Minister for Foreign Affairs (Finland)

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland (in Finnish, ulkoasiainministeri, in Swedish utrikesminister) handles Finland's foreign affairs. The current Minister for Foreign Affairs is Erkki Tuomioja.

Three ministers are attached to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in the current cabinet:

• Minister for Foreign Affairs, responsible for foreign and security policy and general foreign service matters, Erkki Tuomioja.
• Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade, responsible for economic relations, coordination of EU affairs, coordination of the country's relations with adjacent states and planning and coordination of Finland's Nordic relations, Alexander Stubb.
• Minister for International Development, Heidi Hautala. She is also responsible for state's ownership steering.

Constitutional mandate

Section 93 (Competence in the area of foreign policy issues) of the Constitution of Finland provides:^[1]

The foreign policy of Finland is directed by the President of the Republic in co-operation with the Government.

However, the Parliament accepts Finland’s international obligations and their denouncement and decides on the bringing into force of Finland’s international obligations in so far as provided in this Constitution. The President decides on matters of war and peace, with the consent of the Parliament.

The Government is responsible for the national preparation of the decisions to be made in the European Union, and decides on the concomitant Finnish measures, unless the decision requires the approval of the Parliament.

The Parliament participates in the national preparation of decisions to be made in the European Union, as provided in this Constitution.

The communication of important foreign policy positions to foreign States and international organisations is the responsibility of the Minister with competence in foreign affairs.

This last paragraph specifies the constitutional responsibility of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

List of Ministers for Foreign Affairs

See also

• Antti Turunen, head of the Foreign Ministry's Eastern European and Central Asian department

References

External links

• Official Site of Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland