NordenBladet — The three-year term 2022-2024 is Finland’s first full membership in the Human Rights Council. Finland will continue its long-term work to promote universal human rights.Finland received 180 votes in the election held at the UN General Assembly in New York on 14 October. Together with Luxembourg and the United states, Finland was elected to the Council as a Member of the Western European and Others Group. Finland has previously been a Member of the Council for one year in 2006-2007 when the Human Rights Council was established.“Finland is prepared to assume responsibility and cooperate with different actors to ensure that human rights are not just empty words. A well-functioning multilateral rules-based system and the realisation of human rights are the key to the wellbeing and security of Finnish society as well as to the promotion of global peace, security and sustainable development,” says Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto.“Finland has, as I have, excellent experience of involving civil society in the management of matters. We will work in close cooperation with both domestic and international NGOs and human rights defenders. It is vital that not only the voice of states but also the views and expertise of civil society, researchers and the private sector are heard in the work of the Human Rights Council,” Minister Haavisto says.The Human Rights Council of 47 member states convenes in Geneva and is the United Nations’ most important body on human rights. Its mission is to promote and protect human rights worldwide, for example by addressing serious human rights violations. The Council has taken a stand and appointed independent experts to monitor the situation in different countries, such as Syria, Myanmar and recently Afghanistan.In addition, the Human Rights Council adopts initiatives and issues recommendations on human rights themes. These include the rights of women, children and different minorities, human rights issues related to climate change and digitalisation, and the rights and safety of human rights defenders, journalists and civil society.
 Membership in the Council continues Finland’s human rights based foreign policy
 

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The Ministers will discuss the experiences gained in research and innovation cooperation between Finland and China and their future. A particular aim is to accelerate joint projects in the fields of low-carbon economy, circular economy, and food and health.Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä and the Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang will hold a video conference on Friday 15 October 2021. This is their first meeting. “Finland is interested in strengthening cooperation with China in smart energy solutions and the health and food sectors, for example. We have a great deal of expertise in these fields. The green transition requires technological solutions, and it is important to discuss their development and introduction with major innovator countries,” Lintilä says. Finland and China could cooperate in low-carbon and circular economyThere are opportunities for cooperation between Finland and China related to low-carbon, circular economy and wellbeing technologies. China has stated its aim to cut carbon dioxide emissions starting at 2030 and to become carbon neutral by 2060. In its new five-year plan, China emphasises the importance of innovations. This is an opportunity also for Finnish companies and research. The cooperation between the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and China’s Ministry of Science and Technology is based on a treaty adopted in 1986. Follow-up meetings on the treaty are held on a regular basis. In addition, Finnish funding organisations, higher education institutions and research organisations have diverse cooperation relationships with China. The Ministers want to support the active interaction between those involved in cooperation and help them find solutions to common challenges through research and product development.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has confirmed the user fees related to electronic prescriptions and the Patient Data Repository for the years 2022 and 2023.Doctors and dentists may continue to issue prescriptions in the Kelain online prescription service without any user fee when the service is not used for the purpose of profit.The fee charged to pharmacies will be EUR 0.054 for each electronic prescription dispensed by pharmacies and their subsidiary pharmacies. The fee charged to municipal healthcare service enablers will be EUR 2.509 per each resident of the municipality per year. The fee charged to private healthcare service enablers will be EUR 0.489 for each electronic prescription issued by them. However, the minimum chargeable fee will be EUR 90 per year. The minimum fee will also apply to those private healthcare service enablers who do not issue any prescriptions.The fee charged to state healthcare units will be EUR 2.509 per client per year. The Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) will pay EUR 50,000 per year for the use of medicine reimbursement data.Costs to be estimated in advanceThe fees will cover the certificate services provided by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency and the maintenance costs incurred by Kela in managing the Kanta Services. The Kanta Services include the following services: the electronic prescription service; the national Patient Data Repository; My Kanta Pages, which is a citizen user interface to the Kanta Services; the Information Management Service; and the service for recording declarations of intent.The costs will be estimated in advance and the fees will be determined on the basis of this estimate. The purpose is that every user, i.e. public and private healthcare service enablers and pharmacies, will pay only for the actual use of services.The total costs for 2022–2023 are estimated at EUR 46.8 million, of which Kela’s share is EUR 42.43 million and that of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency is EUR 4.4 million. Kela’s share includes accumulating a buffer to safeguard liquidity. Of this sum, pharmacies account for EUR 7.36 million, public healthcare for EUR 27.77 million and private healthcare for EUR 8.51 million.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The Talent Boost Summit, which will be held at the end of October, will draw attention to the role of diverse work communities for business activities and the importance of international talents for Finland’s growth and competitiveness. Employers and employees will also be able to meet at the event.In her keynote speech at the Summit, Nokia’s Head of Inclusion & Diversity Anneli Karlstedt will describe how diversity of staff and an inclusive culture that takes everyone into account support business activities. The part of the Summit open to all will be concluded by Aki Kangasharju, Managing Director of Research Institute of the Finnish Economy (ETLA), who will speak about the significance of international talents for the Finnish economy.The annual Talent Boost Summit is a cooperation forum for public and private sector representatives and international talents. The Summit seeks cooperation models and other solutions in order to increase the inclusion of international experts in Finnish working life and society. A panel discussion in virtual event on 28 October 2021 will explore how cooperation between the public and private sectors could make Finland a more attractive destination for international experts. Private meetings and improved employer profilesThe event offers employers a good opportunity to meet international talents and raise their profile beyond Finland’s borders. At the same time, employees will be able to showcase their expertise. Information is also available on current vacancies and services that support international recruitment.As in the previous years, the event will end with virtual one-to-one meetings between employers and employees. The platform is also open on the Summit’s second day.Summit is free and open to all registered participantsThe fourth Talent Boost Summit will be held in English. Those interested can register for the free event by 20 October by using this form. Registered participants will receive an invitation to the virtual platform. The Talent Boost Summit will be organised by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Ministry of Education and Culture, Business Finland, the ‘Kokka kohti Suomea’ project of the ELY Centre of Southwest Finland, and TE Office of Uusimaa, which is responsible for the national coordination of the international recruitment model.The City of Espoo is responsible for coordinating this year’s event.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Restrictions on entry will be lifted for residents of the countries and regions on the EU’s green list. In addition, the Vainikkala border crossing point will open to passenger traffic. The Government adopted a decision on the matter on 14 October and the decisions will enter into force on 18 October. Other restrictions on entry at external borders will be extended until 7 November. However, people may still enter Finland from all countries upon presenting an approved certificate of a full course of vaccination.Countries on the EU’s 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. Finland has previously applied a limit value of 25 (a maximum of 25 cases per 100,000 persons during the previous two weeks) to these countries as the limit for permitted traffic. With this removal of the limit value, restrictions will be lifted for residents of Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Jordan, Qatar, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay in traffic arriving in Finland from these countries. Restrictions have already been lifted for residents of Hong Kong, Kuwait, Macao, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia and Taiwan.External border traffic refers to traffic between Finland and non-Schengen third countries. 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

NordenBladet — The Government has submitted to Parliament a government proposal for supplementary legislation on the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). The purpose of the proposal is to make amendments to the national legislation as required by the relevant European Parliament and Council regulations. The Government proposes that the following acts be amended: the Act on the Processing of Personal Data by the Border Guard, the Border Guard Act, the Aliens Act, the Act on the Processing of Personal Data by the Police, the Act on the Processing of Personal Data by Customs, the Act on the Enforcement of Fines, and the Act on the Use of Air Carriers’ Passenger Name Record Data in the Prevention of Terrorist Offences and Serious Crime.The package is referred to as ‘Smart Borders’. The term refers to automation and new technology to be introduced in border checks. This means, for example, the automation of border crossings, the EU-wide registration of entry and exit data, and the prior registration of visa-free travellers from third countries, namely non-EU countries, on the internet. The amendments do not concern citizens of Finland or other Schengen countries.The EES aims to improve identification of persons at external bordersThe Entry/Exit System Regulation will establish a new EU-wide information system with the primary objectives of improving the management of external borders, preventing irregular immigration and facilitating the management of migration flows. The purpose is to register electronically the entry and exit data of third-country nationals who are authorised to stay in the territory of the Member States for a short period of time and to calculate the duration of their authorised stay. The system will replace the obligation to stamp the passports of third-country nationals.Data in the EES may be processed by border, visa and immigration authorities. In addition, the police, the Border Guard, Customs and the Defence Forces will have the right to access the system for the purpose of preventing, detecting and investigating terrorist offences and serious crimes.According to the current plans, the EES will be introduced in May 2022. However, it is likely that the introduction will be postponed. The timeline is currently being reassessed.ETIAS will determine in advance the conditions of entryThe European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is a pre-registration system for visa-exempt third-country nationals. It aims to determine in advance whether a person fulfils the conditions of entry into the country. The system also aims to enhance the effectiveness of border checks and support the objectives set for the Schengen Information System. The system will allow for advance assessment of potential security, irregular immigration or high epidemic risks already before the person arrives at the border crossing point.The Finnish Border Guard is the national ETIAS authority in Finland. ETIAS applications will mainly be processed automatically. The ETIAS Central Unit, maintained by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), will forward applications requiring further clarification to the national units for manual processing. Data in ETIAS may be processed by border and immigration authorities. In addition, the police, the Border Guard, Customs and the Defence Forces will have the right to access the system for the purpose of preventing, detecting and investigating terrorist offences and serious crimes.ETIAS is expected to be operational at the EU’s external borders at the end of 2022. However, it is possible that the introduction will be postponed. The timeline is currently being reassessed.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — On Thursday 14 October, Finland submitted its draft budgetary plan for next year to the European Commission.Draft budgetary plans (DBPs) are part of the European Union’s coordinated surveillance exercise. The DBP should allow the identification of any deviations from the general government finances strategy presented in the most recent Stability Programme.The DBP contains informationon macroeconomic forecasts and assumptions,targets for general government finances,expenditure and revenue projections under the no-policy-change scenario,expenditure and revenue targets,discretionary measures included in the draft budget,the goals of the European Union’s strategy for growth and jobs and the country specific recommendations,and a comparison between the DBP and the most recent Stability Programme.Finland’s draft budgetary plan is based on the Government’s budget proposal, the programme for local government finances for next year and this year’s supplementary budgets. All euro area countries are required to submit a DBP to the European Commission by 15 October.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The Government has amended the decree restricting the activities of food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic. As a result of changes in the epidemiological situation in the region of Central Ostrobothnia, the restrictions for the community transmission phase of the epidemic will be applied to food and beverage service businesses in the region.The amendment to the decree will enter into force on 15 October 2021.Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in the regions of Southwest Finland, Satakunta, Päijät-Häme, Ostrobothnia and Central Ostrobothnia, and in Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen, which are all at the community transmission phase of the epidemic, from 15 OctoberFood and beverage service businesses may serve alcoholic beverages between 7.00 and 00.00 and be open between 5.00 and 1.00.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.Parliament is currently discussing a government proposal according to which food and beverage service businesses could, as an alternative to the restrictions on food and beverage services businesses laid down in the decree, require their customers to present a COVID-19 passport to enter their premises. Information on the entry into force and application of such provisions will be provided separately.Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses elsewhere in the country, i.e. in regions where the epidemic is at the acceleration or baseline phase, from 15 OctoberNo 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

NordenBladet — Thursday 14 October 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Finland and Lithuania. Finland recognised Lithuania’s independence on 14 October 1921.The Embassy of Finland in Lithuania and the Embassy of Lithuania in Finland will open a virtual photo exhibition on 14 October 2021, presenting the diplomatic relations between Finland and Lithuania over the past 100 years. Speeches by Foreign Ministers Pekka Haavisto and Gabrielius Landsbergis will be available on the exhibition website.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi