Germany and Finland have enjoyed close political, economic and cultural ties since the Hanseatic era and the Reformation. After the Second World War, the traditionally good relations between Finland and Germany were soon restored.

The two countries’ parliaments at both federal and Land level cultivate good relations. There is also a regular and intensive exchange between the Finnish and German parliaments’ committees. There are annual delegation trips within the framework of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference.

Germany is not only one of the main destinations for investments by Finnish companies but is also one of Finland’s most important trading partners. More than 80% of imports reach Finland by sea, with the German seaports of Hamburg, Rostock and Lübeck playing a key role. The German-Finnish Chamber of Commerce, which has more than 600 member companies, has set up a bilateral digital transformation partnership in order to provide German and Finnish companies with a platform in this field.

There are more than 800 cooperation arrangements and a vibrant exchange of students between the two countries’ universities. In the sphere of non-state cultural exchange, the more than 30 Finnish-German cultural associations in Finland as well as the German-Finnish Society in Germany and the Finland Institute in Berlin carry out a wide variety of cultural exchange programmes. The German-Finnish Society is one of the largest bilateral associations of its kind in Germany. Activities are also carried out as part of the more than 70 town and municipality twinning arrangements, including exchanges for secondary school students and young people.