FINLAND
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries, and an autonomous grand duchy of Russia after 1809. It gained complete independence in 1917. During World War II, Finland successfully defended its independence through cooperation with Germany and resisted subsequent invasions by the Soviet Union - albeit with some loss of territory. In April 1972, the memorandum "FINLANDIZATION" IN ACTION: HELSINKI'S EXPERIENCE WITH MOSCOW appeared.

In the subsequent half century, Finland transformed from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per capita income is among the highest in Western Europe. A member of the EU since 1995, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro single currency at its initiation in January 1999. In the 21st century, the key features of Finland's modern welfare state are high quality education, promotion of equality, and a national social welfare system - currently challenged by an aging population and the fluctuations of an export-driven economy.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland opted to join NATO; it became the organization's 31st member in April 2023.

 

The current Finnish Government comprises 12 ministries. Each ministry is responsible for the preparation of matters within its mandate
and for the proper functioning of administration.

The Prime Minister chairs the plenary sessions of the Government  and the statutory Ministerial Committees.

Alexander Stubb, Director of
the School of Transnational Governance, EUI, at
CEPS
IdeasLab
2023
 

 

Exploring the Culture of Finland

Nearly 200,000 lakes, saunas, and art festivals make up the unique culture of Finland, one of Europe’s most magical countries. Its landscapes are diverse, ranging from coastal plains to inland rivers, lakes, and hills. Daily life in Finland includes skiing, hiking, sailing, and a balanced mix of small-town life with modern cities. The Finnish values common sense, education, honesty, and equality. Finland is a country that celebrates summers of seemingly endless sun and finds light in the near total darkness of winter!