Budget proposal of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs for 2012
Press release 252/2011
5 October 2011
A total of 196.5 million euros is proposed for the Foreign Ministry’s operating expenses. Assessment and development of the diplomatic mission network is continued in line with the policies laid down in the Government Programme policies and taking into account the resources of this administrative branch.
The amount of 56.3 million euros is proposed for the maintenance of Finnish crisis management troops, in accordance with the framework of this administrative branch. The sum proposed for the participation of civilian staff in crisis management is 17.4 million euros, of which 0.4 million euros is designated for peace mediation. It is estimated that the number of staff hired for military and civilian crisis management operations will total 650 in 2012.
The proposal includes 6.0 million euros to the Foreign Ministry for cross-border cooperation. The 1.5 million euros intended for radiation and nuclear safety cooperation between Finland and Russia has been transferred to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. In line with the Government Programme, the central aims of cross-border cooperation are nuclear safety, enhancement of the state of the environment and the prevention of communicable diseases. Owing to budget cuts, the goal in 2012 is to complete projects now being implemented and thereafter to shift increasingly to multilateral regional cooperation.
An estimated 1,124.0 million euros will go for development cooperation expenditure, which corresponds to approximately 0.56% of gross national income. According to the Government Programme, development cooperation expenditure in 2013–2014 will be frozen at the level for 2012. During the middle of the Government’s term, revenues received from the auctioning of emission allowances will be channelled to climate financing and development cooperation.
At the 15th Conference of the Parties (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) in Copenhagen, Finland undertook to cover 110 million euros of the EU’s short-term funding pledge in 2010–2012. This commitment will be financed from the increase in development cooperation appropriations. The budget for 2012 includes about 40 million euros in climate financing that can be considered to fall within the sphere of short-term climate financing commitment.
A total of 887.3 million euros is proposed for the item ‘development cooperation proper’ under the main title for the Foreign Ministry. This appropriation includes 4.3 million euros to cover the costs of joint projects implemented with international partners. Income corresponding to these costs is taken into account in the income for the Foreign Ministry’s administrative branch. The sum of 10.0 million euros is proposed to raise the capital of Finnfund (the Finnish Fund for Industrial Cooperation Ltd).
A total of 83.8 million euros is proposed for membership fees and financial contributions; this is 5.9 million euros below the spending limits.
The budget for 2012 proposes a total of 1,282.5 million euros for the administrative branch of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. In addition, the administrative branch is expected to accrue 6.1 million euros in revenues not included in the Ministry's operating expenses. Of these revenues, 4.3 million euros are accrued from joint projects in development cooperation.
Additional information: Under-Secretary of State Peter Stenlund, tel. +358 09 1605 5020, Katja Bordi, Head of Financial Planning, tel. +358 9 1605 5990, for development cooperation Timo Olkkonen, Head of the General Development Policy and Planning Unit, tel. +358 9 1605 6283 and Laura Pietilä, Senior Officer, tel. +358 9 1605 6234, and for cross-border cooperation, Soili Mäkeläinen-Buhanist, Head of Unit, +358 09 1605 6186