Foreign Ministry's press releases

The EU Foreign Ministers will convene for an informal Gymnich meeting in Brussels on 2–3 February. The Ministers will discuss the relations between the EU and Africa and EU-Türkiye relations. Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will represent Finland at the meeting.

The implementation of the reform will start with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ management group, regional departments, EU coordination and strategy unit. The goal is a more efficient Foreign Service.

Democracy may be at risk anywhere in the world in times of uncertainty. That is why Finland should be more active in defending democracy both nationally and internationally.

The allegations of the involvement of 12 employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in the 7 October Hamas terrorist attack on Israel are serious. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is calling for an independent and thorough investigation of the matter.

A total of 58,757 persons cast their vote in advance in the presidential election at Finland’s missions abroad. The number of crew members who voted on board Finnish vessels was 223.

On 23 January 2024, Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen appointed Suldaan Said Ahmed as her Special Envoy on Peace Mediation in the Horn of Africa. In his role as the Foreign Minister’s Special Envoy, Said Ahmed will focus on supporting peace processes.

Antti Karttunen from Finland has been appointed as OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan as of 23 January 2024. Karttunen was appointed by Malta, the current Chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will attend an informal meeting of EU trade ministers in Brussels on 22–23 January. The meeting will focus on preparations for the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Ministerial Conference, and the ministers will also discuss the matter with WTO Director-General. Further, the ministers will discuss the contribution of trade policy to the prosperity and resilience of the EU. A meeting with the Chair of the Committee on International Trade of the European Parliament will also be on the agenda.

In 2023, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the missions abroad provided consular services to approximately 244,000 customers. The demand for advisory services remained high. Over the course of the year, the Ministry’s 24/7 service was contacted around 8,000 times in total.

EU foreign ministers will convene in Brussels on 22 January. Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will represent Finland at the meeting.