Current affairs

The EU is revising its Visa Code in order to facilitate visa procedures for travellers and to respond more effectively to the challenges posed by illegal migration. Finland will start applying the new Visa Code on 2 February 2020 together with other Schengen countries.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will phase in a new visa system during February and March 2020. After its introduction, visa applications can be processed efficiently, fast and reliably.

This mid-term evaluation covers the Rural Village Water Resources Management Project (RVWRMP), Phase III (2016-2022), which is supported by the Government of Nepal, the European Union and Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. It is located in Nepal’s remote western provinces and consists of components for water and sanitation (WASH), livelihoods, energy, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, and governance. According to the evaluation, the project results so far include important outcomes for water and sanitation and nutrition as well as modest ones for income, energy and governance.

All Finnish missions abroad and organisations issuing visas, including the Border Guard, Finnish Customs and the Police, started to use the new EU visa sticker on 11 November 2019

A bilateral development cooperation project between Finland and Nepal has ended, having achieved excellent results. In the countryside of Western Nepal, availability of clean drinking water, sanitation and hygiene have improved considerably in ten years. At the same time, women’s opportunities to make a difference in village communities have also increased.

Ambassador Pertti Anttinen met Honourable Minister Tham Maya Thapa, Minister for Women Children and Senior Citizens, on Monday 22 July at the Minister’s office at the Ministry.

World Summit of Students for Climate brought participants from 60 countries to Finland, also from Nepal. There were about 130 students with their teachers from all continents.

On 21st May 2019, H.E Ambassador Pertti Anttinen inaugurated Thotneri drinking water and sanitation scheme and declared Jaljala municipality-6, Parbat a ‘Total Sanitation Ward’.

H.E. Mr. Pertti Anttinen Ambassador of Finland to Nepal and Dr. Chudamani Joshi Special Advisor visited WWF Nepal and Rural Village Water Resource Management Project in Province No. 5 and 7 between 3rd to 9th March 2019. The objective of the visit was to comprehend the programme and get first hand understanding and monitoring of the project activities.