In their meeting on Friday 2 October, the President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed the current situation in Ukraine and the need to continue to provide strong support for Ukraine and increase pressure on Russia.

Finland is well placed to build internationally competitive business in women’s health, according to a report commissioned by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

Finland is providing EUR 4 million to the UN Horizon Fund for the early recovery and reconstruction of Gaza and EUR 3 million for the development of Palestinian hospitals in East Jerusalem through the PEGASE financing mechanism managed by the EU.

The process for obtaining a residence permit for a startup entrepreneur would become simpler in the future. The aim is to allocate official resources to the applications of those entrepreneurs who genuinely plan to establish a startup company in Finland.

Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen will meet Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation José Manuel Albares in Helsinki on 5 October.

On 30 September 2026, the Finnish News Agency STT released a statement that it intends to significantly restructure its operation, which may lead to the company closing down its current business. The Ministry of Transport and Communications is pausing the preparations for the STT state aid package until STT owners decide on the company’s future.

The Government proposes legislative amendments to promote the operation of existing shooting ranges and facilitate the establishment of new ones. On 1 October 2026, the Government submitted to Parliament a proposal to amend the Act on Shooting Ranges and the Environmental Protection Act. In line with the Government Programme, the aim is to simplify the environmental permit processes and legislation concerning shooting ranges. “The Government wants to safeguard the operation of Finland’s existing shooting ranges and promote the establishment of new ones. The permit process would become more streamlined. This would provide recreational shooters and public authorities with better opportunities for training,” says Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen. In future, a single authority, the National Police Board, would handle all permit and notification matters related to shooting ranges. It would act as the permit and supervisory authority, taking over the tasks currently handled mainly by municipalities. Since the shooting range permit and notification would cover both safety and environmental matters, applicants would only need to submit a single application or notification. This would reduce the administrative burden associated with the permit processes and help ensure consistent procedures. The proposal would also facilitate the establishment of small shooting ranges. In the case of minor shooting ranges subject to a notification, the maximum number of shots would be raised to 100,000 shots a year. These small shooting ranges would be subject to the same environmental requirements as other shooting ranges. Environmental requirements to be included in the Act on Shooting Ranges The Act on Shooting Ranges would apply to both safety and environmental protection. The Act would include similar provisions on preventing environmental pollution and protecting groundwater as the Environmental Protection Act. Shooting ranges would still be subject to the general principles and prohibitions laid down in the Environmental Protection Act. The Act would contain more detailed provisions on limiting and managing emissions. These requirements would need to be met before a shooting range could begin operating. A permit could be granted or a notification approved if the operator uses the best available techniques and the modelled noise levels remain below the threshold values. The reform would also clarify the supervision of shooting ranges. The proposed acts are scheduled to enter into force as soon as possible. If a shooting range does not currently have an environmental permit or operate under a notification in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act, the operator would need to apply for a permit or submit a notification within three years of the Act’s entry into force.

The Government proposes that Parliament approve the partnership agreement between the European Union and its Member States and the members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), also known as the Samoa Agreement.

The Government will submit a proposal to Parliament for a new act on Finnfund, Finland's development financier and impact investor. The new act would replace regulation that has been in place for almost 50 years. The reform is intended to improve the administration of the Finnpartnership programme, which channels development finance to businesses, and enhance the services available to companies.

The Government has submitted to Parliament a proposal for an act on development policy investments. The proposal would create a clear legislative foundation for Finland's development policy investments and define their objectives, principles and procedures.

Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs will grant a EUR 50 million development policy loan to the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank Group. The loan will be provided for the Special Program for Ukraine Recovery 2.0 (SPUR 2.0), a new financing programme established by IDA to respond to Ukraine's substantial reconstruction and recovery needs.

Portugal’s Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel will visit Finland on 5 October and meet Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen. Topics on the agenda for the meeting include the bilateral relations between Finland and Portugal, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and the EU's multiannual financial framework and enlargement. The ministers will also discuss other security policy issues and artificial intelligence.

EU home affairs ministers will gather in Luxembourg on 1 October for a meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council. The topics on the agenda include improving the effectiveness of returns and enhancing cooperation with third countries. The ministers will also discuss migration situational awareness and how to better anticipate changes in migration flows. Finland will be represented at the meeting by Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen.

Finland’s Minister of Defence has called off his attendance at the meeting of Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) defence ministers in Reykjavík, Iceland, on 1–2 October 2026 due to a vote of confidence in Parliament.

Minister Anders Adlercreutz, who is responsible for Nordic cooperation, will attend a meeting of the ministers for Nordic cooperation in Copenhagen on 1 October.

The EU Methane Regulation requires energy sector operators to measure, report and reduce their methane emissions. According to the Regulation, EU Member States must appoint an authority to oversee compliance with the obligations and lay down rules on penalties following non-compliance. The government proposal concerning the legislation will be circulated for review from 30 September to 21 October 2026.

European Digital Identity Wallets are applications for your mobile phone that you can use to identify yourself electronically, sign documents electronically and present digital certificates. Wallet applications will be free of charge, and using them will be voluntary. They are expected to become available in 2027.

Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys will visit Helsinki and meet Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen on 2 October. Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen and Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys will discuss the bilateral relations between Finland and Lithuania, current foreign and security policy issues and the objectives of the upcoming Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the EU. After their bilateral meeting, the foreign ministers will attend the opening of the Helsinki Security Forum. “In recent years, our cooperation with Lithuania has deepened and taken on new, concrete forms. This is particularly evident in the defence industry, where artificial intelligence and drone technology are adding new dimensions to our cooperation and creating novel opportunities,” says Minister for Foreign Affairs Valtonen.

Finland believes it has achieved all the remaining milestones and targets in its Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP). The Ministry of Finance submitted the sixth payment request under the RRP to the European Commission on Tuesday 29 September.

On 29 September 2026, the Ministry of Transport and Communications released a study on improving the discoverability of domestic media services under the EU Directive on audiovisual media services (AVMS Directive).

While women make up a clear majority of teachers at lower levels of education, they remain underrepresented in education leadership positions in almost all OECD countries. The findings come from the OECD's Education at a Glance report, which compares education systems across countries. In 2026, the report focuses on teacher shortages and the attractiveness of the teaching profession.

In its meeting on Friday 25 September, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs discussed Finland’s national partnership plan for the next multiannual financial framework period, the emissions trading directive, energy issues, and the upcoming meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council.

Finland’s Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen will attend a meeting of Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) defence ministers in Reykjavík, Iceland, on 1–2 October 2026. This is the first official meeting of JEF defence ministers to be held in person this year.

The permanent secretaries of the ministries visited Åland on Monday 28 September. On their visit, the permanent secretaries met with members of the Government of Åland, local business leaders and representatives of public authorities. The visit was part of ongoing work to strengthen dialogue and deepen practical cooperation between the central government administration and the Government of Åland.

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is gathering parents’ and other custodians’ views on how children use social media and whether its use should be restricted. The results of the survey will be used by a working group that was set up to find ways to protect children from the harmful effects of social media. The survey is available from 25 September to 11 October, and it is open to all parents and other custodians of children under 18 years of age. It will also be distributed through schools.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Deputy Director General, Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Lauratuulia Lehtinen to the Advisory Group of the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for a three-year term.

The State of Finland and private Finnish operators are applying for around EUR 80 million in financial support from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for Transport. Projects of the state infrastructure network account for around EUR 37 million and private projects for around EUR 43 million of the total amount. The Ministerial Finance Committee endorsed the applications on 24 September 2026.

Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna will visit Helsinki and meet Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen on 29 September

Denmark and Greenland have requested assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism for an advisory mission in Greenland. The mission aims to help Greenland prepare for potential natural disasters and support the preparedness efforts of the Greenlandic authorities. As the climate warms, the Arctic is undergoing rapid change and is particularly vulnerable to environmental risks and other impacts.

The Government proposes more detailed conditions for how and when technology can be used in social welfare services. The proposal makes a clearer distinction between different technological solutions and situations where they can be used.

The Government proposes that, in future, wellbeing services counties could use automation to assess the need for treatment in primary healthcare. The aim is to speed up access to care and free up healthcare professionals’ time for patient care.

A key objective of the Government Programme was to ensure that the central government does not incur more debt during the current parliamentary term as a result of the Government’s investment programme. This objective is being achieved as planned.

The EU Competitiveness Council convenes in Brussels on 24 September 2026 to discuss internal market and industrial policies. Finland will be represented by Minister of Economic Affairs Sakari Puisto.

Between 2017 and 2025, Finnish companies and municipalities invested more than EUR 2 billion in measures improving energy efficiency. Thanks to these measures, the organisations are saving 18.6 terawatts (TWh) of energy per year compared with the initial situation. With the help of voluntary energy efficiency agreements between the government and sectors, Finland has achieved the EU’s strict energy efficiency obligations without the need for national legislation or other mandatory measures.

On 23 September 2026, Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen and Governor of California Gavin Newsom signed a Memorandum of Understanding between Finland and the State of California to strengthen commercial and economic ties between Finland and California.

Finland and Ukraine have signed an Agreement on Enhanced Defence and Security Cooperation under the Drone Deal format. It will enable defence materiel cooperation between the two countries.

A newly proposed model gives organisations a common framework for managing and developing their biodiversity work. The model was co-created and piloted with six organisations that took part in a development programme.

In September, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment submitted two applications to the European Commission for support from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF). The funding would be used to help redundant workers in Äänekoski and Päijät-Häme to find new jobs, develop their competences and retrain for other sectors.

Foreign Ministers from the allied Arctic nations, the Arctic Seven (A7), met in New York on 21 September. Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen represented Finland at the meeting. The A7 comprises Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Canada and the United States. The meeting was convened by the United States.

September 2026 Artificial intelligence is an extremely powerful technology. It has potential to improve lives, advance science and strengthen our economies.

The Government proposes that around EUR 3.73 billion be allocated to the government branch of the Ministry of Transport and Communications for 2027. 

The Finnish Government is proposing EUR 244 million for the operating expenses of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The operating expenses would be subject to a productivity saving of EUR 0.4 million as part of the additional measures the Government adopted in spring 2026 to adjust general government finances. The Ministry will primarily target the savings at its activities in Finland by limiting backfill recruitment and improving efficiency. The savings outlined in the Government Programme for development cooperation will increase by EUR 50 million.

The Finnish Government proposes EUR 14.9 billion in appropriations for the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and its branch of government for 2027. This is about EUR 47 million more than in the 2026 Budget.

The Government has submitted its proposal for the 2027 Budget and related legislative proposals to Parliament.

Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne will represent Finland at the informal meeting of EU transport ministers in Dublin on 21 September 2026. The agenda includes two working sessions. In the first session, the ministers will discuss how technological advances can be used to improve road safety. “Road safety is at a high level in Europe, but further progress is still possible. We must do our best to make transport even safer, smoother and more efficient in the years ahead. As we promote the automation of road transport, our priorities must be safety and security and we must proceed in a controlled manner,” Minister Ranne says. In the second working session, the ministers will focus on the impacts of the fuel crisis on the EU transport sector, and the implications for future policy and development. “We must ensure the sustainability of the EU climate policy from the perspectives of competitiveness, economy and security of supply. Climate actions must not increase mobility poverty or the cost of everyday living,” Minister Ranne says. No decisions will be made at the informal meeting. Inquiries: Petri Lepistö, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 342 014, petri.lepisto@gov.fi

The Finnish economy has been growing more rapidly than expected, and growth will continue throughout the outlook period. However, according to the economic forecast published by the Finnish Ministry of Finance on 21 September, the upturn will not be sufficient to correct the structural imbalance affecting general government finances.

The Finnish Internet Forum will be held in cooperation with Parliament’s Committee for the Future on Wednesday 7 October 2026. This year’s agenda focuses on digital sovereignty, the age restrictions on the Internet and the safety of children. Discussions take place against the backdrop of the development of artificial intelligence and its impact on the Internet.

A draft proposal to amend the Electricity Market Act has been circulated for comments until 9 October 2026. The draft proposal aims to ensure the appropriate and efficient use of the electricity network capacity between competing needs in situations of scarce capacity.

On 17 September 2026, the Ministry of Transport and Communications launched a legislative project to implement at national level the amendments required by the EU Regulation on measures to reduce the cost of deploying gigabit electronic communications networks (Gigabit Infrastructure Act). The Government submitted its proposal on the matter to Parliament already in August 2025, but the proposal was withdrawn in March 2026 to address the shortcomings identified by the Constitutional Law Committee in its statement.

Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Joakim Strand met European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos in Helsinki on Friday 18 September.