Current affairs

This is FINLAND Magazine is now available in English. Part of the 'This is FINLAND' country brand media, promoted across several channels, the Magazine targets an international readership.

Helsinki Roundtable on AI and International Security, an event to be held at Aalto University on 13 March 2025, will bring together international experts, decision-makers and business leaders to discuss the impacts of artificial intelligence on global security.

Following legislative amendments that entered into force on 17 February, wild-berry picking carried out by foreign nationals is treated as seasonal work. Companies must hire foreign berry pickers for a contractual employment relationship to enable them apply for an entry permit to Finland. In future, berry pickers will apply for a seasonal work visa for stays up to three months.

The operations and management of the Team Finland network will be reformed in cooperation with business and industry, as outlined in the Finnish Government Programme. Business Finland’s foreign functions will be directly integrated into the structures of the Foreign Service by 1 January 2026.

Education, good governance, nature, equality and happiness are themes that Finland is known for worldwide, according to Finland Promotion Board’s publication How the World Views Finland. In 2024, especially Finland’s NATO membership and security policy brought international media coverage. Despite the challenging global situation, Finland’s country brand has remained largely positive, but differences between countries in attitudes towards Finland have increased. This is why it is increasingly important for Finland to be known for its strengths, the publication states.

A Joint Readout by the United States, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom following recent engagements.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the missions abroad provided consular services to approximately 205,000 customers last year. Over the course of the year, the Ministry’s 24/7 service was contacted around 6,800 times in total.

On 22 November, the Embassy of Finland and Forum Energii organized the dialogue of Finnish and Polish cities on energy transition, providing an opportunity to exchange knowledge, experiences, and discuss effective strategies and ongoing local projects in both countries. Innovative funding methods and modern tools, such as energy modeling and smart city technologies, were important part of the discussion.