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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...

22.12.2025 | Finland has decided to apply for support from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to reduce the impact of terminations announced by the paper industry in October. Finland will submit an application to the European Commission in early 2026 after the number of people being made redundant is known. Funding will be used for services promoting re-employment. Of the total budget of an EGF project, 60 per cent comes from the EU and the remainder is funded nationally.

23.1.2026 | The members of the European Council held an informal meeting on Thursday 22 January. Topics on the agenda included recent developments in transatlantic relations, the role of the European Union, and actions needed in the changing geopolitical situation. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo represented Finland at the meeting.

6.3.2025 | On 6 March 2025, the Government decided on the allocation of funds under ‘Innovation and Skills in Finland 2021–2027’, the EU’s Regional and Structural Policy Programme, for 2025. At the same time, the Government made decisions on the allocation of funds from the 2021–2027 Interreg programmes for 2025.

17.7.2025 | The EU General Affairs Council (GAC) will meet in Brussels on Friday 18 July. At the meeting, the ministers will hold their first preliminary discussion on the EU’s next multiannual financial framework based on the proposal put forth by the Commission on Wednesday 16 July. Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Joakim Strand will represent Finland at the meeting.

13.11.2025 | A national collaboration model is being proposed for Finland to strengthen collaboration among key stakeholders in clinical research and make it easier for patients to access new treatments. The FinTrials collaboration model also aims to strengthen Finland’s position as an attractive country for clinical trials and increase investments in the sector. The proposal was made by the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra at the request of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

10.2.2025 | The fourth programming period of EU structural funds for Finland ended at the end of last year. Finland made full use of the funding provided by the EU, including additional funding from the EU recovery package. The ‘Sustainable growth and jobs’ programme invested EUR 3 billion in the vitality of Finnish regions to promote the success of companies, RDI activities and citizens.

25.8.2025 | "Finland is advancing the interests of Finland and Finnish businesses in a proactive and forward-looking way, also in the midst of ongoing changes."

10.12.2025 | A new OECD report, prepared at the request of the European Commission, sets out a roadmap to strengthen resilience, competitiveness and security in Finland’s eastern border regions. The report was launched in Helsinki on 10 December.

5.11.2025 | The meeting of Nordic and Baltic ministers for digitalisation plans to adopt a declaration promoting European Digital Identity Wallets. The meeting is being held in Tampere on 6 November.

4.12.2025 | Opening remarks by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Elina Valtonen at the OSCE Ministerial Council in Vienna 4 December 2025.

9.12.2025 | Statement by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Elina Valtonen at the United Nations Security Council meeting in New York, 8 December 2025.

9.12.2025 | For the first time, biotechnology is among the proposed themes of IPCEIs. The EU Member States want to promote biotechnology projects by including biotechnology in Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs). Together with Germany and Estonia, Finland has been preparing three thematic IPCEI proposals for biotechnology since November 2024.

8.8.2025 | The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment proposes appropriations of approximately EUR 3.49 billion for its administrative branch for 2026. This is EUR 179 million less than in the 2025 Budget.

27.11.2024 | Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Joakim Strand will represent Finland at the EU General Affairs Council meeting on cohesion issues in Brussels on Thursday 28 November. The main theme of the meeting will be a discussion on the future management model for cohesion policy.

27.8.2024 | Speech by Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Joakim Strand at the Annual Meeting of Heads of Mission in Helsinki on 27 August 2024. Check against delivery.

21.1.2022 | The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will fund the European Digital Innovation Hubs selected from Finland for the first three years. The hubs support businesses and the public sector in the utilisation and deployment of digital solutions.

23.6.2025 | This year, the European Union’s most important Arctic event will take place in Kittilä, on 26–27 June. The event is expected to attract about 350 attendees from across Europe.

21.6.2023 | The winners of the Finnish competition for the European Enterprise Promotion Award are the Business Lande project, which promotes entrepreneurship among young people in rural areas, and the Startup Refugees entrepreneurship programme, which supports asylum seekers, refugees and other immigrants in the path towards work, entrepreneurship and skills development.

13.11.2025 | With a budget of almost EUR 28 million, the ACWA LIFE project is one of the most significant projects during the history of water resources management in Finland. The eight-year project to be started in the beginning of 2026 will improve the status of waters by enhancing river basin management planning and actions based on this in five areas.