Foreign Ministry's press releases

Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will attend a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in its trade configuration in Brussels on 30 May. EU trade ministers will discuss the links between trade and the EU’s competitiveness, the future of EU trade policy, and trade and investment relations between the EU and Africa. The ministers will also exchange views on the 13th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) held in Abu Dhabi in February.

On 29 May, Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs issued a written warning to Ambassador Jari Vilén, Head of Mission of the Embassy of Finland in Ottawa, pursuant to the Act on Public Officials in Central Government. The warning was issued because Vilén has not conducted himself in a manner befitting his status and duties as a public official. His conduct meets the definitions of inappropriate conduct, harassment and sexual harassment. The decision to issue a warning was made by Deputy Director General for Human Resources Kirsti Pohjankukka within whose mandate the matter falls.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will attend an informal meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Prague, the Czech Republic, on 30–31 May.

On 27 May 2024, the European Union imposed new sanctions related to the case of opposition politician Alexei Navalny and set up a new sanctions regime linked to the internal situation in Russia. Navalny died in a penal colony in Russia on 16 February 2024. The joint message of EU Member States is that Russia is responsible for Navalny’s death.

The EU foreign ministers will convene in Brussels on 27 May. State Secretary Pasi Rajala will represent Finland at the meeting.

The European Commission decided on 22 May 2024 to increase Schengen visa fees as of 11 June 2024. The increase will apply worldwide.

In response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, the EU has imposed sanctions prohibiting transactions with the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (CBR).

Finland’s military participation in the European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM) has ended and the remaining four Finnish soldiers serving in the training mission have returned home. Since 2013, EUTM Mali has provided mentoring and training to the Malian armed forces to support restoration of a safe operating environment.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will visit London on 20 May 2024. During her visit, Foreign Minister Valtonen will meet the United Kingdom's Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Cameron, and the ministers will sign a declaration on a strategic partnership between Finland and the United Kingdom (the UK).

Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will attend the World Water Forum in Indonesia on 19–22 May. The high-level political forum will strengthen the progress in international water issues initiated by the UN Water Conference.