Alexander Stubb appointed as Foreign Minister of Finland

Alexander Stubb, Doctor of Philosophy, Member of European Parliament, began his duties as the new Minister for Foreign Affairs in the second Matti Vanhanen government on 4 April. The President of the Republic appointed Mr Stubb as a Member of the Government and Minister for Foreign Affairs. Alexander Stubb

At the same time, the President of the Republic freed Mr Ilkka Kanerva, Master of Social Sciences, Member of Parliament, from the aforementioned duties.

On Friday, 4 April, the government plenary session agreed on the ministers’ deputies and division of duties among ministers. The swearing-in of the new minister took also place in the session.

The division of duties between Ministers at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs as of 4 April 2008:

Each minister handles international matters that fall within his/her own ministry’s field of competence and matters related to appointments and personnel administration. Each minister also directs financial planning and the preparation of budgets and other joint matters in his/her respective field.

Otherwise the division of duties at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs is as follows:

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen handles matters related to trade policy, development cooperation and cooperation in the neighbouring regions.

Minister Jan Vapaavuori handles matters covered by the Secretariat for Nordic Cooperation. Minister for Foreign Affairs Stubb handles all other matters covered by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.