Finland has decided to suspend its bilateral development cooperation program with Somalia due to challenges in advancing readmission agreements for Somali citizens who have been denied asylum in Finland.
Ville Tavio, the Finnish Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, announced the decision, specifying that the suspension applies only to development cooperation and not to humanitarian aid, civil society support, or private sector initiatives.
Ongoing projects under the bilateral program will be allowed to conclude, but no new funding will be allocated unless there is significant progress in establishing effective return mechanisms for Somali nationals.
This development cooperation program has typically received annual funding of €8–9 million, and Somalia has been one of Finland’s long-term partners in areas like crisis management and development.
Finland’s decision comes as part of broader EU-level discussions on migration management, emphasizing Somalia’s role in addressing migration challenges.