Current affairs

Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission have reached a provisional political agreement on a proposal for a regulation prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market. Each EU institution still needs to adopt the regulation in accordance with its own procedures.

The EU’s 13th package of sanctions is one of the largest agreed since the launch of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in terms of the number of sanctioned individuals. A total of 194 individuals and entities will be added to the list. They are individuals and companies that support Russian armed forces and individuals who have participated in the forced transfer of Ukrainian children. Export bans will be expanded to goods and technologies that contribute to Russia’s military and technological enhancement. Russian and third country companies that have been found to be involved in the circumvention of sanctions will be added to the list of export bans.

Statement by the Foreign Ministers of 26 EU Member States on Israel and Palestine on 19 February 2024

EU foreign ministers will convene in Brussels on 19 February. State Secretary Lauri Tierala will represent Finland at the meeting.

In the second round of the presidential election, a total of 62,294 people cast their vote in advance at Finland’s missions abroad. Altogether 220 crew members voted on board Finnish vessels.

The EU Council and the European Parliament have agreed on a first-ever EU law on combating violence against women and domestic violence. The new law sets minimum rules concerning the definition of specific criminal offences and penalties to address this form of violence. It also sets out rights of victims of all forms of violence against women or domestic violence, and provides for their protection.

EU leaders reached an agreement on the mid-term revision of the EU's multiannual financial framework and approved EUR 50 billion for the Ukraine facility in the special European Council meeting on the 1st of February.

The EU Foreign Ministers will convene for an informal Gymnich meeting in Brussels on 2–3 February. The Ministers will discuss the relations between the EU and Africa and EU-Türkiye relations. Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will represent Finland at the meeting.

The need for ambitious global climate action has never been more evident. 2023 proved to be the warmest year on record. Global warming is set to intensify a number of adverse effects putting the welfare and security of the world at risk.

At the presidential session on 26 January, the President of the Republic appointed a new Ambassador to the Permanent Representation of Finland to the European Union and a non-resident Ambassador to Guatemala.