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23.8.2021 | Distinguished Ambassadors, Ladies and Gentlemen, This year has shown very clearly the importance of foreign policy and the work of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. I do not mean just the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan and the tasks related to it, but all the events of the past few months: the global response to the coronavirus crisis, international efforts to halt climate change, work to promote ...

12.2.2021 | Finland invests in climate diplomacy ahead of summits Ministry for Foreign Affairs Publication date 12.2.2021 15.34 Type: News item The year 2021 will be a “super year” for climate change and biodiversity. Finland's own ambitious climate objective...

15.10.2021 | Finland bears its responsibility as part of the climate finance pledge of the Paris Agreement. At the United Nations Climate Change Conference, Finland will announce support for adaptation measures in developing countries in particular. The COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference will be held in Glasgow from 31 October to 12 November 2021.

16.4.2021 | The main topics to be discussed at the April meeting of the EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs are the situation in Ethiopia and Ukraine. Finland’s representative at the informal video conference will be Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto. The Ministers will also hold an informal exchange with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba.

15.2.2022 | The second year of the pandemic was busy for the consular assistance services provided by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Finland's missions abroad, and the number of customers continued to increase. In 2021, the Ministry and the missions abroad provided consular services to a total of 255,000 customers.

22.2.2021 | Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto and UN Secretary-General António Guterres held a discussion on Monday 22 February 2021.

15.2.2022 | Toinen pandemiavuosi oli ulkoministeriön ja Suomen ulkomaan edustustojen konsuliavustamisessa kiireinen ja asiakasmäärät kasvoivat edelleen. Vuonna 2021 ulkoministeriö ja edustustot antoivat konsulipalveluita yhteensä noin 255 000 asiakkaalle.

12.11.2021 | EU:n ulkoministerit kokoontuvat Brysselissä maanantaina 15.11. Ulkoasiainneuvoston kokouksen pääaiheita ovat Sahel, Länsi-Balkan sekä EU:n turvallisuus- ja puolustusyhteistyötä koskeva strateginen kompassi. Ajankohtaisina aiheina esillä ovat muun muassa Valko-Venäjä, energianhintojen geopoliittiset ulottuvuudet, Etiopia, Sudan ja COP26-kokouksen tulokset. EU:n itäisen kumppanuuden ulkoministerikokouksessa keskustellaan yhteistyön tulevista painopisteistä ja valmistellaan 15.

12.11.2021 | EU foreign ministers will meet in Brussels on Monday 15 November. The main topics on the meeting agenda will be the Sahel, the Western Balkans and the Strategic Compass for security and defence cooperation in the EU. Topical issues on the agenda will include Belarus, the geopolitical dimensions of energy prices, Ethiopia, Sudan and the outcome of the COP26 summit. The meeting of foreign ministers...

26.3.2021 | More than 200 million people across the globe need humanitarian assistance due to conflicts, natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. The provision of humanitarian assistance is one of the most concrete ways of responding to crises and disasters. Finland grants a total of EUR 69.6 million to humanitarian work carried out by the UN organizations, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and Finnish civil society organisations.

23.5.2023 | Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto's keynote address at the Fletcher School Commencement May 21, 2023.

20.1.2022 | EU foreign ministers will convene in Brussels on 24 January. The main items on the agenda are the security situation in Eastern Europe and the latest developments in Libya and Syria. The ministers will also discuss the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and the situation in Mali, Sudan and Kazakhstan. Later the same day, Foreign Minister Haavisto and Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde will meet NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

19.2.2021 | The EU foreign ministers will convene in Brussels on Monday 22 February. Finland’s representative at the meeting will be Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto. The ministers will exchange views on Russia, the Strategic Compass for EU security and defence policy, and Hong Kong. Foreign Minister Haavisto will give a report on his visit to Ethiopia and Sudan as Special Envoy of the European Union.

4.8.2023 | Summary: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues. As a result of the war, around four million Ukrainians have applied for temporary protection in the Member States of the European Union. Other migration to the EU is also growing. Both the number of asylum applications submitted in the EU and irregular migration to the EU are on the rise. At the moment, migration pressure is concentrated on the Central Mediterranean route from Tunisia and Libya to Italy.

10.3.2023 | Consultation of civil society has become an established part of Finland’s preparations for the sessions of the UN Human Rights Council. The views of civil society support the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in its work to promote human rights. Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto discussed with a broad spectrum of the Finnish civil society members in February before the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council.

27.2.2023 | Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto at the High-Level Segment of the United Nations Human Rights Council's 52nd session on 27 February 2023.

27.6.2023 | The United Nations Human Rights Council will hold its second regular session of this year from 19 June to 14 July. Before each session, as part of Finland’s contribution to the work of the Human Rights Council, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs asks civil society organisations for their views on Finland's priorities and objectives. Many civil society representatives again gathered at Merikasarmi, Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

8.7.2022 | On 8 July, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto appointed Member of Parliament Suldaan Said Ahmed as his Special Representative on Peace Mediation in the Horn of Africa. In his work as Foreign Minister’s Special Representative, Said Ahmed will focus on supporting peace processes.

16.2.2023 | Under-Secretary of State Pasi Hellman from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will attend the pledging conference of the Education Cannot Wait fund in Geneva 16 to 17 February. The fund supports education in humanitarian and prolonged crises. Finland will grant two million euros to the Education Cannot Wait fund this year. In 2020–2022, Finland supported the fund by a total of EUR 6 million.

24.1.2023 | The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will be at Educa education and training event at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre Messukeskus from 27 to 28 January. At the Ministry’s stand 6n50, visitors can hear accounts of how Finland and the EU are supporting education in in the world’s crisis areas. Publications of the Foreign Ministry are available free of charge at the stand.