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The Embassy of Finland in Vienna |
Contact
Address: Opernring 3-5/6, Stock 1010 Vienna, Austria
Tel.: +43 1 535 03 65
E-mail: sanomat.wie@gov.fi
The Ambassador
Nina Vaskunlahti
Nina Vaskunlahti has been serving as the Ambassador of Finland to Austria and Permanent Representative of Finland to the International Organizations in Vienna (excluding OSCE) since September 2023. In this role, she represents Finland's interests and priorities in Austria and at various international organizations, working to strengthen Finland's diplomatic, cultural, and economic ties.
Ambassador Vaskunlahti brings nearly four decades of experience in foreign affairs to her position. She joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1984 after graduating from the University of Turku with a Master's Degree in Political Sciences. Throughout her career, she has held various diplomatic positions, including assignments in Mexico, Australia, and the Russian Federation.
Prior to her current appointment, Ambassador Vaskunlahti served as Under-Secretary of State for International Trade (2019-2023), Ambassador of Finland to India and Bangladesh
(2016-2019), and Ambassador to Turkey (2012-2016). She has also held the position of Director General of the Department for Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
Ambassador Vaskunlahti has extensive experience in European Union affairs, having served in various roles at the Finnish Permanent Representation to the EU, including as Deputy Permanent Representative from 2004 to 2008. Her diverse background includes a secondment to the Office of the High Representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina, demonstrating her commitment to international cooperation and conflict resolution.
Throughout her career, Ambassador Vaskunlahti has been a strong advocate for gender equality and bases her work on Finnish values of equality, innovativeness, and trustworthiness. She firmly believes in the power of international cooperation and dialogue to address global challenges.
Ambassador Vaskunlahti's educational background and extensive diplomatic experience make her well-suited to promote Finland's interests and foster strong relationships with Austria and international organizations in Vienna.
History
Austria and Finland established diplomatic relations in the 1920s, after Finland gained independence in 1917 and Austria became a republic after the First World War. Finland opened diplomatic representation in Vienna during the interwar period, and relations continued despite the disruptions caused by the Second World War and the Cold War.
Relations today are considered close and friendly, based on shared European values, EU membership, and cooperation in international organisations. Austria and Finland cooperate particularly in areas such as climate policy, renewable energy, education, innovation, research, and sustainable development. Both countries are known for their support of multilateral solutions and international law.
Economic relations are significant, with Finnish companies active in Austria in technology, forestry, engineering, and clean-energy sectors. Cultural relations are also strong, with cooperation in music, design, literature, and academic exchange. Vienna’s role as a centre for international organisations further strengthens Finnish diplomatic engagement in Austria.
