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Finnish flag days Finland has official flag days and national flag days designated in the calendar. The flag may be flown on other days as well. Flying the flag is a great and dignified way to express joy and emphasise a day of celebration. Flying...

Finnish citizens have rights and obligations A citizen of a foreign country who resides permanently in Finland may acquire Finnish citizenship by submitting an application to the Finnish Immigration Service. The basic requirement for the acquisiti...

25.10.2018 | The Government submitted a proposal on a new Fundraising Act to Parliament on 25 October. The new Act would replace the current fixed-term money collection licences that are required each time fundraising is arranged with a system of licences granted for an indefinite period, and would enable small-scale civic fundraising to be arranged by submitting a notification to a police department.

23.6.2021 | The Government proposal for legislation on establishing wellbeing services counties and reforming the organisation of healthcare, social welfare and rescue services was adopted by Parliament on 23 June 2021. The proposed wellbeing services counties will be established as soon as possible after the passing and approval of the relevant acts. The acts will enter into force in stages, the first ones on 1 July 2021 and the last ones on 1 January 2023.

1.9.2022 | The budget proposal for 2023 of Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Government builds sustainable growth for the future, secures purchasing power and assists people with the hike in electricity prices. The budget proposal responds to the effects of Russia’s war of aggression and inflation, improves safety and security, security of supply, and energy self-sufficiency, and provides further investment in research and development and in the green transition.

29.9.2017 | The Government adopted the Policy Programme for Expatriate Finns 2017–2021 in its negotiations. The programme looks after the interests of Finns living abroad and concerns some 1.6 million expatriate Finns. The Government adopted its first Policy Programme for Expatriate Finns in 2006.

8.12.2020 | The Government proposes that wellbeing services counties be established and healthcare, social welfare and rescue services be reformed. The proposed counties would be established as soon as possible after the passing and approval of the relevant bills. The bills would enter into force in stages, the first ones on 1 July 2021 and the last ones on 1 January 2023. However, Parliament needs to pass the legislative package before the reform can enter into force.

12.9.2022 | The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and accelerating climate change have led to a situation in Finland and globally where the future seems rather uncertain. In the midst of uncertainty, decision-making is difficult. Finland will hold parliamentary elections in spring 2023, and the new Government Programme will outline policies for the next few years.

15.6.2020 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of the Interior request comments on the draft government proposal concerning the health and social services reform and the organisation of rescue services from the municipalities and joint municipal authorities of mainland Finland and other parties mentioned in the request for comments. The deadline for submitting comments is 25 September 2020.

4.10.2019 | A third of municipal decision-makers and almost half of the Members of Finnish Parliament or their assistants have been subjected to hate speech due to their official duties or positions of trust. In addition, about a third of the decision-makers consider that hate speech in public debate has increased in recent years. These are the results of a recent study.

4.6.2018 | The Ministry of the Interior's vision is that Finland will be the safest country in the world and equally safe for all in 2030. To achieve this vision in the coming years, internal security services must even out the differences in the actual and perceived security of individuals and groups of people. The Futures Review of the Ministry of the Interior was published on 4 June.

22.5.2018 | A new Migration Review has been published. The Review discusses labour migration developments in the light of statistics, the latest legislative changes that have facilitated work permit processes, the progress made in the reform of the Common European Asylum System by the EU and the latest trends in the asylum situation.

13.10.2020 | The Ministerial Working Group on Health and Social Services has reviewed the opinions submitted in the round of comments held from 15 June to 25 September 2020 on its draft government proposal. As a result, the Government has made a number of policy adjustments and amendments to the draft. A total of 804 comments were received. The draft proposal will be submitted to the Finnish Council of Regulatory Impact Analysis on 14 October 2020 and presented to Parliament in early December 2020.

29.6.2023 | In its plenary session on 29 June, the Government appointed Päivi Nerg (Master of Science in Agriculture and Forestry), Laura Rissanen (Master of Social Sciences), Timo Jaatinen (Master of Social Sciences), Elina Laavi (Master of Public Administration), Juha Martelius (Doctor of Social Sciences) and Teija Makkonen (Master of Military Science, Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Administrative Sciences) to serve as state secretaries.

26.1.2023 | On 9 January, Director General Kauko Aaltomaa, who is on leave of absence from the Police Department of the Ministry of the Interior, took up his duties as Head of Mission of the European Union Capacity Building Mission in Somalia (EUCAP Somalia). EUCAP Somalia is a civilian crisis management mission under the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy. Its tasks include promoting maritime security in Somalia and supporting the building of the country’s police and judicial administrations.

23.3.2023 | Considerable increases are proposed to appropriations in the administrative branch of the Ministry of the Interior in the technical spending limits presented in the new General Government Fiscal Plan 2024–2027. The appropriation level of the Ministry of the Interior will be c. EUR 2.4 billion at the beginning of the spending limits period, decreasing to c. EUR 1.9 billion in 2027. This represents an increase of EUR 179 to 547 million per year compared to the previous spending limits decision. 

3.11.2011 | Today, 3 November, Detective Chief Superintendent Sanna Palo was elected as a member of the INTERPOL Executive Committee for three years. Ms Palo represents Europe in the Committee. This is the first time that the Executive Committee has a member from Finland. The decision was made at the INTERPOL General Assembly, which met on 31 October - 3 November in Hanoi.

8.12.2020 | According to the government proposal, the wellbeing services counties and the City of Helsinki would be responsible for organising rescue services in their respective areas starting at the beginning of 2023. Contract fire brigades could be used to provide these services as at present. The role of central government guidance and direction in rescue services would be strengthened.