Current affairs
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12.9.2022
Finland emphasises indigenous peoples’ rights, vulnerable people, and accountability in Human Rights Council this autumn
The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) will hold its 51th regular session from 12 September to 7 October. This is the third session during Finland’s three-year membership in the Human Rights Council. Finland will continue its long-standing commitment to the promotion of universal human rights.
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5.9.2022
Foreign Minister Haavisto attends NB8 meeting in Kaunas
Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will attend a meeting of Nordic and Baltic foreign ministers, to be held in the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) cooperation format, in Kaunas in Lithuania on 6–7 September.
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2.9.2022
Finland gives humanitarian assistance, temporary accommodation units and public administration support to Ukraine
In the supplementary budget in July, the Government allocated additional funds to Ukraine amounting to EUR 70 million. Half of these funds has now been granted to improving food security and reproductive health services, ensuring the payment of teachers’ salaries, and to providing accommodation in Ukraine for those who have lost their homes.
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1.6.2022
Fast track speeds up immigration of experts and growth entrepreneurs
A new fast track service enables specialists, growth entrepreneurs and their family members to obtain a residence permit within 14 days. The service will be launched at the beginning of June. This service pledge is one of the Government's many measures to streamline the immigration of experts.
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15.2.2022
Assistance abroad – The demand for consular services provided by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs is increasing
The second year of the pandemic was busy for the consular assistance services provided by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Finland's missions abroad, and the number of customers continued to increase. In 2021, the Ministry and the missions abroad provided consular services to a total of 255,000 customers. -
19.1.2022
County elections: 2,923 persons voted in advance abroad
In Finland’s first county elections, a total of 2,923 persons voted in advance at Finland’s missions abroad. The number of advance voters abroad was approximately eight per cent higher than in the 2021 municipal elections. -
25.11.2021
Changes to fees for identity cards and passports issued by missions as of 1 January 2022
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has issued a Decree on the Amendment of Fees for Services Produced by the Foreign Service for 2020–2022. The amendment will enter into force on 1 January 2022 and will remain in force until 31 December 2022. -
25.11.2021
Jukka Salovaara appointed as Permanent State Secretary at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs
In its session on 25 November 2021, the Government appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Jukka Salovaara to serve as Permanent State Secretary at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs starting on 1 May 2022. -
14.10.2021
Finland elected as member of UN Human Rights Council
The three-year term 2022-2024 is Finland’s first full membership in the Human Rights Council. Finland will continue its long-term work to promote universal human rights. -
16.9.2021
Legislative proposal on long-term D visa facilitates labour migration
The government proposal on the introduction of a long-term national D visa in Finland promotes labour migration and includes the preparation of a fast track pledge. According to the proposal, the national D visa would first cover specialists, growth or start-up entrepreneurs and their family members.