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Helena-Reet Ennet

Helena-Reet Ennet
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The Foreign Affairs Committee will receive an overview of Estonia’s activities in UN Security Council in New York

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet —

The delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) is visiting New York until Tuesday to get an overview of Estonia’s activities as an elected member of the UN Security Council.

The delegation includes Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson and members of the Committee Indrek Saar, Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski and Raivo Tamm.

In Mihkelson’s opinion, the Estonian diplomats, headed by Permanent Representative of Estonia to the United Nations Sven Jürgenson, have convincingly proved that even a small country can be both visible and credible in the UN Security Council. “The rich experience gained during the two years will undoubtedly be useful in ensuring Estonia’s security within the framework of the United Nations and other international organisations,” Mihkelson said.

Tomorrow, the delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee will meet with President of the United Nations General Assembly Abdulla Shahid and the Executive Director of Security Council Report. They will also observe the Arria-formula meeting on Syria, which will be held in the UN Security Council and chaired by Estonia.

Meetings with Assistant Secretary-General in the UN Department of Political Affairs Miroslav Jenča and United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix are planned for Tuesday. The Estonian delegation will also watch the Security Council’s meeting on Middle East.

On Wednesday, the visit of the Foreign Affairs Committee delegation will continue in Washington, D.C.

Photos of the meetings

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Avoid all travel to South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Eswatini

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — Based on the recommendations of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs recommends avoiding all travel to South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Eswatini.A new variant of COVID-19, known as B.1.1.529, which has numerous mutations to the spike protein, has been detected in South Africa and Botswana. Due to the mutations, it is feared that the variant may spread effectively.The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has updated its travel advice for individual countries.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Minister of Defence: Legislative amendments unnecessary for many measures to develop military service

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen considers the development proposals of the Parliamentary Committee on National Defence Obligation and Conscription reasonable. A significant part of the proposals can be implemented without legislative amendments.
“It is easier and quicker to influence some of the objectives and this can be carried out within the administrative branch. Several aims require more extensive assessment and preparation,” Kaikkonen says.

Even without legislative amendments, the number of those starting military service can be increased by developing the assessment of fitness for service and by introducing new service duties, for example. Voluntary service can attract more women through targeted and active communications.

In addition, the number of drop-outs can be reduced by developing the initial questionnaire and selection system for those starting the service in order to match them with the most suitable positions. It is essential that the skills acquired during military service can be utilised later in studies or work.

The position of reservists will become more important as part of the reform of local defence. At the same time, the prospect of raising the upper age limit for reservists will be examined.
Gender equality will be increased by starting the preparation of the call-up system reform and by combining the assignment-for-service events for women and men. Some of the measures to develop gender equality are already under way, such as continuing the shared quartering experiment and shortening the time during which women have the right to discontinue service upon their notification.
“I would like to emphasise that many of the development measures are cross-administrative in their nature and that other administrative branches play a significant role in them,” Kaikkonen says.
“We must ensure that any further development measures take place in close cooperation between the necessary parties. For example, the objective set by the Committee to develop call-ups must be carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.
Kaikkonen stresses that military service is an integral part of society.
“We can describe it as a national institution, for good reason. It is important that military service enjoy wide support among citizens, because without this acceptance it will not thrive.”
“It is a pleasure to note that many of the development measures launched in the Defence Forces in recent years fit well with the goals and perspectives of the Committee. One example, which has been highlighted by the media too, is the ongoing study by the Defence Forces to offer military service opportunities to persons with health limitations.
“I also consider very important the Committee’s view that non-military service be developed alongside military service to better serve the needs of Finland’s comprehensive security,” Kaikkonen adds.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Satu Santala appointed Associate Vice-President at the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development

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Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — Satu Santala, Director General of the Department for Development Policy in the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, has been appointed Associate Vice-President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). IFAD is a specialised agency of the UN. In IFAD, as Associate Vice-President, Satu Santala aims to strengthen funding base in order to advance food security in developing countries.In her new role as Associate Vice-President, Satu Santala will head IFAD’s External Relations and Governance Department.  She will take up her duties at the organisation’s headquarters in Rome in early December.IFAD is an international development finance institution and one of the UN’s specialised agencies. It is one of the world’s largest providers of funding for agriculture and rural development in the poorest countries. The organisation promotes food security and nutrition and works to reduce rural poverty in developing countries.“IFAD works to improve the food security and livelihoods of the most vulnerable people, which is important to me. From the perspective of food security, climate change, biodiversity loss and the COVID-19 pandemic are all big issues. Food links everyone on the planet together,” says Satu Santala.Santala joined the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1996. In 2013–2016, she served on the World Bank’s Board of Directors in Washington DC. For the past five years, she has served as Director General of the Department for Development Policy of the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs.“My aim is to strengthen IFAD’s funding base. I will seek various partnerships to improve the livelihoods of poor farmers and, on the other hand, to advance food security in developing countries,” says Santala.Finland is a long-term supporter and partner of IFAD. In 2020, more than 23 million people benefited from IFAD’s financial services and 3.7 million people received training in income-generating activities or business management. Almost 1.7 million hectares of land was brought under climate resilient practices. 

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Tighter restrictions on food and beverage service businesses

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Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — The Government has amended the decree that restricts the activities of food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic. The restrictions on licensing and opening hours will be tightened in areas where the epidemic is in the community transmission phase. In addition, restrictions on food and beverage service businesses will be reintroduced in the region of South Karelia.The amendment to the decree will enter into force on Sunday 28 November at 00.00.Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in the regions of Southwest Finland, Satakunta, Päijät-Häme, Ostrobothnia, South Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, North Ostrobothnia, Pirkanmaa, Uusimaa, Kymenlaakso and Kanta-Häme and South Karelia and in the Hospital District of Länsi-Pohja, which are all at the community transmission phase of the epidemic, from 28 November at 00.00Serving of alcoholic beverages in all food and beverage service businesses will end at 17.00. Such businesses may keep their premises open to customers from 05.00 to 18.00. Alcoholic beverages sold before the serving of alcohol ends may be consumed within one hour after the licensing hours have ended. Food and beverage service businesses will be allowed to serve alcoholic beverages after 17.00 only by introducing the COVID-19 passport.Businesses that do not serve serve alcoholic beverages may be open between 5.00 and 1.00. For example, fast food restaurants and cafes may remain open, just as they are now. Bars and restaurants may also be open between 5.00 and 1.00 if they do not serve alcoholic beverages.Food and beverage service businesses that primarily serve alcoholic beverages may have only half the normal number of customer seats in use in their indoor and outdoor premises. Other food and beverage service are restricted to 75 per cent of their normal number of customer seats indoors.All customers must have their own seats at a table or similar in indoor premises.Businesses who require all customers to present a COVID-19 passport are exempt from the above-mentioned restrictions.Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses elsewhere in Finland from 28 November at 00.00There are no separate restrictions on the number of customers or on licensing and opening hours.The obligation to observe the general hygiene guidelines and to keep a safe distance applies in all regions.Exceptions to restrictions remain unchangedThe restrictions laid down in the decree do not apply to the activities of staff restaurants or to takeaway sales of food to customers. The restrictions on opening hours do not apply to food and beverage service businesses on vessels and aircraft that operate between Finland and other countries or abroad or to food and beverage service businesses that operate at distribution stations for liquid fuels.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Funding allocated to Finnish civil society organisations for reducing poverty and inequality

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Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — Programme-based support for Finnish civil society organisations (CSOs) is allocated for the implementation of Finland’s development policy objectives to eradicate extreme poverty, reduce inequality and promote human rights. The work is carried out in close cooperation with developing countries’ own CSOs. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has granted approximately EUR 276 million for Finnish CSO’s multiannual development cooperation in 2022–2025.The granted support is part of the budget for development cooperation undertaken by civil society organizations.  The annual amount of programme-based support is approximately EUR 69 million.“The civic space is shrinking globally. This trend threatens the realisation of human rights and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Programme support allows Finnish CSOs and their partners to engage in strengthening civil society in developing countries,” says Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari.The work of Finnish civil society organisations contributes significantly to the achievement of Finland’s development policy objectives and supports the implementation of the Guidelines for Civil Society in Development Policy. This work has specific impact on for example advancing the status and rights of women and girls, including preventing female genital mutilation, child marriages, gender-based violence, and advancing the employment of women with disabilities.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

The National Defence Committee made a proposal to the Government to establish medium-range air defence capability

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet —

The National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) made a proposal by consensus to the Government to establish medium-range air defence capability for protecting Estonia by 2025, and to consider taking a national defence loan for it if necessary.

In a letter sent to the Government, the National Defence Committee noted that they acknowledge the Government’s efforts in increasing defence spending. Next year, it will rise to 749.6 million euro and form 2.31 per cent of GDP.

At the same time, the members of the National Defence Committee expressed the view that in the current security situation, further increases in defence spending, both in absolute terms and as a percentage of gross domestic product, are unavoidable. On 16 September 2020, the National Defence Committee pointed out in its statement that in case of need, structural changes had to be carried out to continue developing our defence capabilities and the existing capability gaps should be reduced with the help of a loan.

The Committee is of the opinion that it is not reasonable to develop medium-range air defence capability at the expense of limiting or cutting existing capabilities. Therefore, the National Defence Committee proposes to the Government to plan for the establishment of a medium-range air defence capability in the National Defence Development Plan 2022–2031. The Committee’s proposal is to update the Development Plan within the framework of the State Budget Strategy 2023–2026 process, as the planned percentage of defence spending as a share of GDP has been significantly increased compared to the current Budget Strategy 2022–2025. The new level of defence spending has to be decided to the end of the Development Plan (until 2031).

The National Defence Committee discussed the necessity of creating medium-range air defence capability in connection with the steadily deteriorating security situation at its sittings on 12 October, 9 November and 22 November.  

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Restrictions on entry into Finland extended until 19 December

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — Restrictions on external border traffic will continue as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread. Despite the increase in vaccination coverage, there is still a risk that the carrying capacity of the healthcare system will be exceeded. For this reason, the validity of the decision made on 4 November will be extended until 19 December. However, people may still enter Finland from all countries upon presenting an approved certificate of a full course of vaccination.External border traffic refers to traffic between Finland and non-Schengen third countries.According to the Government decision of 4 November, entry into Finland is permitted for residents of countries and regions on the EU’s green list. Countries on the green list mean countries with a sufficiently good epidemiological situation for which the Council of the European Union has decided to allow free travel to the EU. Singapore and Ukraine have been removed from the annex to the Council recommendation and Indonesia has been added to it. The same changes will also be made to the list of countries annexed to the Government decision as of 29 November.For other third countries, restrictions on entry will continue. If a person arriving from a country subject to the restrictions is not fully vaccinated, the accepted reasons for entry are return travel to Finland, return travel to other EU or Schengen countries, transit on regular, scheduled flights at an airport or other essential travel.See the websites below for more information on the entry restrictions and health security requirements in place.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Ministers for health and social services: Tighter restrictions on food and beverage service businesses proposed

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — On 25 November, the Ministerial Working Group on Health and Social Services discussed the COVID-19 situation in Finland and the restrictions in place. The Ministerial Working Group proposes tighter restrictions on food and beverage service businesses. The Government will decide on the matter as soon as possible.The Ministerial Working Group decided to propose that the tighter restrictions be introduced in areas in the community transmission phase:Serving of alcoholic beverages in all food and beverage service businesses would end at 17.00. Such businesses could keep their premises open to food and beverage service customers from 05.00 to 18.00.All restaurants using the COVID-19 passport would be exempt from the restrictions. Food and beverage service businesses that do not serve alcoholic beverages could be open from 05.00 to 01.00 without the use of the COVID-19 passport.The restrictions would enter into force on Sunday 28 November at 00.00. Restaurants serving alcoholic beverages would be allowed to operate normally from 17.00 only by using the COVID-19 passport. However, fast food restaurants and cafés could be open without the COVID-19 passport, as they are now. 

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

National vaccination strategy to be updated

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — With a view to the need to enhance the population’s vaccination coverage in line with the epidemiological situation in autumn 2021, Finland’s COVID-19 vaccination strategy will be updated. Vaccines are the most effective way to protect the population from the COVID-19 disease and to curb the coronavirus epidemic. Vaccines are available free of charge to all those who want them and who have no health-related impediment to being vaccinated.In its plenary session on 25 November 2021, the Government adopted a Government resolution on a vaccination strategy. The strategy outlines the main principles of vaccination, and it is based on medical science and research evidence. In line with the Government’s hybrid strategy to manage the COVID-19 epidemic, vaccinations can keep society open and make it possible to engage in different activities in society. Vaccination also reduces the number of COVID-19 cases and ensures that the capacity and availability of healthcare services remains adequate.The high incidence of COVID-19 cases among those who have not yet been vaccinated also means that there is a mounting risk of those who have been vaccinated to fall ill, and vaccination coverage in Finland is currently not high enough to curb the spread of the epidemic. The vaccination coverage also varies between regions and population groups.Updated objectives for the vaccination strategyTo increase vaccination coverage and achieve the objectives, we mustincrease the percentage of people who have received two vaccine doses in the population by focusing effective measures especially on those population groups and areas where shortcomings have been identified in the vaccination coveragestrengthen the vaccination coverage of the population by enhancing the provision of a third round of vaccine dosesprepare for vaccination of children under the age of 12assess and, if necessary, prepare legislative amendments to ensure patient safety.The vaccination strategy is temporary and in force until 30 June 2022. The strategy will be updated in spring 2022 when new monitoring data on the epidemiological situation, vaccination coverage and the effects of vaccinations become available.EU’s contribution to global vaccine solidarityTo curb the pandemic and to ensure the health security of the EU itself, it is important that all countries receive vaccines as soon as they are available. Finland is taking part in donating vaccines acquired by the EU to third countries, particularly through the COVAX Facility.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

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