Important dates

2004

1 January

The tax on spirits drops by more than 40 per cent in Finland. The government justifies the tax decrease with Estonia’s upcoming EU membership, as a result of which the import restrictions between the two countries will be removed.

10 September

Finland decides to join the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty in 2012 and to destroy its stockpiles of anti-personnel landmines by 2016. The decision arouses controversy.