Article categories: News
EU Ambassadors to Finland Visited Vaasa
Published: 16.4.2026
In April, as part of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union, a two-day retreat for EU ambassadors accredited to Finland was held in Vaasa. Co-organised by the City of Vaasa and the Embassy of Cyprus in Helsinki, the visit provided ambassadors with an opportunity to gain deeper insight into Vaasa and the region’s energy technology, higher education, research, and business sector.
23 Ambassadors of EU Member States accredited to Finland, as well as the Head of the EU Commission Representation in Helsinki and senior officials from the Finnish Foreign Ministry, took part in the retreat as part of the Cyprus’s residency programme.
The ambassadors took the train to Vaasa, receiving a briefing from Finnish Railways (VR) representatives during the journey. The programme officially began with a working luncheon hosted by the Ambassador of Cyprus, Demetris Samuel, to which Finland’s Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering, Joakim Strand, was the guest of honour.
– We are excited to co-organise this visit for the group of EU Ambassadors to Vaasa, home of the largest energy technology concentration in the Nordic countries. Themes that are high on the agenda of the Cyprus Presidency of the EU Council, such as competitiveness, sustainability and resilience, will also be discussed in Vaasa and the take-aways will strengthen our joint efforts for a stronger, more autonomous European Union, open to the world, said Ambassador of Cyprus Demetris Samuel.
Energy technology expertise, research and education at the core of the visit
During the visit, the ambassadors were introduced to Vaasa’s key strengths and areas of expertise. The first day of the retreat focused on higher education and research, including a visit to the university campus and the Technobothnia Research and Development Laboratory. In the evening, Mayor Tomas Häyry hosted a dinner for the ambassadors.
– The visit of these esteemed EU ambassadors offers Vaasa an excellent opportunity to highlight the city’s strong energy technology expertise and its role as the largest energy technology hub in the Nordic countries. It also provides a valuable forum for dialogue on current European issues, said Mayor Häyry.
Visit to Wärtsilä Sustainable Technology Hub
The ambassadors also visited Wärtsilä Sustainable Technology Hub, where they gained valuable insights of the company’s global operations and its vital role as a developer of sustainable energy solutions. The visit highlighted Wärtsilä’s importance both within the European Union as well as a key part of the Vaasa energy technology cluster. The discussions emphasized Wärtsilä’s technological expertise, long-term collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders, and its commitment to solutions that drive the transition towards a more sustainable future.