Foreign Ministry's press releases

Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will attend the online meeting of the Nordic foreign ministers on 10 December.

The European Commission and four Mercosur countries, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, reached an agreement on a trade deal on 6 December 2024. Upon approval, the partnership agreement would open up a large market for European Union businesses. Removing the high tariffs in the Mercosur countries is expected to save EU companies an estimated EUR 4 billion in tariffs per year, boosting trade, investment and economic growth. Dismantling trade barriers would also help European companies diversify their supply chains.

Finland will contribute EUR 107 million to the 21st replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA), which is part of the World Bank. IDA supports the world's poorest countries.

Finland will strengthen its contribution to the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU). The President of the Republic decided on 5 December that Finland will participate in NSATU with a maximum of six soldiers.

A delegation of Members of Parliament from the Development Policy Committee visited Ethiopia on 24–30 November to learn more about the humanitarian situation in Tigrey and about the results of Finland’s Country Programme for development cooperation. The delegation was led by Member of Parliament Jani Kokko (Social Democratic Party), who is the Vice-Chair of the Development Policy Committee. Members of Parliament Inka Hopsu (Green League), Tuomas Kettunen (Centre Party), Ari Koponen (Finns Party) and Sari Tanus (Christian Democrats) were also part of the delegation.

Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will attend the Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to be held in Malta on 5–6 December. Malta is currently holding the OSCE Chairpersonship. Finland will take on the Chairpersonship in 2025.

Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will attend a meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Brussels on 3–4 December.

Executive Director of UN Women Sima Bahous will visit Finland on 3–4 December. She will meet President of the Republic Alexander Stubb, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio and Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen. Bahous will also participate in annual consultations on UN Women’s work and results at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan will visit Helsinki on 28–29 November at the invitation of Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen.

According to a survey commissioned by the Embassy of Finland in Moscow, the number of Russians with a negative attitude towards Finland has not increased compared to the previous year, but the hardening of attitudes is evident over a longer observation period. However, some positive perceptions of Finland persist. The most positive attitudes are found among young people.