Council of Europe
Finland's permanent representation, Strasbourg
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation notified Ambassador of Finland Antti Helanterä of their decision on 17 May. Russia has announced corresponding measures also regarding several countries that have expelled Russian diplomats.
On Tuesday 17 May 2022, the President of the Republic of Finland decided, on the proposal of the Government, to notify the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) of Finland’s interest to engage in talks on accession to NATO and appointed a delegation to Finland’s accession talks to be held with NATO and its member countries.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a fundamental change has taken place in the security and operating environment of Finland and Europe. On Sunday 15 May, the Government adopted the Report on Finland’s Accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
On Sunday 15 May, the President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy finalised a report on Finland’s Accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). The report will be submitted to the Government in plenary session today at 17.00, and will be submitted to Parliament once it has been adopted.
EU foreign ministers will convene in Brussels on Monday 16 May. State Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Johanna Sumuvuori will represent Finland at the meeting. The Foreign Affairs Council will focus on Russian aggression against Ukraine and on the Western Balkans.
Portugal’s Minister for Foreign Affairs João Gomes Cravinho will visit Finland on 13 May and have a meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto.
A UN led agreement has been reached to transfer the oil from FSO Safer moored off the coast of Yemen in the Red Sea. Funds for the oil transfer operation are collected in a pledging conference in the Hague on 11 May. Finland will support the operation with one million euros.
NATO ministers of foreign affairs will hold an informal meeting in Berlin on 14–15 May. Finland and Sweden have been invited to a working dinner held in connection with the meeting on 14 May. Finland’s representative at the meeting will be Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto.
Foreign Minister Haavisto's State Secretary Johanna Sumuvuori will attend the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, held in Marrakesh, Morocco, on 11 May.
On 5 May 2022, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior will hold an invitational discussion on Finland’s priorities and objectives for developing the EU’s civilian crisis management and on our national capabilities for comprehensive crisis management.
Europe Day is celebrated on 9 May. This year, the main event will be held at Helsinki Central Library Oodi and the programme can be viewed online. The programme includes a wide range of topical discussions on the future of Finland and Europe. As part of the programme, Europe Information of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will organise an open event entitled “European security in transition – the direction of the European Union”.
President of the European Court of Human Rights Robert Spano will visit Finland on 5–6 May.
Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will visit Italy on 2–5 May.
Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde will visit Finland on Friday 29 April and have a meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto.
The Security Committee has granted its 2021 Timanttiteko (Diamond Act) award to the Foreign Ministry’s AI-assisted data analytics experiment. According to the Security Committee, the project has been exemplary in implementing the objectives of the Security Strategy for Society.
Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality Thomas Blomqvist will attend a meeting of Ministers for Nordic Cooperation on 26 April. The meeting will be held virtually. The main topics will be the Nordic Council of Ministers cooperation with neighbouring regions in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Nordic cooperation in times of crisis and the dialogue between the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Nordic Council for developing the Council of Ministers budget.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will meet Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs José Manuel Albares in Helsinki on 27 April.
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), headquartered in Copenhagen, has informed the Ministry for Foreign Affairs that an internal investigation has been initiated into possible misconduct by the Chief Executive of UNOPS Sustainable Investments in Infrastructure and Innovation (S3i) initiative.
On Wednesday 13 April, the Government adopted a report on changes in the security environment and submitted it to Parliament for consideration. The report assesses fundamental changes in Finland's foreign and security policy environment following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The report does not include any conclusions or present new security policy guidelines.
The war in Ukraine increases hunger and malnutrition in other parts of the world. Finland allocates EUR 26.1 million to domestic and international organisations for their humanitarian response in countries such as Somalia, Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
