EU recognises Finland for expert work supporting institutional building

EU recognises Finland for expert work supporting institutional building

The European Commission has granted Finland a TAIEX 30th anniversary award for its leading role in promoting digital innovations and competitiveness. The Commission recognised EU Member States for promoting the TAIEX programme's goals in the EU enlargement process and institutional capacity-building in partner countries.

EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Marta Kos granted the award to Finland at the opening of the TAIEX 30th anniversary celebration in Brussels on Wednesday 22 April 2026.

TAIEX (Technical Assistance and Information Exchange) is a European Union technical instrument designed for public administration experts to share their expertise with their colleagues in partner countries in almost every part of the world. The aim is to build institutional capacity and align national legislation with EU law in partner countries.

The TAIEX Champions Awards celebrate Member States and experts that have significantly supported institutional capacity-building in EU candidate and partner countries. Recognition was granted in various categories, and EU candidate and partner countries were also considered.

In the field of digital innovations, Finland has supported partner countries in various ways, for example by sharing its expertise in the development of digital services, in the utilisation of artificial intelligence in client functions and in digitalisation in public administration.

Finland has also shared its expertise in other key sectors. For example, experts at the Finnish Meteorological Institute have helped their Ukrainian colleagues to implement legislation on the air quality index and shared their expertise in air quality monitoring. By supporting the partner countries' authorities in applying EU regulation, operating models and standards, the TAIEX programme paves way for broader cooperation and investments.

Strong institutions support Finland's and the EU's objectives

Finland's 30-year TAIEX cooperation has been characterised by an expert-driven, long-term strategic approach. Finland has shared its expertise widely with different sectors. In recent years, it has provided expertise through TAIEX to Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkan countries, where cooperation has focused on themes central to the EU membership process, especially the rule of law, good governance, digitalisation and environmental regulation.

According to Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen, the recognition underscores the effectiveness of Finnish administrative expertise and the high standard of Finnish expert work.

"Strong, well-functioning institutions lay the foundation for stability, democracy and the system of rules-based international order, and strengthening them is a key objective for Finland. I would like to offer my sincere thanks to all Finnish experts who have promoted TAIEX cooperation and the objectives of EU cooperation over the three decades," Minister Valtonen says.

An agile and effective EU instrument

These three decades have seen Finnish experts participate in TAIEX assignments nearly 2,500 times across Europe and EU partner countries. In 2025, Finnish experts shared their knowledge through TAIEX 85 times in seminars, expert meetings, study visits and other events.

Since 1996, TAIEX has strengthened the institutions of EU candidate and partner countries and supported alignment with EU laws. Over recent years, remote TAIEX projects have made support more accessible and effective, while allowing experts from several countries to take part simultaneously in a cost-effective and climate-efficient way.

TAIEX provides an opportunity for Finland to highlight and use its public administration expertise internationally in the EU enlargement process and the development of partner countries. It also paves way for broader cooperation in the European context of the Global Gateway and Team Europe to create a more stable investment environment in partner countries.

The TAIEX instrument is fully financed by the EU. Limited duration, clearly defined themes and close cooperation between the authorities make participation effective.

A broad expert network enhances effectiveness

The Commission's TAIEX expert database currently includes 225 Finnish experts from different branches of government. In 2025, 37 new Finnish experts registered in the database. TAIEX offers public officials an opportunity to share Finnish expertise internationally and develop their own competence through short-term assignments, while contributing to the strengthening and reform of the Finnish public administration.

New public officials interested in international expert assignments are encouraged to register in the TAIEX expert database. Registration does not entail an obligation to participate in TAIEX activities. Registered public officials may, however, be offered expert assignments directly by the Commission.