Foreign Ministry's press releases

The new decree of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on fees charged for services provided by the Finnish Foreign Service in 2025 enters into force on 1 January 2025. Several services that are now provided free of charge will become subject to a fee as of 1 January 2025.

On 12 December, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs published the second part of Finland’s national plan for the reconstruction of Ukraine. Finland will provide support including development cooperation, humanitarian assistance and material assistance. Rebuilding Ukraine will take several years and require extensive international support and participation. Finland is strongly involved in this work.

The Team Finland reform proceeds. After the transitional period, the foreign operations of Business Finland will be incorporated into the Foreign Service. The appropriation of Business Finland’s foreign network will be transferred to the administrative branch of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on 1 January 2025. The service agreement ensures that the export promotion services will continue without interruption.

The decisions on humanitarian assistance made by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in the latter part of 2024 prioritise Ukraine, major refugee crises in Africa, the humanitarian situation in the Middle East and support for school meals. The amount of humanitarian assistance now granted totals EUR 41.2 million.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will attend the online meeting of the Nordic foreign ministers on 10 December.

The European Commission and four Mercosur countries, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, reached an agreement on a trade deal on 6 December 2024. Upon approval, the partnership agreement would open up a large market for European Union businesses. Removing the high tariffs in the Mercosur countries is expected to save EU companies an estimated EUR 4 billion in tariffs per year, boosting trade, investment and economic growth. Dismantling trade barriers would also help European companies diversify their supply chains.

Finland will contribute EUR 107 million to the 21st replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA), which is part of the World Bank. IDA supports the world's poorest countries.

Finland will strengthen its contribution to the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU). The President of the Republic decided on 5 December that Finland will participate in NSATU with a maximum of six soldiers.

A delegation of Members of Parliament from the Development Policy Committee visited Ethiopia on 24–30 November to learn more about the humanitarian situation in Tigrey and about the results of Finland’s Country Programme for development cooperation. The delegation was led by Member of Parliament Jani Kokko (Social Democratic Party), who is the Vice-Chair of the Development Policy Committee. Members of Parliament Inka Hopsu (Green League), Tuomas Kettunen (Centre Party), Ari Koponen (Finns Party) and Sari Tanus (Christian Democrats) were also part of the delegation.

Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will attend the Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to be held in Malta on 5–6 December. Malta is currently holding the OSCE Chairpersonship. Finland will take on the Chairpersonship in 2025.