Minister Väyrynen: Decision on spending limits secures steady growth of development financing

Press Release 90/2009
24 March, 2009

According to Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen, the decision on spending limits made by the Goverment today ensures that Finland will clearly exceed the goal of 0.51 per cent of the gross national income (GNI) agreed in the European Union for the year 2010. The growth will continue in 2011, when the share of the GNI is predicted to rise to the level of 0.58 per cent. 

In accordance with the policy adopted already in the previous government budget session, the technical assumption was made that growth would continue in the years 2012–13 in step with the increase in the gross national income. The next Parliament will make the decisions concerning these appropriations.

Most recently in connection with the Government Report on Finnish Foreign and Security Policy, the Government reiterated its commitment to the development financing goal of 0.7 of the GNI, set in the European Union, in the year 2015. After 2011, an average annual increase of 0.03 per cent of the GNI is needed to reach this goal.

Additional information: Ossi Martikainen, Senior Adviser to the Minister, mobile tel. +358 40 592 6769