informal meeting in Kyiv

Ministry for Foreign Affairs — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:01:00 GMT

The meeting will focus especially on Russia’s accountability for crimes that it has committed during its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine and that violate international law.

“Finland stands firmly by Ukraine. A just and lasting peace requires that Russia is held accountable for the consequences of its illegal actions against Ukraine. Ensuring Russia’s accountability is crucial for both Ukraine and the credibility of the international legal order,” says Minister of Education Anders Adlercreutz.

The meeting will also discuss support for Ukraine and securing a lasting peace.

“It is essential for European countries to commit to long-term support for Ukraine. This will strengthen both Ukraine’s capacity to defend itself and European security,” Adlercreutz says.

Inquiries

Andreas Elfving, Special Adviser to Minister Adlercreutz, tel. +358 50 325 4706
The email addresses of the Finnish Government are in the format firstname.lastname@gov.fi

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Finland to grant humanitarian assistance to Lebanon

Ministry for Foreign Affairs — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT

A refugee child in the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon. Photo: UNOCHA

The escalation of the situation in the Middle East and the hostilities have led to a rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis in Lebanon.

A large number of people have fled the attacks in a very short time, and the number of internally displaced persons is already estimated at over one million in a country with a population of about 5.8 million. The number of displaced persons is expected to increase as military actions continue.

Finland will grant two million euros in humanitarian assistance to Lebanon through the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

“The humanitarian situation in Lebanon is very dire. The UNHCR focuses support to vulnerable groups, such as families with children and persons with disabilities, by providing accommodation and basic commodities, among other assistance,” says Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio.

Finland also granted humanitarian assistance to the region as part of the decisions made in early 2026. In total, Finland granted approximately EUR 19 million in flexible, targeted humanitarian funding to organisations that respond to the humanitarian situation in Lebanon, among other countries.

Finland is funding the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which have allocated a total of EUR 15.5 million to humanitarian action in Lebanon.

Finland also uses humanitarian funding to support the work carried out in Lebanon by Plan International Finland, the UNHCR, and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Inquiries

Hannu Heinonen, Director, Unit for the Middle East and the Gulf, tel. +358 295 351 501
Anna Vitie, Director of the Unit for Humanitarian Assistance, tel. +358 295 350 130

The email addresses of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs are in the format firstname.lastname@gov.fi

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Suspected territorial violation by unmanned aerial vehicles in Southeast Finland on Sunday

Ministry of Defence — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 10:51:00 GMT

“Drones have strayed into the Finnish territory. We are taking the matter very seriously. The security authorities have responded immediately. The investigation into the incidents will continue and more detailed information will be provided once the information is confirmed,” says Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen.

The Finnish Defence Forces are investigating the incident in cooperation with other authorities. Further information on the matter will be provided by the Defence Forces together with the other authorities.

Inquiries: ilmavoimat@mil.fi

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Six negative decisions on real estate transactions

Ministry of Defence — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The negative decisions concerned properties in Imatra, Savonlinna, Kittilä, Raseborg, Parikkala and Sysmä.

The applicants had different kinds of plans for the real estate, such as business, residential and recreational use. They are citizens or companies owned by citizens of Russia, Uzbekistan, China and Canada.

Because of the changes in the security environment, Finnish authorities must take sufficient measures to prevent different kinds of broad-spectrum threats. Buying real estate in Finland can be used to gain a foothold in the country or to undermine public authorities’ ability to act.

“That is why we will not allow real estate acquisitions when we cannot rule out a threat to national security, homeland defence, border security and security of supply,” said Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen.

The decisions to deny the applicants a permit were based on the Act on Permit Requirements for Certain Real Estate Acquisitions (470/2019).

The decisions are not yet final.

Any requests by media for access to documents should be sent via email to the Registry of the Ministry of Defence at kirjaamo.plm(at)gov.fi.

Further information can be inquired by email from the Media and Communications Unit of the Ministry of Defence at tiedotus.plm(at)gov.fi.

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New heads of mission appointed to Budapest, Hong Kong and Shanghai

Ministry for Foreign Affairs — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:32:00 GMT

Embassy of Finland in Budapest, Hungary

The President of the Republic appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Pekka Kaihilahti to serve as Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Budapest, starting on 1 September 2026.

Pekka Kaihilahti

Kaihilahti will move to Budapest from Finland’s Embassy in Jakarta, where he has worked as Head of Mission since 2022. He previously worked at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs as Deputy Director General of the Department for the Americas and Asia in 2018–2022.

His career in the diplomatic service includes posts at Finland’s Mission to NATO in Brussels and embassies in Mexico City, Beijing and Brasília.

Kaihilahti holds the degree of Master of Social Sciences. He joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1999.

Consulate General of Finland in Hong Kong

The President of the Republic appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Juha Niemi to serve as Head of Mission at Finland’s Consulate General in Hong Kong, starting on 1 September 2026.

Juha Niemi

Niemi will move to Hong Kong from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, where he has been Deputy Director General of the Department for Asia and Oceania since 2024.
His previous positions include Deputy Director General of the Department for the Americas and Asia and Diplomatic Adviser in the Office of the Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade.

His career in the diplomatic service includes posts in Finland’s Permanent Mission in Geneva and embassies in Tokyo and Pretoria.

Niemi holds a Master’s degree in Social Sciences. He joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 2001.

Consulate General of Finland in Shanghai, China

Government appointed Counsellor Joonas Heiskanen to serve as Counsellor for Foreign Affairs, starting on 1 September 2026. The President of the Republic appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Joonas Heiskanen to serve as Head of Mission at Finland’s Consulate General in Shanghai, starting on 1 September 2026.

Joonas Heiskanen

Heiskanen will transfer to Shanghai from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, where he has worked as Director of the Unit for Russia and Central Asia since 2024. Before that, he served as Director of the Unit for Russia and as Team Leader of the Unit for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

In the diplomatic service, he has also worked for Finland’s Embassy in Moscow, Consulate General in St Petersburg and embassies in Zagreb and Jakarta.

Heiskanen holds the degree of Master of Social Sciences. He joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 2003.

Inquiries

Markus Teir, Director, Human Resources Unit, tel. +358 295 350 441
The email addresses of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs are in the format firstname.lastname@gov.fi

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Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs discusses first EU visa policy strategy

Government Communications Department — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:26:00 GMT

The Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs outlined Finland’s positions on the first EU Visa Strategy, which the European Commission adopted in January. In Finland’s view, visa policy can help make Europe safer and more economically prosperous. Finland shares the Commission’s view that the visa system needs tools to respond to hostile actions by third countries. Finland also supports using the Visa Code to foster cooperation with third countries on the return and readmission of their nationals, as well as improving the monitoring of visa-free schemes.

The Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs also outlined Finland’s positions on the European Asylum and Migration Strategy adopted by the Commission in January. The strategy aims to support the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum. It sets out the EU’s political objectives on asylum and migration, with concrete actions for implementing migration policy over the next five years.

A further item on the agenda was the Digital Networks Act, a comprehensive legal framework aiming to modernise, simplify and harmonise the EU’s regulation on communications networks. The proposal concerns various sectors of the single market for electronic communications, including radio spectrum management, telecommunications sector licensing, regulation of significant market power, consumer protection, universal service and cooperation on preparedness. Finland’s positions will be made public once they have been discussed at a government session.

The ministerial committee also outlined Finland’s positions for two upcoming meetings:
• Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 30 March
• Informal meeting of competitiveness ministers (Research) on 30–31 March

The Agriculture and Fisheries Council will discuss the vision for agriculture and food, trade-related agricultural issues and the energy transition in the EU fisheries and aquaculture sectors.

The informal meeting of competitiveness ministers will focus on harnessing Europe’s innovation potential in developing competitiveness.

Inquiries: Elisa Tarkiainen, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 295 160 363, Minna Kivimäki, State Secretary for EU Affairs, tel. +358 295 160 431 and Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 0733, Prime Minister’s Office

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Review of reforming transport taxation and financing completed

Ministry of Transport and Communications — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 07:16:00 GMT

The ministries assessed the current system and future reform needs against four policy goals:

maintaining Finland’s competitiveness
protecting people’s purchasing power
meeting national and EU emission‑reduction targets cost‑effectively, and
safeguarding the sustainability of public finances.

The evidence and assessments in the report will feed into the second phase of the project. The evidence base draws on statistics, policy studies, research findings and scenario calculations based on expert analyses. The assessments reflect public officials’ views on how to advance the policy goals and what to prioritise.

The assessments also carry uncertainties. Shifts in the security environment, EU policy and the economy may be rapid and differ significantly from the assumptions on which the assessments are based.

Ensuring the sustainability of public finances emerges as the biggest challenge

The transport sector plays a major role in the challenge of making public finances sustainable. Revenues from transport taxes are falling rapidly. At the same time, costs are rising as Finland seeks to prevent the deterioration of transport infrastructure, develop the network, purchase transport services and cover transport‑related subsidies.

Preliminary sectoral analysis shows that taxes and charges collected from transport now cover only part of the public spending, tax concessions and damage costs linked to the sector. On the other hand, emissions trading will increase central government revenue, while greenhouse gas emissions and traffic accidents will decline. The report notes that Finland needs a clear picture of the transport sector’s socio‑economic cost correlation and its development to enable further analysis and decisions.

The report proposes that the project’s second phase should assess in more detail the cost correlation between the current taxes and charges collected from transport and the public spending and damage costs, across the whole sector and for each mode of transport.

This would make it possible to better define the sector’s role in ensuring the sustainability of public finances, and to choose effective methods to reform transport taxation and financing. The next phase could also set a timeline for carrying out the reform gradually. A new review would focus primarily on domestic road and rail transport.

Finland’s logistical conditions place a strain on the economy

Because of the country’s industrial structure, scattered locations and long international distances, Finland’s economy is relatively transport‑intensive, which weighs on its competitiveness.

Maintaining Finland’s competitiveness and ensuring that international transport remains interoperable with competitor countries will require progress in the shift to new power sources across all modes of transport. It will also be necessary to keep existing transport infrastructure in good condition. However, there is little scope to lower the total amount of transport‑related taxes and charges in road and rail transport.

A sustainable shift to new power sources could, in the long run, bring down transport costs and make travel more affordable for everyone in Finland. Scenario analysis suggests that the cost of private motoring could even fall once electrification has advanced significantly, provided that vehicle prices come down, electricity remains reasonably priced, and low-emission options that are technologically and economically competitive enter the market. The transition to new power sources will continue for decades, and progress may be slower than anticipated particularly in heavy goods transport.

EU’s future climate policy is still to be determined

The EU regulates extensively the use of fossil fuels in transport. Road, maritime and air transport fuels are subject to distribution obligations. A new emissions trading scheme for the distribution of road transport fuels will complement the existing schemes for air and maritime transport. Finland committed to the existing EU Emissions Trading Scheme in 2022. Many other pieces of legislation on the means of transport are tied to these instruments and to the aim of cutting emissions.

What’s next?

The Ministry of Transport and Communications and the Ministry of Finance propose that in 2026 the evidence base for reforming transport taxation and financing be expanded and the options defined, so that the results are available in time for drafting the next government programme.

Inquiries:

Niko-Matti Ronikonmäki, Director of Unit, Ministry of Transport and Communications, tel. +358 295 342 016, niko-matti.ronikonmaki@gov.fi

Markus Teräväinen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Finance, tel. +358 295 530 719, markus.teravainen@gov.fi

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