Current affairs
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1.12.2023
EU Ministers set out guiding principles for cohesion policy – recognizing also need for measures to support sparsely populated northern regions
The EU’s Ministers for European Affairs gathered in Brussels on 30 November to discuss EU's cohesion policy, and adopted conclusions on the future development of EU’s cohesion policy. The need to implement special measures to support sparsely populated northern regions was recognized in the conclusions.
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1.12.2023
Finland and Italy join efforts to counter instrumentalization of migration
Finland and Italy will put forward joint initiatives to promote a consistent approach on the external dimension of migration policies and countering migration-related malign influence.
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27.11.2023
Foreign Minister Valtonen to attend meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs
Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will attend a meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Brussels on 28–29 November.
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21.11.2023
Council gives go-ahead to EU annual budget for 2024
Yesterday, the Council approved the joint text on the EU’s general budget for 2024. The joint text has been agreed in negotiations with the European Parliament on 11 November. Total commitments are set at €189 385,4 million and total payments at €142 630,3 million.
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13.11.2023
EU Foreign Affairs Council to discuss Russian aggression against Ukraine, situation in Israel and the region, Armenia and Azerbaijan and economic security
EU foreign ministers will convene in Brussels on 13 November. Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will represent Finland at the meeting.
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9.11.2023
European Commission published 2023 Enlargement package
Commission adopts 2023 Enlargement package, recommends to open negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, to grant candidate status to Georgia and to open accession negotiations with BiH, once the necessary degree of compliance is achieved
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19.10.2023
EU trade ministers to discuss economic security and EU–India trade relations
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will attend an informal meeting of EU trade ministers in Valencia, Spain, on 19–20 October. The ministers will discuss economic security and trade relations between the EU and India. The ministers will also discuss the EU’s ongoing bilateral trade negotiations.
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4.10.2023
Foreign Ministry to survey market for application submission services for visas and residence permits
Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs is planning to launch a tendering process for outsourcing its entry permit application submission services in 2024. As a preparation for the upcoming tendering process, the Ministry will survey the market in autumn 2023.
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31.8.2023
Changes to prices of services provided by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Finnish missions abroad
Some of the prices of services provided by the Finnish missions and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will rise. The new prices will enter into force on 1 September 2023.
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29.8.2023
EU foreign affairs ministers to meet at informal Gymnich in Toledo
EU foreign affairs ministers will meet at the Informal Meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers (Gymnich) in Toledo in Spain on 30–31 August. State Secretary Lauri Tierala will represent Finland at the meeting.