Current affairs

In recent years, African countries have increased their visibility in the eyes of the international community. This trend can be seen also in the priorities of the European Commission’s external relations and Finland’s foreign policy. In the fifth part of the “Sustainable Foreign Policy” series, Maria Kurikkala who leads the Africa Policy Team sheds light on the reasons underlying the current interest.

EU Special Representative (EUSR) to the Horn of Africa Alexander Rondos will visit Finland on 28–29 August.

It is possible to mitigate climate change and reduce poverty at the same time. The Environment and Energy Partnership programme, started by Finland, is proof of this.

Finland will donate EUR 46.4 million in humanitarian aid to the world’s worst crisis areas. The aid, granted by a decision of Minister for International Development Sirpa Paatero on 13 March, will be directed to acute emergency situations in Syria and neighbouring areas, South Sudan, the Central African Republic and Ukraine. Efforts will also be made to alleviate human suffering in countries where protracted crisis situations exist, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan and Yemen

Through its assistance programmes, the Trust Fund for Victims at the International Criminal Court has already helped more than one hundred thousand victims of the most serious international crimes. Finland has been a strong supporter of the Trust Fund’s activities and is one of its biggest donor countries.

On Thursday 18 July, by the decision of the Minister for International Development, Heidi Hautala, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has granted 70,000 euros in humanitarian assistance for refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Uganda. The assistance will be channelled through the Finnish development cooperation organisation Fida International.