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22.1.2026
Public Sector Investment Facility, PIF Concept Review 2026 opened
The Public Sector Investment Facility (PIF) is one of Finland’s development policy instruments for financing investments in developing countries. PIF provides financial support to such public sector projects in developing countries that are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and that make use of Finnish technology and expertise.
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16.1.2026
Call for project support applications for 2027–2030 opens for Finnish civil society organisations
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has opened a call for applications for project support available for Finnish civil society organisations (CSOs). The call is open from 16 January to 27 February. Applications can be submitted for discretionary government grants for development cooperation projects in 2027–2030. The grant is awarded from the development cooperation appropriations for Finnish CSOs’ development cooperation.
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15.1.2026
Crisis preparedness from media literacy to ocean currents – Nordic cooperation under Finland's and Åland's Co-Presidency in 2025
Finland and Åland led the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2025. The priorities for the Co-Presidency were children and youth as well as societal security.
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7.1.2026
One year at the helm of the OSCE: an overview of Finland’s 2025 Chairpersonship
Finland’s term as Chairperson of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) ended on the last day of 2025. Last year marked 50 years since the CSCE meeting in Helsinki and the adoption of the Helsinki Final Act. The principles enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act are as relevant today as they were fifty years ago because they represent the essence of humanity: the yearning for freedom, cooperation and peace.
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23.12.2025
Season's Greetings and Happy New Year
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland wishes everybody a joyous holiday season and a happy and peaceful New Year 2026!
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9.12.2025
Finnish MPs visit Zambia
A delegation of Finnish Members of Parliament from the Development Policy Committee visited Zambia on 22–28 November to discuss with the country’s political leadership the development of cooperation between Finland and Zambia and to learn about topical development issues in the country.
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8.12.2025
Foreign Ministry opens call for applications for government grants for foreign and security policy in 2026
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs opens a call for applications for discretionary government grants for civil society organisations (CSOs) and communities whose activities are relevant to Finland’s foreign and security policy and its international commitments and that support the promotion of international activities of Finnish businesses and the development and provision of services aimed at helping businesses to expand internationally.
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4.12.2025
Meeting of Nordic and Central Asian Foreign Ministers at the OSCE Ministerial Council highlights regional cooperation opportunities
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Elina Valtonen hosted an informal meeting with the Foreign Ministers of the Nordic and Central Asian countries on the sidelines of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Ministerial Council in Vienna on 4 December 2025. The meeting brought together ministers or their representatives from Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
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26.11.2025
Preparations continue on the decree on certain documents related to export control of dual-use items
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs received a total of 14 comments concerning the decree on certain documents regarding export control of dual-use items. The draft decree has been revised based on the comments received.
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19.11.2025
Held hostage by a foreign state: Independent International Panel recommends measures for states in its report
A report of the Independent International Panel on Arbitrary detention in State-to-State Relations was published in New York on 28 October. Ambassador Marja Lehto served as the Vice-Chair of the Panel.
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18.11.2025
Update to EU control list of dual-use items enters into force
The updated list of dual-use items subject to export controls in the EU, adopted by the European Commission in September, entered into force on 15 November 2025.
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11.11.2025
A year at Spanish diplomatic academy: Cooperation and global connections
Finnish diplomat Rasmus Salminen participated in a further training programme for diplomats, organised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The year-long training opened doors to global connections and provided fresh insights into international relations.
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14.10.2025
Export Control Forum in Brussels in November
The European Commission will hold its Export Control Forum in Brussels on 14 November 2025.
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7.10.2025
Join our Export Control Clinic
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will organise an event on current export control matters for exporters of dual-use items on 31 October 2025.
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3.10.2025
Finnish Immigration Service to issue residence permits for work and study to holders of Palestinian passports
The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) has changed its policy and will now be issuing residence permits for work or study to holders of Palestinian passports.
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3.10.2025
A new Entry/Exit System will be introduced in the EU
The European Commission has confirmed that the new Entry/Exit System (EES) will be introduced on 12 October 2025.
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1.10.2025
Boosting climate finance through collaboration
The Nordic Climate Dialogues seminar on 1 October discussed the outlook for international climate finance in the coming years. Climate finance is expected to increase by more than 25 per cent annually; however, only a small part of the financing is used for climate action in the least developed countries.
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1.10.2025
How do you see Finland? Take part in our survey!
The Finland Promotion Board is currently updating Finland’s country branding strategy and is inviting everyone to contribute their views. The ‘12 questions about Finland’ survey provides an opportunity for people to share their perceptions and experiences of Finland. The answers will be used in future country branding work.
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25.9.2025
Request for information concerning trade with the United States
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs requests companies and interest groups to provide their views on export to the United States.
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4.9.2025
International top chefs take inspiration from traditional Finnish ingredients
The National Finnish Food Day was celebrated on 4 September. Finnish cuisine also featured prominently in training organised in Helsinki for international chefs working at Finnish missions abroad, with rye bread – Finland’s national food – taking centre stage.
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29.8.2025
Finland continues to recognize passports issued by the Palestinian Authority
The Finnish Immigration Service has changed its policy and is currently not issuing residence permits for work or study for holders of Palestinian passports.
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29.8.2025
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27.8.2025
Comments published on the decree on export control of dual-use items
The public consultation concerning the Ministry for Foreign Affairs decree on export control of dual-use items ended on 15 August 2025. The comments are available in the Gateway to Information on Government Projects.
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26.8.2025
Development financier Finnfund’s new investment fund to support digital inclusiveness in developing countries
The Finnish development financier Finnfund has set up a new investment fund to support the development of digital services and infrastructure in developing countries. The aim is to promote gender equality and financial inclusiveness in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
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31.7.2025
Video recording of the Helsinki+50 Conference
The Finnish OSCE Chairpersonship organised a conference on 31 July 2025 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act. The event was live-streamed.
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30.6.2025
Finland’s new Consulate General in Houston to open on 1 July 2025
Finland will strengthen its network of diplomatic missions in the United States with the opening of the new Consulate General in Houston, Texas, on 1 July 2025.
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18.6.2025
Harnessing AI for Efficient Use of Evaluation Evidence
The Development Evaluation Unit of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland has launched a new AI-assisted tool called OpenEval, designed to serve the foreign service, stakeholders, and the general public alike. The tool makes it easier to access information from public evaluation reports.
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13.6.2025
Finnish sanctions authorities remind companies of the importance of sanctions
This week, the Finnish sanctions authorities will send a letter to companies cautioning them that they may be used as platforms or targets for circumventing trade sanctions. The purpose of this letter is to draw attention to the sanctions in force and to provide assistance in complying with them.
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12.6.2025
Read more about the Foreign Ministry’s trade promotion services
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has launched a new trade promotion services website offering comprehensive information on the Ministry’s services to businesses. The new service package comprises four categories.
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5.6.2025
Finland and the US co-host seminar in Helsinki against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Finnish Customs in cooperation with the United States hosted a regional seminar of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) aimed at preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The seminar was held in Helsinki, Finland, on 3–5 June 2025.
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5.6.2025
EU Arctic cooperation under the midnight sun
The EU Arctic Forum, to be held at Levi, Lapland, on 26–27 June 2025, gives European Arctic actors an opportunity to discuss the future of Arctic cooperation at its turning point.
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9.5.2025
Invoicing of export control services begins
The new Ministry for Foreign Affairs Decree on Fees for Services Produced by the Foreign Service in 2025 entered into force on 1 January 2025. With the Decree's entry into force, export control services, such as the processing of various authorisations, were made chargeable.
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9.5.2025
Request for information to companies concerning trade with the United States
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs requests companies and interest groups to provide their views on the products included in the EU's list of trade countermeasures and information on trade with the United States.
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28.4.2025
Reminder: Register to export control training
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will organise export control training for companies exporting dual-use items on Friday 9 May 2025. Registration will be open until 2 May.
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23.4.2025
Involving young people in peace negotiations — follow the discussion at the World Village Festival
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ programme features a discussion on how to involve young people in peace negotiations. The discussion will take place on the World Village Festival’s Speaker’s Stage at Tiivistämö on 24 May at 13.15. Participants are Cevor Tikerpuu, Finland's Youth Delegate to the UN, and Senior Specialist Laura Hendry from the Foreign Ministry’s Centre for Peace Mediation.
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23.4.2025
Foreign students arriving in Finland: how to apply for a residence permit
If you are a citizen of a non-EU country and are not a citizen of a EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, you will need a residence permit for studies. Apply for a residence permit in the Enter Finland online service first and then book an appointment for identification. It is advisable to book the appointment as soon as possible, as the missions may be busy during the summer months.
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10.4.2025
Foreign Ministry is seeking candidates for conciliators, arbitrator and alternate for OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is inviting interested candidates to apply for the position of a conciliator and an arbitrator at the Court of Conciliation and Arbitration within the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) by 30 April 2025.
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8.4.2025
Finland’s OSCE Chairpersonship emphasises climate security and sustainable development in both words and action
Finland is emphasising climate security and the importance of sustainable development in international diplomacy during its Chairpersonship of the OSCE.
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4.4.2025
Export control training on export of dual-use items
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will organise export control training for companies exporting dual-use items on Friday 9 May 2025.
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1.4.2025
Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Discrimination appointed
Finland holds the Chairpersonship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2025. Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen has appointed Prof. Dr Wolfgang Palaver as Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Discrimination.
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28.3.2025
Finland sets an example in evaluating sustainable development
Finland has been a forerunner in conducting national evaluations of sustainable development. The new second edition of a guidebook compiles experiences from various countries and provides practical lessons for planning and implementing country-led evaluations of sustainable development.
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20.3.2025
Information request to companies on the United States’ steel and aluminium tariffs and the EU’s countermeasures
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs requests opinions from companies in relation to the increased tariffs for imports and the EU’s possible countermeasures.
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19.2.2025
Foreign wild-berry pickers now subject to seasonal work rules: legislative amendment combats exploitation and human trafficking
Following legislative amendments that entered into force on 17 February, wild-berry picking carried out by foreign nationals is treated as seasonal work. Companies must hire foreign berry pickers for a contractual employment relationship to enable them apply for an entry permit to Finland. In future, berry pickers will apply for a seasonal work visa for stays up to three months.
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10.2.2025
Importance of dialogue discussed at OSCE’s annual conference on addressing anti-Semitism
The annual OSCE Conference on addressing anti-Semitism opened today, February 10, in Helsinki. The conference is part of the OSCE's work on combating intolerance. In addition to anti-Semitism, the conference touches upon discrimination faced by Muslims, Christians and representatives of other religions.
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10.2.2025
Finland promotes human rights globally during its three-year membership of UN Human Rights Council
During its membership of the UN Human Rights Council between 2022 and 2024, Finland defended universal human rights and the multilateral rules-based system. Finland’s key priorities were to ensure accountability and gender equality and to promote and defend the rights of women and girls, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities and LGBTI persons.
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7.2.2025
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5.2.2025
Video: Minister Tavio's press conference on the Team Finland reform
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio held a press conference on the reform of Team Finland's foreign functions on Wednesday 5 February 2025 at 15:30.
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31.1.2025
Cumulative effects of EU sustainability legislation on Finnish companies
Uncertainty about the practical application of the EU’s sustainability regulations may lead companies to wait for further clarification. This is problematic because companies then fail to allocate resources where required to meet their obligations.
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27.1.2025
Advance voting abroad in county elections and municipal elections to take place on 2–5 April 2025
Finland’s county elections and municipal elections will be held simultaneously on Sunday 13 April 2025. The advance voting period abroad will be from 2 to 5 April 2025, but for practical reasons many advance polling stations will be open for a shorter period.
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24.1.2025
New diplomatic attachés to bring strong economic and technological expertise to Foreign Ministry
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will gain more wide-ranging expertise with the start of two new courses for careers at the Ministry in March 2025.
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