Capital: Helsinki
Official EU language(s): Finnish, Swedish
EU member country: since 1 January 1995
Currency: euro. Finland has been a member of the Eurozone since 1 January 1999.
Schengen: Finland has been part of the Schengen area since 25 March 2001.
Figures: Geographical size – population – gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS
Finland functions as a parliamentary republic, with both a prime minister as the head of government and a president as the head of state. The central government is situated in Helsinki, while local governance extends across 309 municipalities, including towns and cities. The country is administratively divided into 19 regions and 70 sub-regions. Åland, the smallest region, operates as an autonomous archipelago in the southwest, while the northern Lappi region includes the Sami Domicile Area, home to approximately half of Finland’s indigenous Sami people, also known as Lapps or Laplanders.
Key sectors of Finland’s economy in 2020 included industry (20.3%), public administration, defense, education, human health, and social work activities (20.6%), and wholesale and retail trade, transport, accommodation, and food services (14.0%).
Internally, 55% of Finland’s exports are traded within the EU, with Germany (14%), Sweden (10%), and the Netherlands (7%) being primary destinations. Externally, 9% of exports go to the United States and 5% to China.
Regarding imports, 72% originate from EU Member States, with Germany and Sweden (17%) and the Netherlands (9%) as major sources. Externally, 10% come from Russia and 4% from China.
Finland is represented by 14 members in the European Parliament.
Finnish government representatives attend Council meetings regularly to adopt EU laws and coordinate policies.
Finland has held the Presidency of the Council of the EU during the following periods: July-December 1999, July-December 2006, and July-December 2019.
Jutta Urpilainen serves as the Commissioner nominated by Finland to the European Commission, responsible for International Partnerships. The Commission maintains representation in Finland.
Finland has 9 representatives on the European Economic and Social Committee, offering consultation on proposed laws affecting work and social situations.
Finland has 9 representatives on the European Committee of the Regions, ensuring regional perspectives are considered in proposed laws.
Finland communicates with EU institutions through its permanent representation in Brussels, ensuring effective pursuit of the country’s interests and policies within the EU.
Finland’s contributions to the EU budget are calculated fairly based on its economic means, supporting various programs and projects across EU countries. The EU budget prioritizes the needs of Europeans as a whole.
