NordenBladet — The EU energy ministers will meet at an extraordinary Council meeting in Luxembourg on Tuesday 26 October 2021. The only items on the agenda are the rising energy prices and the Commission’s proposed measures to mitigate them. Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä will represent Finland.The background paper prepared by the Slovenian Presidency invites the Member States’ views on two questions: 1) How could EU level action support and complement the immediate measures taken by Member States to mitigate the impact of rising energy prices? 2) Are the medium-term measures proposed by the Commission sufficient to address the future energy price fluctuations, and what further measures could be implemented at EU and national level?The European Council, which consists of the Member State’s heads of government, held an extensive discussion on the impact of rising energy prices on citizens and businesses on 21 October. The European Council invited the Commission and the Energy Council to consider medium and long-term measures that would prevent excessive fluctuations in prices. At the same time, it is important to strengthen the flexible use of energy in the EU and ensure a green transition. These measures will also be discussed at the Energy Council meeting. In its communication, the Commission proposes a number of measures for the Member States to mitigate the effects of higher energy prices. The measures could mainly be implemented within the framework of current legislation, and the communication does not contain any significant new legislative initiatives. As possible short-term measures, the Commission proposes temporary reductions to energy taxes and various lump sum payments to customers who have suffered the most. The measures could be funded, for example, by means of increased income from the emissions trading. In the longer term, the Commission proposes voluntary gas reserves for the EU, among other measures.“The medium-term measures proposed by the Commission seem to be going in the right direction. Any legislative proposals at the EU level should always be prepared carefully. The Commission’s gas package will be discussed at the turn of the year. That would be an appropriate time to discuss the Commission’s proposal on gas reserves,” says Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä.According to the Europe Communication submitted by the Government to Parliament on 20 October 2021, Finland considers the Commission’s measures to alleviate the situation proposed in its communication to be justified and appropriate in principle. However, the EU should not take any action that would interfere with the emissions trading system or the electricity market. In Finland’s view, short-term adjustments to market models or restrictions of competition will lead to inefficiency and higher energy prices in the long term. When considering possible additional measures or obligations, the different national circumstances and the national preparedness systems in force in the Member States should be taken into account. The discussion on the temporary increases to energy prices should not lead to the questioning of the climate package’s level of ambition. The climate package is part of the solution, not the primary cause of the price increases. It is also important to refrain from creating new income distribution mechanisms within the EU based on the rising prices. As prices rise, national measures should take into account the needs of the most vulnerable consumers. In Finland, the position of such consumers has been safeguarded through national social policy measures. 

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will visit Stockholm on 25 October 2021. The Minister will have a meeting with Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Trade Anna Hallberg and, together with representatives of Swedish and Finnish companies and universities, meet representatives of Swedish industry.When the Finnish and Swedish foreign trade ministers met in Lahti in September, they agreed to pursue closer cooperation in efforts to strengthen funding, new investments and internationalisation in the area of research and development (R&D). The aim of this visit is to discuss the plans together with representatives of higher education institutions and companies and to establish concrete actions.“In Lahti, we agreed to translate the cooperation between electric transport and carbon neutral construction into more concrete actions. By joining forces Finland and Sweden are stronger internationally,” Skinnari says. During his visit, Minister Skinnari will discuss with Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Trade Anna Hallberg and Marcus Wallenberg, who represents Swedish industry. The Ministers will have meetings with representatives of business life and universities, including Luleå University of Technology, StoraEnso and SSAB from Sweden. Finland will be represented by Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT University), which invests in carbon neutral construction and electric transport, and Kempower, a growth company based in Lahti. Minister Skinnari will also meet with Sweden’s Minister for Finance Magdalena Andersson.“Cooperation between Finland and Sweden is very close in almost all areas, including trade and scientific research. The global competition is now very intense, which is why it is in the interest of both of Finland and Sweden to cooperate even more closely,” says Skinnari.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Minister of Finance Annika Saarikko will represent Finland at the video conference of EU finance ministers on Thursday 28 October.All EU countries are required to present a national Recovery and Resilience Plan in order to receive funding from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. Finland submitted its Recovery and Resilience Plan to the EU on 27 May. The Plan is part of the Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland.The European Commission published a positive assessment of Finland’s plan on 4 October. At the same time, the Commission issued a proposal for a Council Implementing Decision. The proposal includes milestones and targets, which will be used to monitor the implementation of Finland’s plan.Council to approve plans after the meetingIn their video conference, the EU finance ministers will discuss the Recovery and Resilience Plans of Finland, Estonia and Romania. The Council of the European Union will approve the plans and implementing decisions by written procedure within a few days.Finland is in favour of approving the plans for Estonia and Romania.Once the Council adopts Finland’s Recovery and Resilience Plan, Finland will receive 13% of the EU funding for the plan, i.e. EUR 271 million at current prices. Parliament has adopted the third supplementary budget, which outlines the use of the funding this year. Next year’s EU funding is included in the Government’s budget proposal.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — On 25–26 October, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will attend the Foreign Minister’s meeting of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council in Tromsø. The meeting will end Norway’s Chairmanship, after which the Chairmanship will be handed over to Finland for the next two years.At the meeting, the Ministers are to approve the establishment of a new project fund for the Barents Region and adopt a new Action Plan on Climate Change and a Ministerial Declaration that will sum up the achievements of Norway’s Chairmanship and pave the way for the priorities of Finland’s upcoming Chairmanship.The aim for Finland during the Chairmanship is to promote sustainable development and a healthy environment, contacts between people, and transport and good connections. In particular, Finland will take action to strengthen indigenous species in the Barents Region and to combat invasive species. The agenda also includes a separate Youth Summit of young people in the Barents Region.The 30th anniversary of the cooperation in the Barents Region will be celebrated in the second year of Finland’s Chairmanship in 2023.In connection with the Council meeting, Minister for Foreign Affairs Haavisto will also have bilateral meetings e.g. with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Anniken Huitfeldt, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov and Governor of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug Yuri Bezdudny.The members of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council are the Nordic countries, Russia and the EU. In addition, representatives of indigenous peoples and Regional Councils participate in the work. For Finland regional cooperation, including Barents cooperation, is an important means of promoting stability and security, sustainable development and economic opportunities in the neighbouring areas.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — On Friday 22 October, the President of the Republic decided to appoint new non-resident ambassadors.The President of the Republic authorised Ambassador Sari Rautio, Head of the Finnish Embassy in Madrid, to represent Finland also in Andorra. In addition, the President of the Republic authorised Ambassador Pirkka Tapiola, Head of the Finnish Embassy in Nairobi, to represent Finland also in Seychelles and Uganda. 

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Prime Minister Sanna Marin will visit Berlin on Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 October.Prime Minister Marin will meet with Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday and with Federal Minister of Finance and Vice-Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday. Also on Tuesday 26 October, Prime Minister Marin will attend the World Health Summit held annually in Berlin. The high-level meeting will be attended by several Member States of the World Health Organization, international organisations, civil society organisations, academic institutions and private sector operators. Prime Minister Marin will deliver the opening speech at the closing session of the summit. The theme of her speech will be the economy of wellbeing. The discussions will be streamed live on the event website.In connection with her visit, Prime Minister Marin will also have a bilateral meeting with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
 

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Minister for European Affairs Tytti Tuppurainen and Minister of Local Government Sirpa Paatero will represent the Finnish Government via remote connections at the second Plenary of the Conference on the Future of Europe to be held on 22–23 October 2021 in Strasbourg. Citizens’ representative Ninni Norra will also represent Finland at the event.The discussion at the Plenary session will take place in nine thematic working groups, which will start their work on Friday. The working groups will prepare for the discussions to be held in the Plenary session on Saturday. The working groups will address a variety of issues raised by citizens at citizens’ events around Europe, at the European Citizens’ Panels and in the Conference’s Multilingual Digital Platform. Minister for European Affairs Tuppurainen, who is responsible for matters related to the Conference on the Future of Europe, will represent Finland in a working group focusing on values, rights, the rule of law and security. Minister of Local Government Paatero, for her part, will represent Finland in the working group on the digital transformation. “Finland is one of the leading countries in Europe when it comes to the digital transformation, which gives us opportunities to exert influence. In our work within the EU, we want to ensure that the European vision for a digital future is people-oriented and equal,” says Minister Paatero, who is responsible for digitalisation in public administration.Minister for European Affairs Tuppurainen will speak on behalf of the Finnish Government at the Plenary on Saturday. Discussions at Saturday’s session will cover the issues raised so far at the European Citizens’ Panels, at events organised in the Member States and on the online forum, among other topics. In Finland, citizens have the opportunity to share their views and wishes during the ministers’ “We are Europe” tour. The first five events on the tour have already taken place, and several others are planned for different parts of Finland. “It is important for the Conference on the Future to remain close to citizens. This should also be reflected in the Plenaries and the working groups. We must take full advantage of this opportunity to listen to Europeans’ ideas from across the board and further increase transparency in the Union,” says Minister Tytti Tuppurainen.Finns can also share their thoughts and ideas in the online forum for the Conference on the Future. The online forum seeks citizens’ views on values, climate change, the economy, health and education, and other themes. The common EU-level hashtag #TheFutureIsYours can be used on social media.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi