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4.3.2026 | Finland’s new national report to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity shows that the work to halt biodiversity loss is heading in the right direction. Progress has been made in almost all sectors, but measures need to be upscaled in the protection, restoration and management of nature. Besides this, actions that cause biodiversity loss must be avoided or mitigated. Awareness of the importa...

28.8.2024 | A wide range of national and international experts have gathered in Finland to find solutions for supporting healthcare and social welfare personnel’s mental health, wellbeing and ability to cope at work. This two-day seminar in Helsinki is organised jointly by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organization (WHO).

14.7.2023 | Starting on 1 September 2023, non-urgent care in primary health care must be provided to people more quickly. The maximum waiting time for outpatient care will be shortened from three months to 14 days, and the maximum waiting time for oral health care from six months to four months.

9.1.2026 | Radical Health Festival, Europe’s leading health sector event, will take place in Helsinki from 19 to 21 January 2026, offering an international setting for leading health sector experts to discuss how to leverage artificial intelligence and data in healthcare. The event will gather professionals, decision-makers and businesses in the field to accelerate renewal in health and social services.

19.9.2023 | In its first budget session, the Government of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo decided on solutions that will return Finland to a sustainable growth track. The Government will launch structural reforms to boost employment and growth, which will have positive impacts on general government finances in the next few years. In addition, the Government decided on consolidation measures.

10.12.2025 | The wellbeing services county reform is progressing towards the set objectives throughout Finland, but there are still many issues left to address. This is according to a broad-based interim evaluation of the wellbeing services county reform made by an independent expert group.

26.5.2021 | The Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland defines how Finland will use funding from Next Generation EU, the EU’s recovery instrument. The programme will accelerate, for example, digitalisation and investment in the green transition. In addition, the programme will promote raising the employment rate and speeding up access to care. A key objective of the programme is also to support regional, social and gender equality.

13.3.2024 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo spoke at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 13 March 2024. Check against delivery.

27.4.2022 | Prime Minister Sanna Marin gave an address on behalf of the Government at the main event for National Veterans’ Day in Lappeenranta on 27 April 2022. Prime Minister’s speech to be checked against delivery.

25.8.2025 | Speech by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo at the Annual Meeting of Heads of Mission in Helsinki on 25 August 2025. Speech to be checked against delivery.

13.6.2025 | The recipients of the 2025 State Award for Public Information have two things in common: they give a voice to those often left unheard and they challenge the status quo. Their work invites us to look at the world with curiosity, empathy and a critical eye.

22.8.2022 | "While Europe stands united in relation to Russia and in condemning military action, we must not ignore or forget Afghanistan, Myanmar, Syria, Yemen and other countries where human rights or the social conditions for living a decent life are under threat. The global need for humanitarian aid is now greater than ever before. No single humanitarian crisis is more important than another. These are always matters of human distress."

29.1.2024 | A recent report compares Finns’ state of health and Finnish health services with other EU states and Nordic countries. Released by the European Commission, focus areas of the report include the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and mental health. Although Finland does well in many respects, there are challenges especially in the availability of health services.

2.4.2020 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has issued instructions to social welfare units on how the Communicable Diseases Act and the Emergency Powers Act impact freedom of movement.

25.8.2023 | The proposal of the Ministry of Finance for the 2024 budget and spending limits for 2024–2027 ensures implementation of the policies in the Government Programme. The budget proposal totals EUR 87.2 billion, and a deficit of EUR 10.1 billion is proposed. The budget total is EUR 3.7 billion higher than the total budgeted for 2023, including the first supplementary budget. The budget proposal will be published in full at budjetti.vm.fi on Monday 28 August.

28.8.2024 | The number of applications increased slightly from the previous year while the processing times for permits shortened significantly. In the first part of 2024, 15,959 people applied for the first permit, compared with 15,493 persons during the same time last year.

9.9.2021 | The budget proposal of Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Government for 2022 builds sustainable growth for the future in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. The budget proposal aims to support post-pandemic recovery, accelerate investments, enable environmentally sustainable growth and increase the availability of skilled labour. The goal is to safeguard people’s wellbeing and to ensure favourable conditions for sustainable economic growth in the long term.

6.9.2023 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo gave a presentation speech to Parliament on the government statement on promoting equality, gender equality and non-discrimination on 6 September 2023. Speech to be checked against delivery.

22.7.2019 | Helsinki 22.7.2019 (CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY)

31.10.2019 | Key challenges and actions for achieving sustainable development goals