Current affairs
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19.10.2026
The Embassy of Finland in Nairobi will be closed on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, due to Mashujaa Day.
The Embassy of Finland in Nairobi will be closed on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, due to Mashujaa Day. In case of emergency, please contact the Finnish Foreign Ministry´s emergency number +358 91605555 or paivystys.um@gov.fi
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13.10.2026
Foreign Ministry introduces AI service for processing classified information
Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs has introduced its AI Assistant UMAI to an initial group of pilot users. The service enables the use of artificial intelligence to process information at national security classification level IV in a secure environment. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Government ICT Centre Valtori are acting as pilot organisations in the development of a common secure AI platform for central government.
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1.10.2026
New partnership agreement strengthens cooperation between EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific countries
The Government proposes that Parliament approve the partnership agreement between the European Union and its Member States and the members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), also known as the Samoa Agreement.
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16.9.2026
Ministers Valtonen and Tavio to attend high-level week of UN General Assembly in New York
The high-level meetings of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 81) will begin in New York on 21 September. Finland’s delegation will be led by President of the Republic Alexander Stubb, who will deliver Finland’s statement at the general debate on 22 September. The delegation’s vice-chairs are Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen and Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio.
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8.9.2026
Visas for Somali nationals
On 25th of June 2026, European Council decided to temporarily restrict visa provision for Somali nationals.
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26.7.2026
Aalto Works inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has decided to inscribe the Aalto Works on the World Heritage List at its 48th session held in Busan, Republic of Korea, from 19 to 29 July 2026. The property comprises 13 modern architectural sites across Finland designed by Alvar, Aino and Elissa Aalto.
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6.7.2026
UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development to focus on accelerating progress on 2030 Agenda
The UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) will take place in New York between 7 and 15 July. The purpose of the annual meeting is to review the progress made in achieving the objectives of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Finland’s delegation will be led by Mika Nykänen, State Secretary to Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala.
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7.7.2026
Majority of seasonal work visa applications for wild-berry pickers refused
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has received approximately 2,200 seasonal work visa applications this year for the purpose of wild-berry picking in Finland. To date, a majority of the applications have been processed, approximately 1,600 applications in total. The processing has revealed indications of a risk of worker exploitation, as well as shortcomings in employers’ compliance with their statutory obligations. The majority of the applications, approximately 1,400, have been refused.
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18.6.2026
The Embassy of Finland in Nairobi will be closed for Midsummer on Friday 19.6.2026
The Embassy of Finland in Nairobi will be closed for Midsummer on Friday 19.6.2026 In case of emergency, please contact the Finnish Foreign Ministry´s emergency number +358 91605555 or paivystys.um@gov.fi
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10.6.2026
Minister for Foreign Affairs Valtonen to meet ministers from Kenya, India and the United Arab Emirates
Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will meet Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi, India’s Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and the United Arab Emirates’ Minister of State Lana Nusseibeh on 10–12 June.