Foreign Ministry's press releases

Developing countries’ own economies and their private sector and tax base are at the heart of the current Government’s development policy. The Development Policy Committee appreciates the new emphasis. At the same time, however, it is important to make sure that the poorest people, especially women and girls, will be able to enjoy the benefits of economic growth more than today.

The Finnish authorities are continuing enquiries concerning the kidnapping of a Finn in Afghanistan under the leadership of the MFA. At the moment, the authorities are doing their utmost to ensure the release of the Finn and to guarantee security and the person’s safety.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini will attend a Nordic foreign ministerial meeting in Oslo on 23–24 May 2017.

Finland will host the NATO Conference on Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-proliferation in Helsinki on 29–30 May 2017. The conference, organised annually in one of the NATO member countries or partner countries, will be attended by a large number of experts.

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) will pay an official visit to Finland on 21–24 May.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has been investigating the situation of the Finnish citizen who was kidnapped on Saturday in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, during the night between Saturday and Sunday.

A Finnish person has been kidnapped in Afghanistan. In connection with the case, nationals of other countries died.

The EU General Affairs Council will convene in Brussels under leadership of the European development ministers on May 19th. Finland will be represented by Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Kai Mykkänen.

Finland’s Chairmanship of the Arctic Council will be opened in the Annexe of the Parliament Building on Thursday 18 May 2017 at 8.00–12.00. The Chairmanship will present the themes of Finland’s two-year term and there will be discussion on Finland’s Arctic cooperation.

The EU does not have competence to conclude a free trade agreement with Singapore alone without its Member States, according to the Court of Justice of the European Union. The Court states in its opinion, submitted on 16 May, that certain provisions in the agreement fall within the competence shared between the EU and the Member States.