Here is a selection of what the international press has published about Finland in the last week:
Sauna diplomacy pauses as top Finnish spot in Brussels closes for now
The temporary closure of the iconic sauna at Finland’s Permanent Representation (perm rep) to the EU in Brussels was covered in an article by Politico on April 28. The article sheds light on how a cultural staple — the sauna — plays a strategic role in Finnish diplomacy, and how its temporary closure in Brussels has not dampened the spirit of this tradition.
Known for its unique blend of diplomacy and Finnish culture, this sauna has been a favored meeting spot among EU diplomats and Finnish officials for informal discussions and networking. The closure is due to renovations, and although an official reopening date hasn’t been provided, insiders anticipate the sauna will remain out of use for about a year. Despite the closure, the tradition of “sauna diplomacy” will continue, with Finnish diplomats resorting to alternative locations such as the ambassador’s residence sauna and the public sauna at the Finnish Seamen’s Mission on Rue Jacques de Lalaing.
This sauna has become a hallmark of Finnish diplomatic culture, influencing similar setups in the EU’s Berlaymont building and NATO headquarters. Prominent figures like Finland’s current President Alexander Stubb and former Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen have been regular guests, showcasing its significance beyond leisure — as a soft power tool for informal political discourse.
The piece highlights the deep-rooted connection between Finnish identity and sauna culture. Most Finnish diplomatic missions are equipped with a sauna, and the Finnish Sauna Society even grants an annual “Löylynhenki Award” to individuals or organizations promoting sauna culture. In 2011, Finland’s foreign ministry received this honor in recognition of its contribution to sauna diplomacy.
Original story was published by Politico on 28.04.2025 and can be found here.
Transforming how humanity sees: Finnish IXI lands $36.5M to develop the world’s first autofocus glasses
Finnish hardware startup IXI securing $36.5 million in a Series A funding round to develop and commercialize the world’s first autofocus glasses was covered in an article by TechFundingNews.com on April 29. The article highlights how these autofocus glasses are designed to automatically adjust focus in real time and offer clear vision at any distance.
These smart glasses aim to replace traditional solutions like bifocals and progressives, which often come with limited fields of view and inconvenience. Founded in 2021 by Niko Eiden and Ville Miettinen, both former co-founders of mixed reality firm Varjo, IXI is based in Espoo, Finland, and was created to bring innovation to the stagnant eyewear industry.
The company’s adaptive eyewear uses liquid crystal lenses and proprietary infrared sensors embedded in the lenses to detect eye convergence, rather than relying on energy-intensive cameras. A microcontroller in the glasses’ nose bridge interprets this data to instantly adjust focus, mimicking the way the human eye naturally functions. This technology consumes less than 1% of the power required by camera-based systems, enabling all-day battery life and protecting user privacy since it doesn’t capture facial images.
IXI is positioning its glasses not just as vision correction tools, but as premium lifestyle products by collaborating with high-end fashion designers. The startup tested its prototypes with professionals like pilots and auto mechanics, who require fast shifts in focus, leading to features like dynamic tilt compensation. The company’s tech involves miniaturized components, such as custom silicon chips and laser-etched optical layers, made possible by recent advances in wearable electronics. Investors backing IXI include Plural, Tesi, byFounders, Heartcore, Eurazeo, FOV Ventures, and Tiny Supercomputer, reflecting strong confidence in its potential to disrupt the $200 billion global eyewear market.
Original story was published by TechFundingNews.com on 28.04.2025 and can be found here.
‘’If we keep going like this, no one will have a better life in Europe,’’ Finnish minister
Finland’s Interior Minister Marie Radanen’s call for migration reform in Europe was covered in an article by Kathimerini news on May 2. In this candid article, Radanen warned that the continent’s future could be at risk if current trends continue.
“I understand people want a better life,” she said in an interview with Kathimerini. “But if we continue like this, no one will have a better life in Europe,” Radanen added.
She stressed that while many migrants seek a better life, the unchecked flow of irregular migration, often facilitated by smuggling networks, is overwhelming the European asylum system. To address this, Radanen proposed a controversial plan to process asylum applications and grant refugee protection outside the European Union in designated safe third countries, thereby intercepting migrants before they reach EU borders.
Radanen, representing a right-wing coalition government, cited Finland’s recent closure of its border with Russia as an example of necessary action, accusing Moscow of intentionally pushing migrants into Finland. She underscored that Finland, as both a European and NATO border nation, sees migration not only as a humanitarian issue but also as a matter of national and regional security.
While acknowledging Europe’s need for skilled labor, she distinguished between economic migration and asylum-seeking, advocating for straightforward work permit systems rather than asylum as a gateway to residency. Radanen also argued that citizenship should be earned through successful integration rather than automatically granted.
Original story was published by Kathimerini news on 02.05.2025 and can be found here.
Finland has asked the EU for relief to increase defence spending
Finland’s formal request to the European Union to activate a special budget exemption mechanism that would allow it to significantly increase defence spending was covered in an article by The Political Lore on April 30. The article explores how the financial and strategic move underscores a broader European pivot toward defence preparedness amid escalating global tensions.
The Finnish government aims to boost its defence budget to at least 3% of its GDP by the year 2029. The Finnish Finance Ministry confirmed the request and noted that the European Commission is currently reviewing similar applications from multiple EU member states. A preliminary assessment will be issued by the Commission on June 4, followed by a decision from the EU Council in July regarding the application of fiscal exceptions for individual countries.
This request aligns with the EU’s recently unveiled defence strategy, originally titled “Rearmament of Europe” but later rebranded as “Readiness 2030” after objections from some member nations over its militaristic tone. The strategy aims to mobilize approximately 800 billion euros over four years to strengthen Europe’s defence capabilities. Of that, about 650 billion euros is expected to come directly from national budgets, with the remainder in the form of loans.
The “Readiness 2030” initiative not only calls for increased defence spending (up to 1.5% of GDP EU-wide) but also includes measures such as redirecting regional development funds toward military needs and offering budgetary flexibility to enable this redirection.
Original story was published by The Political Lore on 30.04.2025 and can be found here.
HT
