NordenBladet — The GTK Mintec pilot plant and laboratories in Outokumpu, operated by the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK), will get new office and laboratory facilities. This will facilitate the development of sustainable mining and the circular economy to respond to the challenges of climate change, the green transition and digitalisation.The solution will replace the old building, which has problems with indoor air quality. The problems have forced GTK Mintec to operate in temporary facilities. The Ministerial Finance Committee decided on the Government’s share of €11 million on 9 September 2021. The final decision of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy is still needed. In addition to this share, GTK intends to invest €4 million in the laboratory’s research equipment and the development of digitalisation. The construction work will start next Spring, and the facilities will be ready for moving in by the autumn of 2023.”The decision supports the goal of creating a well-functioning and sustainable battery cluster in Finland. The circular economy is becoming an increasingly important theme as the world is focusing on mitigating the climate change and striving to decrease the use of fossil fuels. This news is also important to Outokumpu, as the number of personnel is expected to increase from the present 40 person-years to 60 by 2025,” says Mika Lintilä, the Minister of Economic Affairs.“This decision will help make GTK Mintec a world-leading pilot testing and research platform for circular economy and mineral processing. We will increase our research capacity and competences to be able to offer environmentally friendly solutions in the areas of circular economy, battery minerals and water management,” says Jouko Nieminen, Head of Unit, Circular Economy Solutions at GTK.The building developer of the project is Senate Properties, a company responsible for premises owned by the state of Finland. To support the design work, Senate Properties and GTK carried out an impact assessment together to identify all the things that may be affected by the facilities.“This is not only about facilities. When we renew our facilities, we are also developing our operations and processes at the same time. When we understand all the impacts that the facilities can have, we can reach the best possible end result,” says Sonja Nybonn, Account Manager at Senate Properties.GTK Mintec, GTK’s minerals and circular economy research infrastructure in Outokumpu, is a unique mineralogy and beneficiation technology laboratory and pilot-scale test plant for mineral processing in Europe. GTK Mintec belongs to the Outokumpu Sustainable Mining Solutions Hub and the North Karelia scientific community and is a part of the new Otaniemi Circular Raw Materials Hub research infrastructure.Further information
Kimmo Tiilikainen, Director General, [email protected], +358 29 503 2200
Jouko Nieminen, Head of Unit, Circular Economy Solutions, [email protected], +358 29 503 2180

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Finland needs more work-based and education-based immigration to help companies find enough experts and to strengthen Finland’s vitality and public finances. The roadmap for education-based and work-based immigration is a long-term action plan to achieve the objectives set for immigration of specialists, entrepreneurs, researchers and students.The roadmap adopted by the Government in its budget session compiles measures to make Finland an attractive country to work and study, where the immigration process is easy and seamless. The aim is to significantly improve Finland’s position in the global competition for international talents and students. In particular, responding to the labour shortage in the leading high-tech growth sectors requires that experts are sought beyond the Finnish borders. The Government’s objective is to at least double work-based immigration from its current level by 2030. At the same time, the number of new foreign students should triple to 15,000 students a year, with the aim that 75% of them stay in Finland for work after graduation. Digital service paths make it easier to move to FinlandSuccess in achieving these goals requires seamless digital service paths for both employers and skilled workers. All services provided by the authorities and other services supporting the integration of skilled workers and their families will be linked together to make it easier for them to enter and settle in Finland. The aim is to have the best immigration experience in the world.  Clarifying and digitalising residence permit processes and other public services makes entering the country easy.                         Service portals for employers and employees and regional Talent Hub networks will match workers with suitable work.  International recruitment services for companies will facilitate the hiring of foreign experts.English-language schools and daycare centres and programmes for spouses will help the families settle in Finland. High-quality education programmes focusing on working life and mentoring programmes offered by higher education institutions will help foreign researchers and students to establish themselves in Finland and will open doors to Finnish networks for them. The needs for education-based and work-based immigration in regions and sectors will be better identified by developing knowledge-based management and foresight. Smooth process for entering the country and becoming part of society– The roadmap for education-based and work-based immigration provides us with long-term tools to create a receptive and non-discriminatory working life that offers attractive career opportunities. The aim is to have a positive immigration experience and for immigrants to have a good, safe and easy everyday life as equal and active members of society. At the same time, we will enable employers to find skilled workers from abroad, says Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen.– We must make better use of the expertise of international talents in creating new growth and vitality. Increasing the number of foreign students and ensuring that more of them stay in Finland will support the development of our higher education institutions and the internationalisation of our companies, says Minister of Science and Culture Antti Kurvinen.A large number of experts have prepared the roadmapIn addition to private individuals, representatives of ministries, regional and local state administration, labour market organisations, companies, municipal and regional organisations as well as higher education institutions, other educational institutions and research organisations have participated in the preparation of the roadmap. In autumn, measures to achieve the objectives of the Government’s sustainability roadmap for higher education institutions will be prepared together with such institutions.– We would like to thank the large group of people involved in the preparation of the roadmap. A common view on the objectives and measures will promote education-based and work-based immigration and the receptiveness of our society in a significant way, the ministers say. 

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — In its budget session, the Government allocated additional funding for bringing down the maximum waiting times for access to care. The maximum waiting times for access to primary healthcare will be shortened from the current three months to seven days. This means that access to non-urgent care must be arranged within seven days of the assessment of the need for care.The new legislation on quicker access to care will enter into force during this government term.For the purpose of shortening the maximum waiting times, a spending limits provision of EUR 50 million will at this point be made for 2023 in addition to the funding already included in the General Government Fiscal Plan. A decision on the entire funding will be made in connection with the General Government Fiscal Plan for 2023–2026. The date of submitting the government proposal on the maximum waiting times for access to care will be decided by the end of October 2021. Non-urgent care is provided by health centres. Certain maximum waiting times have been set for access to care. If the health centre or hospital cannot provide care within the time limit prescribed by law, they must procure it elsewhere. 

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — On Thursday 9 September, the Government issued a resolution on an update of the action plan implementing the hybrid strategy to manage the COVID-19 epidemic. The objective of the revised action plan is to reopen society and keep it open. According to the action plan, immediate measures will be taken to gradually dismantle the restrictions and recommendations. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health will issue a circular to specify how the gradual implementation of the action plan will be carried out.The aim is to dismantle the nationwide restrictions and comprehensive recommendations when at least 80 per cent of people over 12 years of age have been vaccinated twice or they have been offered the opportunity to get vaccinated twice.The revised action plan will remain in force until further notice and it will be updated as necessary.Local measures to control the epidemic – phases of the epidemic and the related recommendations to be abandoned In future, further spread of the COVID-19 epidemic will be prevented primarily through local and regional measures.  As a rule, society will be kept open and there will be no restrictions on any activities in society. If restrictions are needed to suppress a cluster of infections, they will be targeted very carefully. As the last resort, municipalities, hospital districts and the Regional State Administrative Agencies could impose very carefully selected, targeted and short-term restrictions on high-risk events and activities. The action plan emphasises that the primacy of the best interests of the child will continue to be implemented in all decision-making. In addition, any restrictions should treat different sectors as equitably as possible.  If the epidemiological situation suddenly deteriorated, more extensive nationwide measures could be reintroduced.  In such a case, the Government would issue a resolution on the adoption of the national emergency brake mechanism.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The Government supports a new EU-level supervisory system to fight money laundering and terrorist financing.On 20 July, the European Commission adopted a package of legislative proposals aimed at reforming the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing. The package is based on the action plan on this issue adopted last year.The Commission aims tointroduce common EU rules to prevent money laundering and counter terrorist financingcreate an EU-level supervisory systemestablish a support and coordination mechanism for Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs)strengthen the international dimension of EU policy.Further development of regulatory framework neededThe Government supports the Commission’s objectives of harmonising and developing EU money laundering rules. The Government considers it important to ensure that the rules comply with EU data protection legislation and respect fundamental and human rights.An EU-level supervisory system would complement the current system where national authorities monitor compliance with the obligations related to the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing. A new EU authority would also be tasked with developing cooperation between the national FIUs. In addition, the Commission proposes the development of measures applicable to high-risk third countries.Government supports a new EU authorityThe Government supports the idea of establishing a new EU authority. The authority would be responsible for EU-level supervision. The authority would have direct powers to supervise the most high-risk cross-border financial entities, and would also coordinate the activities of the supervisors of the Member States. In addition, a support and coordination mechanism for FIUs would be established in connection with the authority.The Government submitted a Union communication to Parliament on the matter on Thursday 9 September. A Union communication is used in EU affairs whenever there is a matter concerning an EU legislative proposal or other proposal that falls within Parliament’s competence.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The Government supports the European Commission’s initiative to create a legislative framework for a European digital identity and a digital identity wallet application. The Commission’s initiative is in line with Finland’s national preparation.On 3 June 2021, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a regulation on European digital identity. The European digital identity would be a tool for EU citizens, for people living in the EU and for businesses for identification and for indicating data related to a person. It could be used for both public and private electronic and other services. Every EU citizen and person residing in the EU region would have access to a personal digital wallet related to their state-guaranteed identity. The purpose of the proposed regulation is to reform the eIDAS Regulation adopted in 2014 on electronic identification and trust services related to electronic transactions in the internal market. The proposal aims to promote cross-border electronic identification by two parallel means. The regulation would create a common legislative framework for the European digital identity and the associated wallet application. EU Member States would be obliged to offer at least one wallet application in accordance with the Regulation. The use of the digital wallet application would be free and voluntary for citizens. In addition, the proposal would make changes to the current EU Member State notification procedure for electronic identification systems under the eIDAS Regulation. In the future, EU Member States would be obliged to notify the European Commission of at least one compatible identification system. The fulfilment of the above-mentioned obligations will be assessed nationally. At the national level, the Ministry of Finance is responsible for the work related to the processing and influence of the proposed regulation in cooperation with the Ministry of Transport and Communications.Government supports the common European solution The Government supports the creation of the proposed legislative framework for a European digital identity and the associated wallet application. However, this is a new set of regulations that contains obligations significant in terms of principle targeted at EU Member States. As a result, further preparation should particularly take into account the varying capacities of Member States to provide the wallet application to the parties required by the proposal.The Government considers it justified that certain private sector actors are obliged to adopt the wallet application in their services. Further preparatory work should ensure that the list of sectors that are obliged to approve the wallet application for identification in their services included in the proposal is accurate and appropriate.According to the Government, it should be ensured that the premise of the proposal for the development of electronic identification will not cause overlapping costs and development work in the Member States. The Government also pays attention to the economic impacts on the private and public sectors, which are still difficult to assess.In Finland, a digital identity certificate is currently developed in a digital identity project led by the Ministry of Finance. The aim of the project is to create equal prerequisites and opportunities for all people working in social services to demonstrate their digital identity, as confirmed by the authorities. The project will enable electronic identification of people from Finland in the services of other EU Member States while accommodating ongoing joint European development work.On Thursday 9 September, the Government sent a Union communication on the matter to the Parliament. A Union communication is used in EU affairs whenever there is a matter concerning an EU legislative proposal or other proposal that falls within Parliament’s competence.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The Government has issued a decree according to which the Act on Discretionary Government Transfers to Develop Business Operations in 2021–2028 will enter into force on 1 November 2021. The grant programmes under the Act will be used for implementing the EU’s regional and structural policy programmes in the programme period 2021–2027 and for nationally funded grants.The President of the Republic approved the Act on 13 August 2021, and the decree issued now only lays down the date when the Act will enter into force. The Act will enter into force at the same time as the new programming period for regional and structural policy in 2021–2027 begins in Finland.Two forms of support: business development aid and support for improving companies’ operating environmentThe Act applies to two forms of support granted by the ELY Centres: business development aid and support for improving companies’ operating environment. Business development aid is granted for innovative development measures and investments related to growth or internationalisation. Support for improving companies’ operating environment may be granted to non-profit public and private organisations and foundations for projects that improve the operating environment and development conditions of companies.Grants will be funded from appropriations from the State budget and from European Union funds, in particular from the European Regional Development Fund and the Just Transition Fund. The allocation of grants will take into account the objectives of EU and national regional and structural policies as well as competitive aspects. Key priorities for the programming period 2021‒2027 are the promotion of carbon neutrality, energy and material efficiency and digitalisation.Changes to eligible sectors and conditions on granting aidThe main elements of regulation will remain unchanged. The scope of eligibility for business development aid will change so that only primary production in agriculture, fisheries and forestry would be excluded from it. For example, companies in the fish processing sector or those that serve the forestry sector will no longer be excluded from the scope of the aid.Consideration for environmental aspects has been added to the conditions for receiving business development aid. These may include projects that promote the objectives of regional and structural policy programmes, such as decarbonisation or energy and material efficiency, or that have other positive effects on the environment.

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. Separate restrictions on the number of customers or the opening and licensing hours of food and beverage service businesses will be removed in Central Finland as the region returns to the baseline restrictions.The decree will enter into force on Friday 10 September 2021.Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in the regions that are at the community transmission phase of the epidemic — Southwest Finland, Pirkanmaa, Kymenlaakso, Uusimaa, South Karelia, Ostrobothnia and South Ostrobothnia — from 10 September: Food and beverage service businesses may serve alcoholic beverages between 7.00 and 22.00 and be open between 5.00 and 23.00.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 businesses are restricted to 75 per cent of their normal number of customer seats in indoor and outdoor premises.All customers must have their own seat at a table or similar in both indoor and outdoor premises. Customers are instructed to stay seated in indoor premises. Businesses must draw up and provide their customers with instructions on how to enter or leave the premises or access the area designated for smoking or the toilets and washing facilities and how to collect their takeaway orders of food and drinks. In practice, dancing and karaoke, for example, are not allowed.Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in the regions that are at the acceleration phase of the epidemic — Kanta-Häme, Päijät-Häme, North Savo, North Karelia, Central Ostrobothnia, North Ostrobothnia, Kainuu, South Savo and Satakunta — from 10 September: Food 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 are restricted to half of their normal number of customer seats indoors. Other food and beverage service business are restricted to 75 per cent of their normal number of customer seats indoors. As before, all customers must have their own seat by a table or counter when indoors. The number of customer seats in outdoor terraces is not limited. Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in the regions that are at a stable level — Åland, Central Finland and Lapland — from 10 September:There are no separate restrictions on the number of customers or on licensing and opening hours.As before, all customers must have their own seat by a table or counter when indoors.The obligation to observe the general hygiene guidelines and to keep a safe distance applies in all areas.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 — During the coronavirus pandemic, entrepreneurs have been entitled to labour market support on less stringent conditions than usual. The Government proposes that the right to labour market support would continue under the same conditions until 30 November 2021.At present, entrepreneurs are entitled to labour market support due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic until the end of September. On 9 September 2021, the Government submitted to Parliament a proposal to extend the temporary provisions.“The Government aims to reopen the society and lift the national restrictions. It will, however, take time before the operating conditions of companies recover. By continuing the temporary right of entrepreneurs to labour market support, we can safeguard their livelihoods in this uncertain situation,” says Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen.The extension would apply to an estimated 21,500 entrepreneurs in a month. The extension is estimated to increase spending on unemployment security by about EUR 30 million.What are the conditions for an entrepreneur to be eligible for labour market support?As a rule, a person who has been self-employed at a full-time basis is entitled to unemployment benefit once the business activities have ceased completely. During the coronavirus pandemic, entrepreneurs have been able to apply for labour market support without having to terminate their business activities. The end of the person’s full-time work or the reduction in income must, however, be due to the coronavirus epidemic.An entrepreneur may receive labour market support if, due to the coronavirus pandemic,their full-time employment has ended orthe monthly income from the entrepreneurial activities is less than EUR 1,089.67 per each person engaged in these activities as an entrepreneur.Labour market support concerns all entrepreneurs regardless of whether they engage in business as self-employed persons or in the form of a company. Support can be granted to entrepreneurs in all sectors.How does an entrepreneur apply for labour market support?The entrepreneur registers as an unemployed jobseeker and provides an account of the termination of their full-time employment or decrease in income due to the coronavirus epidemic.The TE Office issues a labour policy statement to Kela.The entrepreneur applies to Kela for labour market support.Kela pays the labour market support to the entrepreneur.If an entrepreneur has already registered as a jobseeker at the TE Office and is entitled to labour market support due to temporary extension of the Act, they should use the services of the TE Office as agreed.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Finland will participate in the EU cooperation that enables donation of COVID-19 vaccines purchased in advance. During this autumn, about 3.6 million vaccines will be donated to developing countries. The vaccine donations will not slow down the rollout of vaccinations in Finland.Vaccines will be distributed through the international COVAX AMC (Advanced Market Commitment) financial mechanism through which world’s poorest countries will get access to COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccines are offered to low- and middle-income countries that have experienced problems with their availability.In its session on 9 September, the Government decided to donate three million Astra Zeneca and 650,000 Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses. The total value of these vaccines is EUR 10 million. The donation is tied to the vaccine doses that remain unused from Finland’s share of the EU’s joint vaccine procurement contract. The vaccines that Finland will donate will be delivered directly from the international pharmaceutical manufacturers to the countries in question.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi