As from 5 April 2010, Schengen visas will be applied electronically. The new form is linked with the entry into force of the Community Code on Visas and with the harmonisation of processing of applications.

The new population information act obligates Finns residing abroad to update their personal data by notifying any changes thereto to the Population Information System, maintained by the Finnish local register offices.

Finland’s national epic, the Kalevala, will be 175 years old this year. This major work compiled by Elias Lönnrot has had a strong influence on Finnish culture and national identity. Kalevala Day will be celebrated in Finland on the 28th of February.

The Finnish authorities are taking very seriously accusations of poor treatment of animals on Finnish fur farms. The regional state authorities for the protection of animals have immediately begun inspections on farms where cases of neglect are suspected. Recent statistics on the regular official monitoring of fur farms show that the conditions in which animals are kept on Finnish fur farms meet the requirements under European and national legislation.

The Baltic Sea Action Summit that was held in Helsinki on Wednesday, 10 February was a success in the opinion of the arrangers. The summit attracted a large and high-level group of participants to Finlandia Hall to tell about their commitments to protect the Baltic Sea. The summit was hosted by President of the Republic Tarja Halonen, Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen and Mr Ilkka Herlin, the Chairman of the Baltic Sea Action Group, who together convened the summit.

Finland is part of a globalising world. We are a Member State of the European Union and are actively involved in international organisations such as the United Nations. Our economy and civil society organisations have also become increasingly international.

A total of 55 people and 39 innovations have been named as candidates for the 2010 Millennium Technology Prize. All fields of technology are widely represented.

According to President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen, the importance of social responsibility is highlighted by the challenges of the international economic crisis. "Sufficient attention must be paid in time to employment. We must take action to prevent the consequences of the slowdown in economic development coming down most heavily on people who are in the weakest position", President Halonen said in her New Year Speech on Thursday, 1 January 2009.

At the government press conference on Tuesday 23 September, Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen extended the Government’s deep condolences on the traumatic shooting incidence in Kauhajoki. The Ministry of the Interior has made a decision that flags are to be flown at half-mast on all public buildings on Wednesday, 24 September, and urges the whole country to follow the example.

The Government of Finland discussed in its evening session on 7 November the shooting incident that had taken place in the Jokela School Centre. After the meeting, Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen extended the Government’s heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of victims of the incident. During the evening session, the Government observed a short period of silence to commemorate the victims.