Finland

A major change to the way welfare regions receive state funding has been proposed; the draft legislation, to take effect at the beginning of 2027, would reduce allocations to large population centres and shift emphasis on assessed service needs

New national digital guidelines set stricter limits on children’s use of smartphones, social media and screens during free time: authorizes smartphones and all social media use for children above 13, calling for no screen time at all for those under two

Tax and price changes that came into force in 2026 affecting consumers, income taxation and social support include a rise in prices of tobacco, nicotine products, and alcohol, while minor relief is expected in food, fuel and medical costs

The Director General of Finland’s Social Insurance Institution Kela has taken extended medical leave until the end of May 2026 after being diagnosed with a serious illness while on a work trip to Brussels

Over 700 students and staff at the University of Helsinki walked out of classes to protest academic cooperation with Israeli universities; similar demonstrations took place at universities in Tampere, Turku, Kuopio, Jyväskylä, Oulu and Rovaniemi

The Left Alliance has formally supported full legalisation of cannabis, going beyond itsposition of decriminalising personal use and minor possession; new party program supports legalisation of use, sale in state-owned shops, limited personal cultivation

Two forestry companies registered in Sotkamo are under criminal investigation for suspected large-scale human trafficking, aggravated extortion, and illegal immigration for misuse of work-based residence permits and visas issued to 180 foreigners

Finland's birth rate, long in decline, shows tentative signs of revival: 1.300 more children were born by the end of September 2025 than during the same period last year, according to Statistics Finland

Students from outside the EU and EEA will face tuition fees in Finland's upper secondary education and and vocational education starting August 2026; these students will no longer be counted under the state funding model for education providers

Matriculation examination has been disrupted in many upper secondary schools due to technical glitch at the beginning of the native language and literature on the first day of tests, Matriculation Examination Board stated in a press release

Helsinki’s city board has rejected planned public transport fare increases for 2026 and with a formal statement urged the regional transport authority HSL to revise its pricing and funding strategies

Three crew members of the oil tanker Eagle S, believed to belong to Russia's so-called shadow fleet, were charged with aggravated criminal mischief for damaging 5 Baltic Sea cables last December by dragging the ship's anchor on the seabed for around 90km