News
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20.9.2024
Non-paper of Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden on priorities for the new Commission in the Single Market
The European Union is entering a new institutional cycle in the context of unprecedented global challenges, which highlights the need to strengthen its global competitiveness. Improving the conditions for doing business within the EU needs to be the top priority for the new Commission. Our fundamental competitive advantage - the Single Market - therefore has to be at the centre of our ideas and actions on competitiveness.
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8.8.2024
Foreign Ministry’s organisational reform emphasises teamwork
The reform of the Foreign Service of Finland took a step forward on 1 August, when the reorganisation of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the updated rules of procedure took effect. The purpose of the organisational reform is to lay a suitable foundation for the Ministry’s work in the current international situation and in terms of Finland’s foreign policy change. At the same time, cooperation across organisational boundaries has become even more important.
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4.7.2024
Foreign Ministry selects partner for reception of visa and residence permit applications
Based on predetermined criteria, the contract was awarded to VF Worldwide Holdings Ltd, which is the current provider of the outsourced application services to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
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28.6.2024
European Council agrees on high-level appointments and EU’s objectives for the next few years
At its meeting in Brussels on 27–28 June, the European Council decided on appointments to three high-level roles in EU institutions. The Council proposed that Ursula von der Leyen from Germany continue as President of the Commission, selected Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as the candidate for High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and elected former Prime Minister of Portugal António Costa President of the European Council.
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18.6.2024
EU leaders started discussions on EU's top-job nominations
The EU leaders were gathered in Brussels for an informal meeting of the European Council 17 June to discuss the upcoming appointments to high-level EU roles. The leaders aim to reach a decision on the appointments at the EU summit on 27–28 June. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo represented Finland. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo took part in the
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17.6.2024
EU’s Nature Restoration Regulation supported by Member States - Regulation into force in July-August
The EU’s Nature Restoration Regulation received a qualified majority of votes at the European Union Environment Council on Monday 17 June. The Regulation will enter into force in July-August. The Member States must submit their national restoration plans within two years from the entry into force of the Regulation.
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27.5.2024
Extraordinary revenues generated by immobilised Russian assets: Council greenlights the use of net windfall profits to support Ukraine’s self-defence and reconstruction
In the light of Russia’s continued war of aggression against Ukraine, the Council today adopted a set of legal acts ensuring that the net profits stemming from unexpected and extraordinary revenues accruing to central securities depositories (CSDs) in the EU, as a result of the implementation of the EU restrictive measures, will be used for further military support to Ukraine, as well as its defence industry capacities and reconstruction.
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16.5.2024
Joint education project between Nepal and Finland receives significant EU funding
Finland will launch a new bilateral project in Nepal focusing in particular on the development of teacher education. The project will be implemented by the University of Helsinki's company HY+, which provides education and development services.
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26.4.2024
The bioeconomy must stand out at the core of the next European Commission’s work programme
Information from the Austrian, Finnish, Slovenian and Swedish delegations, supported by the Bulgarian, Czech, Estonian, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian and Slovak delegations.
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10.4.2024
President Alexander Stubb visited in Brussels
President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb made his first visit to Brussels on 9-10 April. The purpose of the visit was to discuss current topical issues, security and defense policy and the situation in Ukraine.