Current affairs
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16.9.2021
Mikko Koivumaa appointed as Director General of Communications at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs
The Government has appointed Mikko Koivumaa as Director General of Communications at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs starting on 18 October 2021. The term of office will be five years. Koivumaa is currently Director of Communications at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. -
13.9.2021
Nordic, Baltic and Visegrád foreign ministers to meet in Finland
Finland is coordinating the cooperation between the Nordic countries and Baltic states in the Nordic–Baltic Eight (NB8) format in 2021. The NB8 foreign ministers’ meeting will be held on 15 September at Vanajanlinna, Hämeenlinna. The NB8 countries and the Visegrád Group (V4) will have a joint meeting at foreign ministerial level on the previous day, 14 September. The V4 countries are Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. -
1.7.2021
Changes proposed to the prices of identity cards and passports issued by missions abroad
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has sent out for comments a proposal on amendments to the Decree of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on Fees for Services Produced by the Foreign Service. The consultation round will be open until 6 August 2021. According to the proposal, the prices of identity cards and passports issued by missions abroad would be raised by 6 euros and 55 euros respectively. -
22.2.2021
The exceptional circumstances of 2020 showed in consular assistance
In 2020, the Unit for Consular Assistance provided nearly twice as much guidance compared to the previous year. In the spring, during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, personal guidance and advice were given to tens of thousands of travellers stranded abroad. Thousands of travellers were assisted in returning to Finland after air traffic ground to a sudden halt. -
15.2.2021
Finland seeks membership of UN Human Rights Council
Finland is seeking membership of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in 2022–2024. The campaign slogan: ”A Diverse World, Universal Human Rights”, underscores the universal nature of human rights. The election will take place at the UN General Assembly in October 2021. -
17.6.2020
Limited reception of residence permit applications to resume in Finnish missions abroad
Due to the coronavirus epidemic, Finland suspended the reception of ordinary visa and residence permit applications starting on 19 March 2020. The reception of ordinary visa applications continues to be suspended but activities relating to residence permit applications were gradually resumed in the missions on 16 June 2020. -
19.3.2020
Finland suspends the reception and processing of ordinary visa and residence permit applications in the missions
Owing to the coronavirus outbreak, Finland, in line with the rest of the Schengen countries, has suspended the reception of normal visa applications in Finland’s missions with immediate effect from 19 March until further notice. -
30.7.2019
Foreign Minister Haavisto to visit Latvia
Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will visit Riga on Tuesday 30 July. Haavisto will meet Egils Levits, Latvia’s newly elected president, and hold discussions with Minister for Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs. -
11.1.2016
Foreign Minister Soini visits Latvia
Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini will visit Latvia and meet the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs in Riga on Wednesday 13 January. The topics of the Ministers' bilateral discussions will include the bilateral relations between Finland and Latvia, regional cooperation, migration and other topical international issues. -
11.4.2014
Foreign Minister of Latvia to visit Finland
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs will visit Finland on 15 April and meet Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja. The Foreign Ministers will discuss, for example, the bilateral relations, the Baltic Sea region cooperation, and topical foreign policy issues, such as the situation in Ukraine.