Political Relations

Updated 2026-09-17

Finland recognized the re-established independent State of Lithuania on 28 August 1991. Diplomatic relations was re-established on the same day.

From 1994 to 1997, Petras Auštrevičius served as the first Ambassador of Lithuania to Finland after the re-establishment of independence.

From 1992 to 1996, Taisto Tolvanen served as the first Ambassador of Finland to Lithuania.

INTERSTATE AGREEMENTS

Lietuvos Respublikos Vyriausybės ir Suomijos Respublikos Vyriausybės sutartis dėl investicijų skatinimo ir apsaugos
Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Government of the Republic of Finland for the Promotion and Protection of Investments
Vilnius, 1992.06.12
Įsigaliojo 1993.01.08. Neteko galios 2021-08-26, įsigaliojus Lietuvos Respublikos Vyriausybės ir Suomijos Respublikos Vyriausybės susitarimui dėl Lietuvos Respublikos Vyriausybės ir Suomijos Respublikos Vyriausybės sutarties dėl investicijų skatinimo ir apsaugos nutraukimo
Ratifikuota 1992.07.23 Nr. I-2787
Skelbta „Valstybės žiniose“ - 1994 m. Nr. 25
1.1. Valstybių narių vyriausybių atstovų deklaracija dėl Teisingumo Teismo sprendimo byloje Achmea teisinių pasekmių ir investicijų apsaugos Europos Sąjungoje
Declaration of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States of 15 January 2019 on the Legal Consequences of the Judgement of the Court of Justice in Achmea and on Investment Protection in the European Union
Briuselis, 2019-01-15.
Įsigaliojo 2019-01-15.
Skelbtas TAR, 2019-05-20, i. k. 2019-08010.
Lietuvos Respublikos ir Suomijos Respublikos sutartis dėl pajamų ir kapitalo dvigubo apmokestinimo ir fiskalinių pažeidimų išvengimo
Convention between the Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Finland for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital
Vilnius, 1993.04.30
Įsigaliojo 1993.12.30
Ratifikuota 1993.11.30 Nr. I-315
Skelbta „Valstybės žiniose“ - 1994 m. Nr. 18
Lietuvos Respublikos Vyriausybės ir Suomijos Respublikos Vyriausybės oro susisiekimo sutartis
Air Services Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Government of the Republic of Finland
Helsinkis, 1993.11.29
Įsigaliojo 1994.03.01
Skelbta „Valstybės žiniose“ - 2001 m. Nr. 38
Lietuvos Respublikos Vyriausybės ir Suomijos Respublikos Vyriausybės susitarimas dėl bendradarbiavimo muitinės veiklos srityje
Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Government of the Republic of Finland regarding Cooperation in Customs Matters
Helsinkis, 1994.02.03
Įsigaliojo 1994.10.12
Skelbta „Valstybės žiniose“ - 1996 m. Nr. 43
Lietuvos Respublikos Vyriausybės ir Suomijos Respublikos Vyriausybės susitarimas dėl grąžinimo asmenų, kurie atvyko į valstybę ar gyvena joje be leidimo
Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Government of the Republic of Finland on the Readmission of Persons entering a Country and Residing there without Authorization
Vilnius, 1997.03.18
Įsigaliojo 1997.07.23
Ratifikuotas 1997.04.24 Nr. VIII-197
Skelbta „Valstybės žiniose“ - 1997 m. Nr. 37
Lietuvos Respublikos Vyriausybės ir Suomijos Respublikos Vyriausybės susitarimas dėl bendradarbiavimo nusikaltimų prevencijos srityje
Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Government of the Republic of Finland on Cooperation in Crime Prevention
Vilnius, 1997.03.18
Įsigaliojo 1997.10.24
Ratifikuotas 1997.09.23 Nr. VIII-421
Skelbta „Valstybės žiniose“ - 1997 m. Nr. 96
Lietuvos Respublikos Vyriausybės ir Suomijos Respublikos Vyriausybės sutartis dėl vizų režimo panaikinimo
Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Government of the Republic of Finland concerning the Abolition of Visas
Vilnius, 1997.08.04
Įsigaliojo 1997.11.02
Skelbta „Valstybės žiniose“ - 1997 m. Nr. 98
Lietuvos Respublikos Vyriausybės ir Suomijos Respublikos Vyriausybės susitarimas dėl Lietuvos Respublikos Vyriausybės ir Suomijos Respublikos Vyriausybės sutarties dėl vizų režimo panaikinimo, pasirašytos 1997 m. rugpjūčio 4 d., 1 straipsnio pakeitimo
Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Government of the Republic of Finland on the amendment of Article 1 of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Government of the Republic of Finland concerning the Abolition of Visas signed on 4 August 1997
2002.01.08, 2002.09.24
Įsigaliojo 2002.09.26
Vyriausybės 2002.09.17 nutarimas Nr. 1459
Skelbta „Valstybės žiniose“ - 2002 m. Nr. 109
Lietuvos Respublikos Vyriausybės ir Suomijos Respublikos Vyriausybės sutartis dėl bendradarbiavimo kultūros švietimo ir mokslo srityse
Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Government of the Republic of Finland on Co-operation in the Fields of Culture, Education and Science
Helsinkis, 1998.11.10
Įsigaliojo 1999.07.09
Vyriausybės 1999.05.11 nutarimas Nr. 556
Skelbta „Valstybės žiniose“ - 2000 m. Nr. 29
Lietuvos Respublikos ir Suomijos Respublikos sutartis dėl socialinės apsaugos
Agreement between the Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Finland on Social Security
Helsinkis, 2000.09.12
Nebegalioja nuo 2006.06.13
Ratifikuota 2001.05.24 Nr. IX-348
Denonsuota 2005.11.15 Nr. X-391
Skelbta „Valstybės žiniose“ - 2001 m. Nr. 49
Lietuvos Respublikos Vyriausybės ir Suomijos Respublikos Vyriausybės sutartis dėl tarptautinių vežiojimų keliais
Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Government of the Republic of Finland on International Road Transport
Helsinkis, 1998.11.10
Įsigaliojo 2004.06.27
Vyriausybės 2000.05.08 nutarimas Nr. 521
Skelbta „Valstybės žiniose“ - 2004 m. Nr. 92
Lietuvos Respublikos Vyriausybės ir Suomijos Respublikos Vyriausybės susitarimas dėl Lietuvos Respublikos Vyriausybės ir Suomijos Respublikos Vyriausybės sutarties dėl investicijų skatinimo ir apsaugos nutraukimo
Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Government of the Republic of Finland on the termination of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Government of the Republic of Finland for the Promotion and Protection of Investments
Sudarytas apsikeičiant 2020 m. liepos 23 d. ir 2020 m. rugsėjo 7 d. diplomatinėmis notomis.
Įsigalioja 2021-08-26.
Ratifikuotas 2021 m. birželio 30 d. įstatymu Nr. XIV-477.
Skelbtas TAR 2021-08-12, i. k. 2021-17449.

FACTS ABOUT LITHUANIA AND FINLAND

Category	Republic of Lithuania	Republic of Finland
Official Name	Republic of Lithuania	Republic of Finland
Form of Government	Parliamentary republic	Semi-presidential parliamentary republic
Parliament	Unicameral parliament (Seimas), 141 members elected for a four-year term through a mixed electoral system.Parlaimentary elections were held on 13/27 October 2024.	Unicameral parliament (Eduskunta), 200 members. A proportional representation system is used in multi-member constituencies. Parliamentary elections were held on 2 April 2023.
Head of State	President elected by popular vote for a five-year term. President: Gitanas Nausėda. Elections were held on 26 May 2024 (second term).	President elected by direct vote for a six-year term. President: Alexander Stubb. Elections were held on 11 February 2024.
Speaker of the Parliament	Juozas Olekas (Lithuanian Social Democratic Party)	Jussi Halla-aho (Finns Party / Perussuomalaiset)
Prime Minister	Mindaugas Sinkevičius (Lithuanian Social Democratic Party)	Petteri Orpo (National Coalition Party / Kokoomus)
Minister for Foreign Affairs	Kęstutis Budrys	Elina Valtonen (National Coalition Party / Kokoomus)
Establishment of Statehood	1251-1253 (baptism and coronation of the King of Lithuania Mindaugas)	The beginning of nearly 700 years of shared history with the Kingdom of Sweden is traditionally dated to 1154.
National Day	16 February 1918	6 December 1917
Restoration of Sovereignity	16 February 1918 11 March 1990	6 December 1917
Adoption of the current Constitution	25 October 1992	1 March 2000
Area	65,500 km²	338,424 km²
Population	2.88 million	5.6 million
Population Density	45 inhabitants/km²	17 inhabitants/km²
Capital City	Vilnius (526,356 inhabitants)	Helsinki (0.6 million inhabitants)
Territorial Structure	Unitary republic	Unitary republic
Official Language	Lithuanian	Finnish, Swedish
Maina Ethnic Groups	Lithuanians 84.2%, Poles 6.6%, Russians 5.6%, Belarussians 1.3%, Ukrainians 0.7%	Finns 93.4%, Swedes 5.6%, Russians 0.5%, Estonians 0.3%, Roma 0.1%, Sámi 0.1%
Administrative Division	10 counties	19 regions (70 sub-regions, 320 municipalities)
Predominant Religion	79% Roman Catholic	78.4% Lutheran
Other Religious Affiliations	Eastern Orthodox 3.75%, non-religious/atheists 6.11%	Eastern Orthodox 1.1%, other Christians 1.1%, other religions 0.2%, non-religious/atheists 19.2%
EU Membership	1 May 2004	1 January 1995
NATO Membership	29 March 2004	4 April 2023 (Finland became the 31st NATO member)
Unemployment	6,73% (2025)	9.9% (2025)
Currency	Euro (€)	Euro (€)
GDP	€84.1 billion (2025)	€281.2 billion (2025)
GDP per Cap	€29,200 (2025; population 2.88 million)	€50,200 (2025; population 5.6 million)

INTERSTATE VISITS FROM THE FINNISH SIDE

13–15 May 2026: President of Finland Alexander Stubb, accompanied by First Lady Suzanne Innes-Stubb, paid a state visit to Lithuania. Meetings were held with President Gitanas Nausėda, Speaker of the Seimas Juozas Olekas, and Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė. The delegation also included Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio. A Lithuania-Finland Business Forum was organized during the visit.

16 January 2026: Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen paid a working visit to Vilnius and met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys.

31 March 2025: Bilateral consultations of the Directors for European Affairs of the Lithuanian and Finnish Ministries of Foreign Affairs were held in Vilnius.

6 May 2024: Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Jussi Halla-aho paid an official visit to Vilnius and met with Speaker of the Seimas Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė, Minister of National Defence Laurynas Kasčiūnas, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis.

16 April 2024: Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen paid a bilateral visit to Vilnius and met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis.

11–12 July 2023: Participation of President Sauli Niinistö, Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen, and Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen in the NATO Summit in Vilnius.

4 November 2022: Working visit of President Sauli Niinistö to Vilnius.

6–7 September 2022: Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto participated in the NB8 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Kaunas.

22–23 August 2022: Speaker of the Parliament Matti Vanhanen participated in the NB8 Speakers’ Meeting in Kaunas.

29 August 2020: Working visit of Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto to Vilnius.

9 August 2020: Working visit of Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto to Vilnius.

28 October 2019: Working visit of Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto to Vilnius.

6 March 2019: Working visit of Prime Minister Juha Sipilä to Lithuania. He met with President Dalia Grybauskaitė and Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis.

6 July 2018: At the invitation of Speaker of the Seimas Viktoras Pranckietis, Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Paula Risikko attended Lithuania’s State Day celebrations and the Lithuanian Song Festival. She also participated in the unveiling ceremony of the Freedom Warrior (Vytis) monument near Kaunas Castle.

16 February 2018: President Sauli Niinistö attended the official events marking the centenary of the restoration of the Lithuanian State.

30 March 2016: Minister of Transport and Communications Anne Berner visited Vilnius, meeting with Lithuanian Vice Minister of Transport and Communications Arijandas Šliupas. She also addressed seminars on Rail Baltica and women’s participation in business.

24 September 2015: Visit of Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini to Vilnius. Meetings were held with Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius, Speaker of the Seimas Loreta Graužinienė, and Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas.

21 April 2015: Permanent State Secretary of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs Matti Anttonen met in Vilnius with Lithuanian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Neris Germanas.

14–15 May 2013: State visit of President Sauli Niinistö to Lithuania.

4 September 2012: Minister for Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja participated in the NB8 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Vilnius.

30 June 2011: President Tarja Halonen participated in the World Women Leaders Conference in Vilnius.

1–2 June 2010: Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen participated in the Baltic Sea States Summit held in Vilnius.

11 March 2010: President Tarja Halonen attended ceremonies marking the 20th anniversary of the Restoration of Lithuania’s Independence.

6 July 2009: President Tarja Halonen attended celebrations marking the Millennium of the Name of Lithuania.

30 March 2009: Working visit of Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Stubb to Lithuania.

12 November 2007: Working visit of Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen to Lithuania.

28–29 August 2006: Visit of Speaker of Parliament Paavo Lipponen to Lithuania.

29 March 2006: Visit of Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paula Lehtomäki to Lithuania.

25–26 August 2004: Minister for Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja participated in the NB8 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Palanga.

20–21 May 2004: Working visit of Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Liisa Jaakonsaari. Meetings were held with Minister of Foreign Affairs Antanas Valionis and Minister of National Defence Linas Linkevičius.

22–23 February 2004: Working visit of Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs Arto Mansala. Meetings were held with Lithuanian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Justas Vincas Paleckis and Foreign Ministry State Secretary Rimantas Motuzas.

9 December 2003: Visit of Minister of Defence Seppo Kääriäinen to Lithuania.

5 September 2003: Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen participated in an extended Baltic Council of Ministers meeting on infrastructure issues and held bilateral meetings with the President and Prime Minister of Lithuania.

27 January 2003: Visit of Minister of the Environment Jouni Backman to Lithuania.

4–6 March 2002: Official visit of President Tarja Halonen to Lithuania.

INTERSTATE VISITS FROM THE LITHUANIA SIDE

14/15 September 2026: Working visit of President Gitanas Nausėda to Finland (Rovaniemi, Helsinki). The President participated in the European Arctic Summit in Rovaniemi and, the following day in Helsinki, met with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and visited the Patria armored vehicle manufacturing facility.

1 September 2026: Working visit of Minister of Finance Taurimas Valys to Finland.

9 March 2026: Working visit of Minister of the Interior Vladislav Kondratovič to Finland.

01/02 September 2025: Working visit of President Gitanas Nausėda to Finland (Helsinki, Tampere). He met with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Prime Minister Petteri Orpo. The Lithuania-Finland Defence Industry Business Forum took place and was opened by President Nausėda, with Finnish Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen participating.

19 May 2025: Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas paid a working visit to Helsinki, during which he met with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, and Speaker of Parliament Jussi Halla-aho, as well as representatives of companies and business associations.

11/12 February 2025: Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys met in Helsinki with Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen, Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen, President Alexander Stubb, and Speaker of Parliament Jussi Halla-aho.

1 February 2022: Working visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis to Helsinki.

5 November 2019: Working visit of President Gitanas Nausėda to Finland.

6/7 November 2017: Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis participated in the meeting of Nordic and Baltic Defence Ministers in Helsinki in the context of Finland’s chairmanship of NORDEFCO.

1 November 2017: Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis participated in the annual NB8 Prime Ministers’ Meeting in Helsinki and met with Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipilä.

23/24 October 2017: Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius paid a working visit to Finland, where he met with Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini, Minister for European Affairs, Culture and Sport Sampo Terho, Chair of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee Matti Vanhanen and committee members. He also visited the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats, opened the Honorary Consulate of Lithuania in Turku, delivered a lecture at the University of Turku on the security situation in the Baltic Sea region, and paid tribute to the victims of the terrorist attack in central Turku on 18 August 2017.

18/19 October 2016: Official visit of President Dalia Grybauskaitė to Finland. She met with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, Speaker of Parliament Maria Lohela, Prime Minister Juha Sipilä, and visited Aalto University.

10/11 May 2016: Visit of Minister of Energy Rokas Masiulis to Finland.

28 October 2011: President Dalia Grybauskaitė paid a working visit to Finland, where she met with Finnish President Tarja Halonen and delivered an address at the ceremonial event marking the 100th anniversary of the Finnish Women’s Council.

11 October 2010: Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius paid a working visit to Finland focused on investment promotion.

29 April 2010: Working visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis to Finland.

10 February 2010: President Dalia Grybauskaitė participated in the Baltic Sea Action Summit.

07/08 October 2009: Working visit of President Dalia Grybauskaitė to Finland.

10 September 2009: Working visit of Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius to Finland.

23/24 April 2009: State visit of President Valdas Adamkus to Finland.

27 October 2008: Meeting of Nordic and Baltic Prime Ministers held in Helsinki, focusing primarily on the economic situation.

31 January/1 February 2008: Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas visited Finland and met with President Tarja Halonen, Minister for Foreign Affairs Ilkka Kanerva, and Minister for European Affairs and Migration Astrid Thors.

16/17 August 2007: Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas participated in the Nordic-Baltic (NB8) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Turku.

20 September 2006: Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas paid a working visit to Finland.

9 September 2005: Working visit of Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas to Finland.

06/07 November 2003: Visit of Commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Major General Jonas Kronkaitis to Finland; meetings with Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces Admiral Juhani Kaskeala and Minister of Defence Seppo Kääriäinen.

21 May 2003: Working visit of President Rolandas Paksas to Finland.

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Political Relations

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