Current affairs

The programme for the Finnish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2011 has three main areas of focus. The first is to cope with and counteract climate change. The second priority is to continue with and develop concrete globalization projects and to invest in Nordic research excellence. Thirdly, Finland will aim to encourage greater grassroots participation among all citizens and young people in particular.

“I’m hoping that in 2011 we will gain greater exposure across the country so that more people will take an interest in Nordic cooperation,” says Mr. Bo Lindroos, Chief of the Secretariat for Nordic Cooperation at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, as Finland takes up the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers for 2011.

Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb will make a visit to Copenhagen on Tuesday, 16 November.

Finland will hold the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2011. The Presidency’s number one theme will be comprehensive management of climate change. The aim is to improve the Nordic countries’ role as a strong and unified player in climate issues.

Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb will participate in the Nordic Foreign Ministers’ Meeting to be held in Copenhagen on Thursday, 11 March. In accordance with the rotation of the Nordic chairmanship, this meeting will be chaired by Lene Espersen, the new Foreign Minister of Denmark.

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.

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.

The international Baltic Sea Action Summit will gather together heads of state or government from the Baltic Sea region, business leaders, representatives of foundations and other actors to meet in Helsinki on 10 February. “We must act now, for soon it may be too late,” says Jari Luoto, Ambassador for Baltic Sea Issues at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

The Baltic Sea Action Summit to be held in Helsinki on 10 February is no ordinary summit. This gathering is made unique by its participants: leaders representing governments, the business community, NGOs and philanthropy. “This promises to be a fine and productive summit,” Jari Luoto, Ambassador for Baltic Sea Issues at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, said on Thursday at the press conference organised to provide background information about the summit.

The Baltic Sea Action Summit (BSAS) to be held in Helsinki at Finlandia Hall on 10 February will present more than 130 Baltic Sea commitments made so far. Concrete commitments have been made by private sector companies of various size, and actors representing the public and third sectors. The heads of state or government participating in the Summit will also make their own commitments contributing to the recovery of the Baltic Sea.