Current affairs

Finland is proud to present its candidacy to a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2022–2024 term. Previously, Finland served as a member of the Human Rights Council for a period of one year starting in 2006, when the Council was newly established.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has sent out for comments a proposal on amendments to the Decree of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on Fees for Services Produced by the Foreign Service. The consultation round will be open until 6 August 2021. According to the proposal, the prices of identity cards and passports issued by missions abroad would be raised by 6 euros and 55 euros respectively.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs recommends exercising special caution when travelling to the EU and Schengen area The Ministry also recommends avoiding unnecessary travel to countries outside the EU and Schengen area, except for countries for which the restrictions on entry have been lifted. In addition, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs still recommends avoiding all travel to Brazil, South Africa, Indiaand Russia.

The United States has suspended entry for most non-U.S. citizens coming from China, Brazil, Iran, and several European countries, Finland included, with some exceptions depending on your reason for travel and visa status.

Finland is taking climate change seriously. We are on our way to becoming climate-neutral already by 2035 and the world’s first fossil-free advanced economy. Finland is a bioeconomy superpower and the most forested country in Europe with over 70% of our land covered in forests. We have a world-class innovation environment and the growth potential of new bio-based products is enormous. Finland has partnered with two US states, Maine and Michigan, to promote the development of sustainable bioeconomy and clean technologies. Highlighting the role of forests and sustainable wood products in the fight against climate change, policy-makers, companies, and researchers from Finland and the US came together to share their views and innovations in a webinar on April 28. Keynote speakers included US Congresswoman Chellie Pingree from Maine and Dr. Cynthia West, the Director of the USDA National Forest Products Laboratory, and the event was opened by Finland’s Ambassador to the United States Mikko Hautala.

Kaarina Gould has worked as the Executive Director of the Finnish Cultural Institute here in New York, the cultural capital of the US, for nearly five years. Before embarking on a new journey in Finland, Consul General Mika Koskinen interviewed her about her most memorable experiences in the field of culture in this city that never sleeps.

Protecting nature and tackling the existential threat of climate change is a top priority for Finland. Finland aims to become carbon-neutral already by 2035, as the first advanced economy in the world.

US companies operating in Finland can now take advantage of Finland’s new tax-based incentives, which bring tax relief on the costs of research and development projects and enhance employee engagement through tax-free shares. Ranked first in the global Covid Economic Recovery Index, Finland offers a safe research and development environment now and in the future.