Current affairs
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12.9.2022
Finland emphasises indigenous peoples’ rights, vulnerable people, and accountability in Human Rights Council this autumn
The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) will hold its 51th regular session from 12 September to 7 October. This is the third session during Finland’s three-year membership in the Human Rights Council. Finland will continue its long-standing commitment to the promotion of universal human rights.
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5.9.2022
Foreign Minister Haavisto attends NB8 meeting in Kaunas
Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will attend a meeting of Nordic and Baltic foreign ministers, to be held in the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) cooperation format, in Kaunas in Lithuania on 6–7 September.
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2.9.2022
Finland gives humanitarian assistance, temporary accommodation units and public administration support to Ukraine
In the supplementary budget in July, the Government allocated additional funds to Ukraine amounting to EUR 70 million. Half of these funds has now been granted to improving food security and reproductive health services, ensuring the payment of teachers’ salaries, and to providing accommodation in Ukraine for those who have lost their homes.
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15.8.2022
Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Reinsalu to visit Finland
Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will meet Estonia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Reinsalu in Helsinki on 17 August.
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4.8.2022
Appointments in the Foreign Service
On 4 August, the government session and the presidential session appointed several persons to new positions in Helsinki and Finland’s missions abroad.
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5.7.2022
Finland becomes a NATO invitee
The NATO member countries signed the Accession Protocols concerning Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO membership at NATO Headquarters in Brussels on 5 February, making Finland and Sweden invitees of the Alliance. The Accession Protocols must next be ratified in each member country for Finland and Sweden to become members.
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22.6.2022
Entry restrictions due to COVID-19 to be lifted on 1 July
Restrictions on entry at Finland’s external borders imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be lifted on 1 July 2022. Third-country travellers arriving in Finland will no longer be required to hold vaccination or COVID-19 test certificates, and COVID-19 tests will not be carried out at border crossing points.
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2.6.2022
Restrictions on external border traffic extended until 30 June
In line with the Government decision of 2 June, the restrictions on entry at Finland’s external borders will continue until 30 June 2022.
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1.6.2022
Fast track speeds up immigration of experts and growth entrepreneurs
A new fast track service enables specialists, growth entrepreneurs and their family members to obtain a residence permit within 14 days. The service will be launched at the beginning of June. This service pledge is one of the Government's many measures to streamline the immigration of experts.
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15.5.2022
Finland is preparing to apply for NATO membership
Finland is preparing to apply for membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). On 15 May, the Government submitted a report to Parliament on Finland’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and proposed that the President of the Republic decide that Finland will apply for membership in NATO after Parliament has been heard.