Finland

Political contacts between France and Finland intensified rapidly after Finland’s entry into the European Union.

Preparations for the EU presidency, assumed by Finland in the second half of 2006, the French presidential election in May 2007, and the prospect of the French presidency of the European Union in the second half of 2008 have led to meetings at the highest level: official visit to France in March 2005 by the President of the Republic of Finland, Mrs. Tarja Halonen; meeting between the President of the Republic, Nicolas Sarkozy, and Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, in January 2008; the Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Michel Barnier’s trip to Finland in spring 2008 with the Secretary of State for Transport Dominique Bussereau (preparing the French Presidency of the EU); Prime Minister François Fillon’s trip to Helsinki in May 2008; Mr. Michel Rocard’s visit as Ambassador in charge of international negotiations for the Arctic and Antarctic Poles in November 2009.

On October 13th, 2010, the Finnish Prime Minister Mrs. Kiviniemi held talks in Paris with the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister. On January 20th, 2011, the Minister for European Affairs Mr. Wauquiez visited Finland, where he held talks with Mr. Stubb and Mrs. Thors, Minister for European Affairs. The Agriculture Minister Mr. Le Maire visited Finland on February 14th, 2011.

Link to the french embassy in Finland: http://www.ambafrance-fi.org/

Updated on 25.05.11