International cooperation and influencing the work in various international forums runs through most of the activities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

International issues are dealt with at all the Ministry's departments and almost all units. When Finland joined the European Union the Ministry adopted a practice where the work relating to the EU are not considered international affairs but integral elements of the domestic policy. This is quite appropriate as today over 80 per cent of the legislation in our sector derives from the EU.

Typical international policies include the contacts to international organisations, cooperation with certain regions and bilateral relations with different countries. These tasks are also carried out in most of the Ministry's units. The broad and varied international relationships in the administrative sector are managed actively and with high expertise. The Ministry also supports the agencies and institutes of the sector and other stakeholders, such as interest groups and researchers, in their international operations. One important duty of the Ministry's officials is to make Finland better known and advance our goals in international contexts.

With its special expertise, the International Affairs Group supports the other units of the Ministry in managing the international tasks. According to the Rules of Procedure of the Ministry, "The International Affairs Group assists the management of the Ministry and other administration in international affairs insofar as the matter does not pertain to a department or special unit. The Group also deals with broad trade policy issues and questions relating to the enlargement of the European Union in the administrative sector together with the relevant departments."