Current affairs
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6.12.2024
Finland Debuts the World’s First National Soundscape
Finland is the first country in the world to commission a composer to create an official national soundscape. Ääniä is an original musical work by Lauri Porra, one of the country’s most celebrated composers. It takes the listener on a journey through the impressions, seasons and serene beauty of the happiest country in the world.
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5.12.2024
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18.9.2024
Comments requested on proposal for new decree on fees for services provided by Foreign Service in 2025
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has sent out for comments a proposal for a new Decree of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on Fees for Services Produced by the Foreign Service in 2025. It is proposed that several of the Foreign Ministry's services which are currently provided free of charge should be made chargeable.
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17.9.2024
Ministers Valtonen and Tavio to attend high-level week of UN General Assembly in New York
The high-level meetings of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 79) will start in New York on 24 September. Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen and Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will attend ministerial events in New York and have bilateral meetings with their counterparts and with representatives of the UN.
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8.8.2024
Foreign Ministry’s organisational reform emphasises teamwork
The reform of the Foreign Service of Finland took a step forward on 1 August, when the reorganisation of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the updated rules of procedure took effect. The purpose of the organisational reform is to lay a suitable foundation for the Ministry’s work in the current international situation and in terms of Finland’s foreign policy change. At the same time, cooperation across organisational boundaries has become even more important.
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11.7.2024
Report on International Economic Relations and Development Cooperation submitted to Parliament
The Government approved the proposal for the Report on International Economic Relations and Development Cooperation on 11 July 2024. The report complements the Report on Foreign and Security Policy with more detailed trade and development policy measures.
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4.7.2024
Foreign Ministry selects partner for reception of visa and residence permit applications
Based on predetermined criteria, the contract was awarded to VF Worldwide Holdings Ltd, which is the current provider of the outsourced application services to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
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28.6.2024
Elina Björklund to prepare reform of Team Finland network of business services abroad
On 27 June 2024, Minister of Economic Affairs Wille Rydman and Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio appointed Elina Björklund (M.Sc., Economics), Chairperson of the Board of Reima Group, to serve as the rapporteur preparing the reform of the Team Finland network of business services abroad to integrate the foreign functions of Business Finland with the Foreign Service.
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26.6.2024
Juha Lavapuro elected as judge to the European Court of Human Rights
On 26 June 2024, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe elected Doctor of Laws, LL.M. Juha Lavapuro as judge of the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Finland, for a term of office to begin on 1 January 2025 at the latest. The Court has a total of 46 judg-es, a number equal to that of the High Contracting Parties to the Euro-pean Convention on Human Rights. One judge is elected with respect of each Contracting Party, and the judges serve in their individual capacity, independently and impartially.
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20.6.2024
Government Report on Finnish Foreign and Security Policy submitted to Parliament
The Government has approved the proposal for the Report on Finnish Foreign and Security Policy. The report assesses Finland’s foreign and security policy environment and defines Finland’s objectives and priorities for the next few years.