NordenBladet — On Friday 19 November, the President of the Republic transferred and appointed Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Krista Mikkonen as Minister of the Interior and appointed Member of Parliament Emma Kari as the new Minister of the Environment and Climate Change. The President of the Republic also released Maria Ohisalo from her duties as Minister of the Interior and her membership in the Government.Following the presidential session, the Government plenary session made decisions on changes to the ministerial portfolios, deputising arrangements and the composition of ministerial committees and working groups. Minister Kari also gave her declaration of office and judicial affirmation at the beginning of the session.Master of Social Sciences Akseli Koskela will continue as State Secretary at the Ministry of the Interior, while Master of Social Sciences Terhi Lehtonen will continue as State Secretary at the Ministry of the Environment.Minister Mikkonen’s personal details Minister Kari’s personal details Division of responsibilities between ministers and ministerial deputies Ministerial committees Ministerial working groups
NordenBladet — The International Monetary Fund published its statement on the Finnish economy on Friday 19 November.The statement covered areas such aseconomic outlookCOVID-19 related measures and general government financesclimate actionfiscal policyfinancial marketMinister Saarikko underlines the need to stabilise the debt-to-GDP ratioMinister of Finance Annika Saarikko considers the meeting with the IMF economists very useful, and says it confirmed the Ministry of Finance’s views of the challenges facing the national economy and general government finances. She recognises the importance of the monitoring conducted by the IMF, and admits the organisation’s concerns over Finland’s development are justified. “The Government is well aware of the threat of strong economic growth being short-lived. Finland must achieve strong, sustainable long-term growth while prioritising expenditure and adhering to spending limits. In this respect, the points made by the IMF are very understandable, and we must act on them in order to stabilise the debt-to-GDP ratio to a targeted level,” Minister Saarikko says.The IMF issues corresponding statements about all its member countries as part of its country monitoring. The IMF’s visits to member countries are called Article IV Consultations, as they are required by Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement. The statement is based on IMF experts’ own assessments and on discussions they have had with Finnish authorities, labour market organisations, financial institutions, research institutes and others.The IMF’s Executive Board will discuss the country report on Finland, along with separate reports on the Finnish labour market and financial markets early next year.
NordenBladet — On 19 November 2021, the Ministry of the Interior set up a project to prepare a proposal for legislation to address the dissemination of terrorist content online. The aim of the project is to make the national legislation comply with the EU Regulation.The EU Regulation aims to improve detection and removal of online content that incites to terrorist acts. The Regulation obliges internet service providers to actively protect their services against dissemination of terrorist content. An internet service provider means, for example social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, but also smaller service providers.
NordenBladet – Lately I have been a loyal client of Piletilevi (i.e. a consumer of culture). Be it theatre, operetta, musical, concert, stand-up show, cabaret night or a talk show. It is good to see what’s new in the world, to get out of the home-and-work routine, and I like to spend quality time with Allan. We try to find time for ourselves every week (discover new restaurants, SPA-s, exhibitions, hiking tracks, etc).
In the first week of November we went to the Estonian National Opera to see Franz Lehar’s operetta “The Count of Luxembourg” (info about prices: entrance for one is 38.90 EUR). The producer and artist is Thomas Mika and in the role of the count was the amazing Reigo Tamm. Reigo is definitely familiar for many of us from the TV-series “Alo” where he played Rein’s son Ahti. The opera hall was completely full and the night was great! Though I am perhaps not the greatest fan of operettas, I must admit that this one was very good.
Last weekend included a visit to club Vatican, and Father’s Day.
Saturday in Vatican Tallinn (Pärnu Road 3, 10143 Tallinn).
Since we really enjoyed the cabaret evening that we spent in the restaurant Mermaid in Viru Hotel (read HERE about the visit to the variety theatre), the event including a show as well as a dinner, then I tried to find something similar, with à la carte menu as well as entertainment. This turned out to be “A frank talk show with the Timmers“, that was held in Tammsaare park in club Vatican. I was also a bit curious… I wanted to know what this kind of a talk show would look like. 😀
The evening with entrance (ticket for one 25.90 EUR) + dishes was rather expensive, but this is yet the way entrepreneurs earn their money. As Kirsti herself put it: the stones(crystals) that you buy with a high price from the esoteric shop and then gently stroke won’t bring wealth to anyone, it still is just the work that does. So it goes… It’s true, I believe so myself. Kirsti and her daughter Merily definitely are industrious – they are good witches, psychologists, as well as public speakers (no need to mention the experience with TV and radio broadcasts). Fortunately the talk show didn’t end up being too mystical and commercial (i.e. let us find a problem for everyone and then you are welcome to let me help solve the problem for some money 😀 hahaaa).
What delicious dishes did we eat?
For an appetizer we chose Buffalo chicken wings with blue cheese sauce (9EUR), a salad with grilled chicken (10EUR). For the main course the both of us took beef tenderloin (21EUR one main course), that included potato au gratin, parsnip puree, caramelized onion, cherry tomato and chimichurri. And for dessert salted caramel cheesecake (5EUR/pc). For drinks, a bottle of Cava Clos Amador Brut with the night’s price 35EUR/bottle. At first, looking at the menu it seemed kind of “ordinary and boring” but the dishes were delicious! I recommend it! A masterpiece was the sauce that went with the chicken wings!! Yummmm!!
So, once more, a nice and successful night!
Father’s Day came in five acts this year and it already began on Saturday.
Act One: Ivanka Shoshana (13) spent the entire Saturday with her father. They visited several exhibitions, Vesivärava Cafe, and the cinema. Saturday is usually 3-4 times a month the day of Ivanka and Dad. Margus comes and picks her up from my place at around ten-eleven, and then brings her back home at about four-five.
Act Two: Sunday morning at home. Since Allan plays a big role in Estella’s and Ivanka’s life now already more than a year, then the girls made him a nice Father’s Day card. Allan or Uncle-Allan as they call him, is like a bonus-dad, an extra grown-up in their lives. I laid the beautiful table that did not miss a home-made cookie cake. (PS! Hahaaa.. take a look at the hungry face of the cat on the window, waiting to be let inside… life in the countryside…)
Act Three: Estella Elisheva (15) drew her dad a beautiful Father’s Day card and for half a day cooked a chocolate-brownie cake. Allan went to the shop twice so that there would be the RIGHT flour and the RIGHT decoration. She adjusted each decoration several times because when she sees her dad so scarcely (she meets with her dad 3-4 times a month on Sundays for a few hours), then it was essential that the cake looked absolutely perfect. The cake did look beautiful and tempting. Estella placed it on a clay plate made by Ivanka, and began waiting for Margus. They had all Sunday planned (cinema, etc). Usually they go to play padel or table tennis, and have lunch (mostly they eat in Ülemiste Lido).
Act Four: Me, Allan and Ivanka went to Mõigu to wish my dad a happy Father’s Day. My dad, too, got a nice home-made cookie cake and at school Ivanka had made her grandpa a splendid card. We went rather promptly, because my mom lately gets very nervous about everything. If not, she would soon be “Gosh, what shall I put on the table” and “Jesus what my hair-do looks like”, “Ohh, I cannot clean the rooms enough until that time” etc. As there is always something to put on the table (we also take sth along) and the hair-do is posh and the home is always tidy, then we spared her of the excess nervousness.
Act Five: We also went to congratulate Allan’s father. Also his dad got a homemade cake – mille-feuille Napoleon cake. This time the honour of making the cake did not belong to me. I ordered it from a good previous neighbour because she does the world’s best mille-feuille. Several times I have been at her place, “practising” the making of the cake, so maybe one fine day I will become as good at making it. 🙂
NordenBladet — On 18 November 2021, the Government submitted to Parliament a proposal to amend the Accounting Act. The amendment aims to make it easier for Finnish authorities to determine whether foreign companies have business activities in Finland and whether they are liable to pay taxes in Finland.The purpose of the Government’s proposed amendment to the Accounting Act is to give the Finnish tax and customs authorities the right to access the accounting records of foreign companies. The proposal, which is based on the Government Programme, is an important tool in combating the grey economy as regards the activities of foreign companies. In practice, the legislative reform puts foreign companies in the same position as Finnish companies in terms of the authorities’ access to information.”It is important that Finnish and foreign companies are treated equally with regard to the accounting obligation and taxation. This reform is an essential measure in combating the grey economy,” says Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen.As per the proposed amendment, a foreign company is obliged to keep accounts if it carries out business activities in Finland or its business activities abroad are in fact managed from Finland. In such a situation, the accounting information can be used as a basis for the company’s taxation in Finland. Various stakeholders and experts have been consulted during the legislative drafting. The reform is considered good and necessary and it is expected to enter into force as soon as possible.
NordenBladet — The Money Collection Act will be amended so that voluntary carbon offsetting services can be provided without a money collection licence in future. These services will be excluded from the scope of the Money Collection Act. The Government submitted the bill amending the Act for approval on Thursday 18 November. The President of the Republic is to approve the bill on 19 November. The Act will enter into force on 22 November 2021.Voluntary carbon offsetting provides a mechanism for offsetting greenhouse gas emissions, for example from travel or products to be purchased by means of a payment.“Carbon offsetting is an integral part of climate action and it complements effective emissions reduction measures. It is important that the Money Collection Act does not prevent the provision of these services. In future, the focus should be on developing the qualitative criteria for carbon offsetting services,” says Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo.The amendment to the Money Collection Act contributes to the Government Programme’s objective of making Finland carbon neutral by 2035.Amendment enables development of the carbon offsetting marketThe amendment to the Money Collection Act clarifies the relationship between voluntary carbon offsetting services and the Money Collection Act. Companies and organisations that provide carbon offsetting services seem to find the current legislation unclear.With the legislative amendment, voluntary carbon offsetting services will be excluded from the scope of the Money Collection Act, and the services can be provided without a money collection licence in future. Activities that are excluded from the scope of the Money Collection Act can be carried out by different service providers, regardless of the legal form of the service provider, that is, whether it is a company, foundation or organisation. The amendment enables the development of a functioning market for national voluntary carbon offsetting services, thereby encouraging companies and other operators in the sector to develop new voluntary carbon offsetting services and innovations.Money Collection Act mainly regulates money collection for non-profit purposesThe Money Collection Act lays down provisions on organising the collection of money and supervising the appropriateness of the collection. Money collection means activities in which funds are collected without compensation by appealing to the public. Money collection requires either a money collection licence that is granted by the National Police Board or, in the case of a small-scale money collection, submission of a notification to the local police department. Companies may not be granted a money collection licence and they cannot organise small-scale money collections.
NordenBladet — Unfounded restraint of trade agreements restrict employee mobility, causing inflexibility in the labour market. Parliament has approved statutory amendments proposed by the Government seeking to reduce the use of unfounded restraint of trade agreements. Employers will also have to compensate employees for restraint of trade agreements lasting for less than six months.A restraint of trade agreement requires a particularly compelling reason related to the employer’s operations or to the employment relationship. A restraint of trade agreement limits the right of an employee to:enter into an employment contract with another employer engaged in a competing operation for work that commences after the employment relationship ends, orengage in competing operations on a self-employed basis.“I am pleased that restraint of trade agreements will be directed more effectively in future. Restraint of trade agreements have been routinely used for almost all categories of employee, regardless of whether they are key staff members for a business. This is contrary to the Employment Contracts Act,” observes Minister of Labour Tuula Haatainen.“The reform will also promote labour mobility when unnecessary restraint of trade agreements no longer restrict job changes,” Minister Haatainen adds.The formal reply of Parliament to the Government Bill for an Act that would provide for a broader obligation to pay compensation, the time of payment of compensation and the employer’s right to terminate the contract was considered at a Government session on 18 November 2021. The amendments are intended to take effect on 1 January 2022.Subject to certain exceptions and following a transition period of one year, the new regulation will also govern restraint of trade agreements that were made before the entry into force of the Act. The new regulation will not govern old restraint of trade agreements if the employer has already paid reasonable compensation under current legislation, either in whole or in part, for a restraint of trade agreement lasting for longer than six months. The employer may terminate an old restraint of trade agreement during the transition period, thereby avoiding the duty to pay compensation under the new Act.Duration of a restraint of trade obligation affects the compensation payableA restraint of trade may continue to be imposed for no longer than one year. Compensation for this must be paid in an amount depending on the salary of the employee and on the agreed duration of the restraint of trade obligation (the restraint period).If the restraint period is no longer than six months, then the employer must pay 40 per cent of the employee’s salary for the corresponding period.If the restraint period is longer than six months, then the employer must pay 60 per cent of the salary for the entire restraint period.The Act does not currently stipulate the time when the compensation must be paid. Compensation must in future generally be paid in accordance with the salary payment practice applied during the restraint period and the employment relationship.Another reform entitles the employer to terminate a restraint of trade agreement during the employment relationship if the circumstances change. A period of notice must then be observed amounting to one third of the restraint period stipulated in the restraint of trade agreement and not less than two months. An employer may nevertheless no longer terminate a restraint of trade agreement after the employee has terminated the employment.
NordenBladet — Finland will provide assistance to Estonia in fighting the COVID-19 epidemic. On 9 November, Estonia made a request for assistance to the other EU countries concerning vaccines to help it fight the COVID-19 epidemic.The COVID-19 situation has worsened rapidly in Estonia. Because of this, Finland will lend Estonia approximately 130,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. The vaccine doses will be delivered before the end of November. Estonia has promised to give Finland back the same number of vaccine doses in February 2022.Finland lending Estonia vaccine doses will not slow down the vaccination of people living in Finland.The Government made the decision to lend Estonia vaccines in its session on Thursday 18 November 2021.
NordenBladet — Trafficking in human beings is a global phenomenon, and even individual human trafficking offences often extend to more than one state. The ministers speaking at an anti-trafficking seminar in Helsinki on Thursday consider cross-border measures against human trafficking to be of utmost importance.Nordic anti-trafficking authorities and civil society actors gathered in a seminar in Helsinki today to share their best practices in anti-trafficking work.In her opening address, Minister of Justice Anna-Maja Henriksson pointed out that trafficking in human beings is a problem that affects society as a whole, seriously violates the victims’ fundamental rights, and weakens the ability of law-abiding companies to be competitive. – Effective prevention of human trafficking requires political will and determined work. Human trafficking offences take a variety of forms, and the general tendencies of these offences and even individual cases often extend to more than one state. That is why Nordic and international cooperation is of utmost importance here. Anti-trafficking work is most effective when the entire society is committed to it, Henriksson stressed.The ministers thanked the experts present at the seminar, coming from different countries and representing various international organisations engaged in anti-trafficking work, as well as the European Commission. The ministers considered it important that experts working at different stages of the relevant processes get to share their expertise with other professionals in the field. – If we develop our expertise together, we will be stronger and better prepared to respond to the needs of the victims, bring the perpetrators to justice, and protect society as a whole from trafficking in human beings,” Henriksson said.Human trafficking is often hidden crimeTrafficking in human beings is often hidden crime, which is why more active detection of these offences is required in addition to investigative measures.– It is important that criminal liability is realised throughout the chain of exploitation, particularly sexual exploitation, said Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo.Trafficking in human beings has also been identified as one of the European priority crime areas.– Finland is actively involved in planning and implementing measures under this priority, Ohisalo continued.The seminar will continue with afternoon workshops and an evening event hosted by Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto.The seminar is organised by the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Government Anti-Trafficking Coordinator as part of Finland’s Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers.
NordenBladet — Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will represent Finland at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting of EU development ministers on 19 November in Brussels.The topics on the agenda will include EU water diplomacy and water in the EU’s external action, especially in the relations with Central Asian countries. Additionally, the Ministers will discuss the relationship between the EU and the United States in development cooperation with Administrator Samantha Power from the United States Agency for International Development USAID.Water diplomacy promotes peace, stability and security and prevents disputes related to transboundary water management between countries. Water is a highly topical issue in the EU’s external action as the United Nations Water Conference is approaching in 2023.“The EU must move towards responsible and just water security. Finland has much to offer in this area. Effective transboundary water cooperation and agreements can improve people’s access to water and reduce tensions between countries,” says Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari.In a meeting with Administrator of USAID Samantha Power, EU development ministers will discuss development cooperation in the EU–US relationship. It is important to strengthen cooperation with the US administration to be able to respond to questions related to democracy and to the challenges posed by climate change.“It is natural for the EU and the United States to be partners especially when addressing climate questions and promoting digital solutions. In its cooperation with the United States, Finland also emphasises gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights,” Minister Skinnari says.
