The EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) will meet in Brussels on 18 March. Finland's representative at the meeting will be Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini.

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Finland's Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini, Sweden's Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström, Germany's Minister of Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas, and State Secretary for Foreign Policy of Denmark Jonas Bering Liisberg will have a meeting in Helsinki on Tuesday 19 March.

Permanent State Secretary Matti Anttonen will represent Finland at the international conference on Syria in Brussels on 14 March. The objective of the ”Supporting the future of Syria and the region” conference, organised by the EU and the United Nations, is to support the UN-led political process and to agree about further measures to help those affected by the crisis.

A number of ambassadorial appointments to be made during the regular annual round of appointments are under preparation in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. On Monday 11 March, the Ministry consulted Chancellor of Justice Tuomas Pöysti to clarify the situation. According to the Chancellor of Justice, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs can continue processing of the pending appointments during the caretaker government's term of office.

Secretary-General of the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Angel Gurría will visit Finland from 14 to 15 March.

Finland's policy coherence in different subareas should be strengthened and there should be closer coordination of development cooperation and humanitarian assistance. The evaluation commends Finland's work to improve the situation of people with disabilities in refugee conditions.

Finland grants a long-term partnership loan to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). IFAD President will visit Finland on 13-14 March.

In his address to the personnel of the Foreign Ministry's Department for Development Policy on 7 March, Minister for Foreign Affairs Soini said that Europe should now adopt a new approach in its policy on Africa. Minister Soini's speech was held by Permanent State Secretary Matti Anttonen.

Every year the Communications Department of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs organises tens of visits for foreign media and decision-makers. The visits are part of the long-term work on communications and Finland’s country image. They help to strengthen Finland’s political, economic and cultural impact, promote trade and economic relations, and brighten our country image. Visits are organised in close cooperation with other promotion organisations. Key partners include Finnfacts and the City of Helsinki.