Current affairs

At the presidential session on Friday 8 May, the President of the Republic appointed five new Ambassadors and decided on a side-accreditation to Bangladesh.

Finland and the state of Michigan in the United States have launched a partnership to develop solutions for clean technology, including smart mobility, battery technology, and sustainable bioeconomy.

Due to the prevailing emergency conditions based on the Emergency Powers Act, the Government has decided to restrict traffic at Finland’s external borders starting on Thursday 19 March at 00.00. Finns travelling abroad are encouraged to return to Finland as soon as possible.

Owing to the coronavirus outbreak, Finland, in line with the rest of the Schengen countries, has suspended the reception of normal visa applications in Finland’s missions with immediate effect from 19 March until further notice.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Finland’s Missions are monitoring the impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic in cooperation with the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), and they are in constant contact with key actors with regard to the situational picture and any necessary measures.

Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä will visit Canada and the United States from 1 to 6 March 2020. The aim of the visit is to promote Finnish mining and battery companies’ exports and establishment abroad. The growing popularity of electric vehicles opens up major global business opportunities for the battery industry.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will visit Washington DC on 27–28 February.

The EU is revising its Visa Code in order to facilitate visa procedures for travellers and to respond more effectively to the challenges posed by illegal migration. Finland will start applying the new Visa Code on 2 February 2020 together with other Schengen countries.