Foreign Ministry's press releases

The Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy has decided to launch the preparation of a new Government Report on Finnish Security and Defence Policy. The preparation of the report will be based on a broad-based concept of security. Long-term development plans and resources of the Finnish Defence Forces will be defined in connection with the report. At the same time, the effects of the EU’s security guarantees as well as those of military non-alliance or military alliance.

Seven representatives of the Namibian regional and local administration are making a ten-day educational trip to Finland on 11-20 August, learning about the activities of municipal and provincial administration and organisations looking after their interests. The places the Namibians will visit include Espoo, Tampere, Lempäälä, and the State Provincial Office of Southern Finland in Hämeenlinna.

In its draft budger for 2008, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has 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 Foreign Service will continue the implementation of its Productivity Programme. The aim is to reduce the number of positions in the Foreign Service by 17 in 2008 and to continue cooperation with the chosen joint service centre.

Change in Prime Minister Vanhanen’s Special Advisers

EU Intergovernmental Conference opened