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Helena-Reet Ennet

Helena-Reet Ennet
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Entrepreneurs to be temporarily entitled to labour market support in January–February 2022

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — Entrepreneurs have been temporarily entitled to labour market support on more flexible terms during the coronavirus pandemic. Due to the deteriorating coronavirus situation, this temporary amendment will continue. The President of the Republic confirmed the legislative amendment on 28 January 2022, and it will enter into force on 31 January 2022.As a rule, a person who has been self-employed on a full-time basis is entitled to unemployment benefit once the business activities have ceased completely. During the coronavirus pandemic, entrepreneurs have been temporarily entitled to labour market support if their full-time work has ended or their income has decreased due to the pandemic. To be eligible for the temporary labour market support, an entrepreneur must meet the following conditions:full-time employment of the entrepreneur has ended orthe monthly income from their business activities is less than EUR 1,103.92 per each person engaged in these activities as an entrepreneur.The entrepreneur does not have to cease their business activities in order to receive labour market support.Applicants should register as jobseekers at TE Office by 15 February 2022According to the temporary amendment, labour market support can be paid for the period of January–February 2022. The temporary act will be in effect until the end of February 2022. In order to receive labour market support, a person must register as a jobseeker with the TE Office and the TE Office must issue a labour policy statement on their entitlement to labour market support to Kela. The entrepreneur can then apply for labour market support from Kela.Entrepreneurs applying for labour market support should register as jobseekers with the TE Office no later than 15 February 2022 in order to be eligible for labour market support for the entire period of January–February. More detailed instructions will be available on the TE Services website.The first similar temporary amendment to the Unemployment Security Act entered into force on 8 April 2020, and the amendment has been extended several times due to the pandemic. The most recent amendment was in force until 30 November 2021.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Ministry for Foreign Affairs has solved suspected espionage case

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — Finnish diplomats have been targets of cyber espionage by means of the Pegasus spyware, developed by NSO Group Technologies, which has received wide publicity. The highly sophisticated malware has infected users’ Apple or Android telephones without their noticing and without any action from the user’s part. Through the spyware, the perpetrators may have been able to harvest data from the device and exploit its features.The Ministry for Foreign Affairs inquired into the case together with different public authorities and stakeholders in autumn and winter 2021–2022. The case was directed at posted employees working in Finnish missions abroad. The inquiry has enabled to Ministry to determine the timeline of the activities. The espionage is no longer active.The Ministry for Foreign Affairs processes information at different security levels using different methods. Information transmitted by telephone is public or classified at level 4 at the maximum, which is the lowest level of classified information. However, it is worth noting that even if information is not directly classified, the information itself and its source may be subject to diplomatic confidentiality.The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is continually monitoring events and activities in its operating environment and assessing related risks. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs monitors its services and strives to prevent harmful activities.  The preparation of and decisions on foreign and security policy, in particular, are matters that attract much interest, which may also manifest itself as unlawful intelligence. The Ministry responds to the risk by various means, but complete protection against unlawful intelligence is impossible. 

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

President and Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discuss EU Strategic Compass and situation concerning Russia and Ukraine

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — On 28 January, the President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed the EU’s Strategic Compass, which focuses on developing the Union’s crisis management, resilience, capabilities and partnerships.The President and the Ministerial Committee also addressed the actions taken by Russia and the security situation in Europe. The discussion focused on the situation concerning Russia and Ukraine and the ongoing diplomatic efforts in different discussion formats.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Draft bill on new application round for business cost support and closure compensation now out for comments

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — A new application round will be organised for business cost support and closure compensation. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment invites comments and opinions on the proposed amendments to the Act on Support for Business Costs by 3 February 2022. The aim is to submit the bill to Parliament for consideration in early February. The Act is due to enter into force on 1 March 2022, after which companies could apply for support from the State Treasury.The Government proposes amendments to the Act on Support for Business Costs concerning closure compensation and business cost support.  The closure compensation will compensate for the losses to business activities caused by the coronavirus-related closures and prohibitions of public events.  The business cost support compensates for the negative impacts of the less severe restrictions on the sectors and companies affected by these restrictions.With regard to closure compensation, eligible companies would include those where premises have been closed in full or in part or where public events organised by these companies have been prohibited by a provision of an act or by order of an authority to manage a pandemic. A less severe restriction or recommendation issued by an authority would not constitute a closure measure referred to in this section. The compensation would not cover events for which the use of a COVID-19 passport would be permitted. The closure compensation would cover the period from 21 December 2021 to 28 February 2022. The amount of compensation would be based on the number of closure days during the support period. Closure compensation applies to companies with fewer than 50 employees. The Government is currently preparing a separate scheme for large companies. Support for large companies requires EU notification. The business cost support is not restricted based on the company’s size. The provisions on business cost support for sectors and companies that have suffered from other restrictions will be amended to meet the need for compensation caused by the new and ongoing less severe restrictions. The time periods in the section would be amended to correspond with the new situation, i.e. the support period would be 1 December 2021–28 February 2022 and the months of the reference period would be from autumn 2021. In other respects, the Act would mainly correspond with the content of the current Act. However, the support would be allocated during a later support period and the reference period would be redefined. The percentage in the decrease in turnover and the company’s own liability would be reduced from 30% to 20%.The amount and procedure of the support would largely correspond to the current provisions. Since the support and reference periods would be redefined, the amounts of support paid may differ from the earlier periods. Aligning the reference periods more closely with the support period will make companies established later (business activities must have started no later than 1 October 2021) eligible for support. The total maximum amount of compensation per group would be EUR 2.3 million.All coronavirus-related aid will be affected by the duration of the EU’s exemptions to state aid rules, which will expire on 30 June 2022. Certain operators in the administrative branch of the Ministry of Education and Culture and, for example, cultural institutions are not considered economic activities referred to in the EU’s business subsidy legislation and they therefore fall outside this support. The Ministry of Education and Culture is currently preparing a support scheme for these operators. 

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Ministerial working group proposes easing COVID-19 restrictions

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — On 27 January, the Government’s Ministerial Working Group on COVID-19 received an update on the epidemiological situation and the authorities’ assessments of its development. The ministerial working group proposes changes to the restrictions on restaurants and low-risk facilities and events.The spread of the Omicron variant has kept the number of infections high across Finland. Despite a drop in the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care, the burden on other specialised healthcare has remained unchanged at the national level. Although there are still many cases being reported among vaccinated people, vaccines have been very effective in preventing severe forms of the disease. The ministerial working group stresses the importance of vaccines in the current situation. Personal responsibility and COVID-safe behaviour also play a key role. Restrictions on restaurants to be eased as suspension of COVID-19 passport continues The ministerial working group proposes easing the restrictions on ‘lower-risk’ food and beverage service businesses. Starting on the first day of February, alcoholic beverages could be served at these establishments until 20.00, and businesses could remain open until 21.00. Low-risk establishments are restaurants whose main purpose is not to serve alcohol.The number of customer seats in these businesses will continue to be restricted to 75 per cent of the normal maximum capacity. For businesses that primarily serve alcoholic beverages, the current restrictions will continue so that alcohol may be served until 17.00 and the doors must close at 18.00. The restrictions on the number of customer seats will also remain unchanged, meaning that only half of the normal maximum number of customers can be present at a time. Businesses requiring COVID-19 passports as a condition for entry may not use this as a way to circumvent the restrictions on the number of customer seats, alcohol service hours or opening hours. However, restaurants still have the right to require customers to present a valid COVID-19 passport as a condition for entry.  The working group proposes that the ban on the use of COVID-19 passports as an alternative to restrictions be extended for two weeks. The Government will issue decrees on restaurant restrictions and the continued suspension of the use of the COVID-19 passports in its plenary session on Friday 28 January.   Low-risk facilities and events   The ministerial working group proposes that the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health advise regional state administrative agencies and municipalities to end the full closure of low-risk facilities and events as of 1 February 2022.Instead, the regional authorities could decide to introduce less stringent health security measures depending on the epidemiological situation in the region. Low-risk facilities and events include libraries, museums, theatres, and public events with assigned seating for all attendees.  The restrictions will be reviewed again in the week beginning on 7 February. 
  

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

President of the Riigikogu Jüri Ratas visits Spain

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet —

President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Jüri Ratas is on a visit to Madrid, Spain. Today he will meet with President of the Congress of Deputies of Spain Meritxell Batet Lamaña. Besides bilateral relations, the issues relating to security of Europe will be discussed at the meeting.  

During the visit, Ratas will also meet with Minister for the Ecological Transition Teresa Ribera, with whom he will speak of green transition and digital transition. They will discuss energy prices and energy security as well. The meeting with Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Congress of Deputies Pau Marí Klose will focus on the European security architecture and relations with Russia.

In the afternoon, the President of the Riigikogu will deliver a speech about digital transition at the Private University of Madrid.

The President of the Riigikogu is accompanied on the visit by members of the Riigikogu Raivo Tamm and Sven Sester.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

The Riigikogu suspended the second reading of the Bill prohibiting attaching of compensation for energy prices to cover debts

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet —

At today’s sitting, the Riigikogu discussed the Bill on Amendments to the State Pension Insurance Act and Other Acts, and decided to suspend the second reading of the Bill on the motion of the Social Affairs Committee so that the factions could submit motions to amend.

The Social Affairs Committee has proposed to continue the proceedings of the Bill on 7 February and to submit it for passing on 9 February. The deadline for of motions to amend is 31 January. The Committee will convene for an extraordinary sitting on 1 February.

The Riigikogu supported the motions to amend made in the Social Affairs Committee between two readings, which ensure that the support paid as a temporary measure to mitigate the rise in energy prices cannot be attached to cover debts and that the support is not regarded as income in the payment of the unemployment insurance benefit.

The Bill on Amendments to the State Pension Insurance Act and Other Acts (475 SE), initiated by the Government, has been submitted to solve the problems that arose during the implementation of the State Pension Insurance Act and to ensure legal clarity. The Funded Pensions Act will also be amended. The amendments to the State Pension Insurance Act will ensure continuation of the payment of survivor’s pension to 18–24-year-old students in the month of September regardless of whether the information on their studies has been entered in the Estonian Education Information System or not. Under the current rules, the survivor’s pension for the previous month is paid in arrears in October, but this results in a one-month period of no income for the pension recipients.

In the future, the pensioners living in foreign countries can prove that they are alive also through an electronic channel. Under the current rules, they have to submit a written document approved by an administrative agency of their country of residence or an Estonian foreign mission. The Bill also provides that the time of being a member of a management or controlling body of a legal person will be included in the pensionable service if the social tax has been paid for this period. According to the amendments to the Funded Pensions Act, the persons with incapacity for work who have retired from the 2nd pillar can start collecting money in the 2nd pillar again or suspend receiving the pension if they have not yet attained the old age pension age but their capacity for work has been restored. Currently they do not have such a right.

The amendments to the State Pension Insurance Act are planned to enter into force in 1 June 2022 and the amendments to the Funded Pensions Act on 1 January 2023.

During the debate, Aivar Kokk (Isamaa), Urmas Reinsalu (Isamaa) and Kalle Grünthal (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) took the floor.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

The video recording of the sitting will be available on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.
(Please note that the recording will be uploaded with a delay.)

Source: Parliament of Estonia

New Advisory Board on Civil Society Policy (KANE) appointed

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — The Government appointed today a new Advisory Board on Civil Society Policy (KANE) for a four-year term from 27 January 2022 to 26 January 2026.The Advisory Board on Civil Society Policy is tasked with fostering cooperation between civil society and public authorities and strengthening the operating conditions for civil society. It also promotes dialogue between the public administration and civil society. The Advisory Board on Civil Society Policy works under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice. The Advisory Board is chaired by Kristiina Kumpula, Secretary General of the Finnish Red Cross.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Provisional EU measures would help Latvia, Lithuania and Poland manage migration

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — On 1 December, the European Commission issued a proposal for provisional emergency measures for the benefit of Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. The proposal is part of a set of joint EU measures aimed at responding to Belarus’s actions. Belarus has made efforts at its borders to instrumentalise migration for political purposes. The Government expressed its position on the proposal in its communication submitted to Parliament on 27 January.The proposal would create a temporary emergency procedure for managing asylum issues and migration for the countries affected by the actions of Belarus. At the same time, individuals would be able to apply for asylum and be ensured that their applications would be processed appropriately.The Commission proposes the following measures: The registration deadline for asylum applications could be extended from three days to four weeks.Under certain conditions, the so-called border procedure could be applied to all applicants. This means that their applications could be examined at or near the border. Material reception conditions could be limited to basic needs, which include food, water, clothing, adequate healthcare and temporary shelter from the moment an application is made.Rather than applying the EU Return Directive, the return procedure could be decided on at the national level.The measures would be applicable for six months, which, according to the Commission is considered sufficient to effectively manage the exceptional situation. Latvia, Lithuania and Poland would not be obliged to introduce these measures, but the Council decision would allow for this. The measures could not be applied outside these three countries.A United EU is a strong playerThe Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union states that in the event of one or more Member States being confronted by an emergency situation characterised by a sudden inflow of nationals of third countries, the Council may adopt provisional measures for the benefit of the Member State(s) concerned.The Government considers it important that the EU stands united when responding to the current situation. The Government approves the provisional measures proposed by the Commission as part of the set of joint measures. These provisional measures do not derogate from the obligation to process an asylum application, from the requirement to examine the application individually nor from adequate means of legal remedies.The Government stresses that, alongside these exceptional measures, work to reform the Common European Asylum System must continue. The System must be developed in a way that enables efficient, proportionate and more flexible ways for Member States to respond to changing situations while respecting fundamental and human rights.Discussion on responding to instrumentalisation of migration continuesThe EU is trying to agree on a temporary mechanism as soon as possible so that it can be used in the current situation. More extensive political discussion on how to respond to the instrumentalisation of migration will probably continue in early 2022 in different Council configurations.On 14 December, the Commission also submitted a proposal for a Regulation addressing situations of instrumentalisation in the field of migration and asylum. The Regulation would allow all Member States to derogate from certain European Union rules in these situations. The content of the measures would be similar to what the Commission is proposing to support Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.In addition, on 14 December, the Commission issued a proposal for amending the Schengen Borders Code. The proposal aims, for its part, to respond to situations of instrumentalisation of migration, and it would also include a definition of instrumentalisation. The Government’s positions on these proposals will be formulated in communications to be prepared separately.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Matti Hirvola appointed Director of Communications at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — Matti Hirvola has been appointed Director of Communications at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment for a term of five years starting on 15 February 2022. The Government decided on the appointment on 27 January 2022.Hirvola has held several communications management and coordination positions in a number of organisations. He has worked as Special Adviser to several ministers, ministerial groups and the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, focusing on communications and media relations.  Hirvola has work experience from four different ministries (Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, and Ministry of Education and Culture).He has also worked as chief specialist at a communications and consulting company, managed media projects at the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK and served as Head of Communications for a party organisation.In addition to his experience in communications, Hirvola has served as Secretary General of the Industrial Employees TP and as a labour market project researcher at the Kalevi Sorsa Foundation.He holds the degrees of Master of Arts and Master of Social Sciences.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

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