Draft budget of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs for 2008

Press release 145/2007
3 August 2007

In its draft budget for 2008, submitted to the Ministry of Finance on 29 May 2007, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs proposed that an appropriation of 1 097.5 million euros be granted to the administrative sector. This is 2.6 million euros less than the spending limits allocated for the administrative branch.

The objectives for social effectiveness in the administrative branch, proposed in the draft budget of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs for 2008, are based on the Strategy for the Ministry. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has revised the structure and detailed statements of the draft budget for 2008.

In the draft budget, 190.7 million euros were proposed for the operating expense item. In 2008, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will hold the Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The implementation of the Productivity Programme will be continued and the aim is to reduce the number of positions in the Foreign Service by 17 in 2008. In accordance with the Productivity Programme, the administrative branch will continue the joint service centre project in cooperation with the chosen joint service centre.

A total of 825.9 million euros was proposed for international development cooperation, which represents about 0.45 per cent of the GDP. In accordance with the spending limits allocated to the administrative branch, a total of 667.8 million euros was proposed for class 30 of the main title of expenditure of International development cooperation. Out of the development cooperation appropriations, 2.4 million euros have been transferred to the administrative expenses related to development cooperation.

The ministry proposed an increase of the share capital of the Finnish Fund for Industrial Cooperation, Finnfund, by 15 million euros. The appropriations of the budget item have been transferred from the item of International development cooperation.

In accordance with the spending limits, 20.5 million euros was proposed for neighbouring area cooperation.

For the maintenance expenses of Finnish crisis management troops and for the participation of civilian personnel in crisis management, 56.4 million euros and 14.1 million euros were proposed respectively. In 2008, salaried personnel in military and civilian crisis management operations is estimated to correspond to 1 100 man years

For membership fees and financing contributions in budget item 24.99.66, a total of 95.9 million euros was proposed. An appropriation of 9.1 million euros was proposed for the management of the duties of the Finnish OSCE Chairmanship Task Force.

Other revenue from various refunds to the administrative branch of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs is estimated to amount to 3.2 million euros. This sum is not included in the ministry's operating expenses.

Further information: Financial Planning Manager Mikko Patosuo, tel. +358 9 1605 5870, Head of the Unit for General Development Policy and Planning Sinikka Antila in respect of development cooperation, tel. +358 9 1605 6283, Senior Officer Minni Hyrkkänen in respect of neighbouring area cooperation, tel. +358 9 1605 5610

Draft budget of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (in Finnish) (Opens New Window)