NordenBladet — Intensive efforts are under way to evacuate Finns and Afghans who have been working for the Finnish Government from Afghanistan. Around ten people were evacuated from Kabul on Saturday, and a group of 52 have boarded evacuation flights so far on Sunday. This brings the total number of evacuees to 110 at present. The evacuees are Finnish citizens or permanent residents of Finland, along with other persons who have been working for Finland, the EU and NATO, together with their families.The evacuations will continue in cooperation with the Defence Forces’ unit tasked with safeguarding the efforts, other authorities and Finland’s close partner countries. The Foreign Ministry’s relief team in Kabul has received reinforcements, and there is a five-person relief team on the ground at the airport. The Defence Forces’ unit arrived in the area on Saturday. The fact that its support work could get off to a quick start has made a big difference, as the number of people to be evacuated has increased significantly since the unit arrived. The task of the unit in the area is to protect the employees of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and to assist in the evacuation, including by guiding the evacuees. The greatest challenges still faced by Finland and the other evacuating countries have to do with how difficult and dangerous it is to get people to the airport and through the gates amidst the huge crowds of people. Our team on the ground is continuously assessing the development of the security situation in close cooperation with representatives from other countries. Based on this information, we will provide instructions to the people being evacuated, with their safety and security as our top priority.For security reasons and with due respect for the privacy of the evacuees, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will not disclose detailed information on how or when they will arrive in Finland. It is important that the people arriving in Finland are guaranteed the peace they deserve and given the opportunity to rest after their traumatic experiences.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — On Friday 20 August, the President of the Republic decided to send a Defence Forces unit to Kabul International Airport to safeguard the evacuation operation of the Finnish relief team. The decision was preceded by deliberations on a report on the matter in the plenary session of Parliament. The report was submitted to Parliament on Thursday 19 August, and the deliberations took one day. The decision to send troops was made in accordance with the Act on the Making of Decisions Concerning the Provision of and Request for International Assistance. This is the first time the Act is being applied.The unit is ready for deployment as soon as the decision is finalised. The unit assigned to the task has the highest level of performance in Finland thanks to its extensive training and crisis management experience. During the operation, the unit will operate under the national leadership of Finland. The troops will operate only at Kabul International Airport and in its immediate vicinity.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Finland has proposed deploying military forces to support the Foreign Ministry’s relief team carrying out the evacuation operation in Kabul. The decision to send troops is being made in accordance with the Act on Decision-making on the Provision of and Request for International Assistance. This is the first time the Act is being applied.Decisions on international assistance, which may include the use of military force in particularly demanding situations, require a report to be submitted to Parliament. The Government submitted its report on the matter to Parliament today . The Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament will consider the matter as early as Friday morning, after which it will proceed to Parliament’s plenary session for a decision. After consulting with Parliament, the President of the Republic will decide on the deployment of troops.

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. The restrictions for the community transmission phase will enter into force in the entire Uusimaa region and South Karelia. The Hospital District of South Savo is moving to the acceleration phase of the epidemic.The decree will enter into force on Sunday 22 August 2021.Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in the regions of Southwest Finland, Pirkanmaa, Kymenlaakso, Uusimaa, Satakunta and South Karelia, which are all at the community transmission phase of the epidemic, from 22 August: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 indoors and outdoors.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 of Kanta-Häme, Päijät-Häme, North Savo, North Karelia, Central Finland, South Ostrobothnia, Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, North Ostrobothnia and Kainuu, and in the Hospital District of South Savo and the city of Rovaniemi, which are all at the acceleration phase of the epidemic, from 22 August: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 may have half the normal number of customer seats in use in indoor premises. Other food and beverage service businesses may seat 75 per cent of their normal number of customers inside their establishments. 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 Åland, the Hospital District of East Savo and the region of Lapland, excluding the city of Rovaniemi, from 22 August: There are no separate restrictions on the number of customers or on licensing and opening hours.An exception to this applies to food and beverage service businesses in Åland. These businesses may serve alcoholic beverages between 7.00 and 00.00 and be open between 5.00 and 1.00.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 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 — On Thursday, 19 August 2021, the President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed Finland’s evacuation operation at Kabul Airport.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Doctor of Social Sciences Mikko Vähä-Sipilä has been appointed Director at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment beginning on 24 August 2021. The Government decided on the appointment on 19 August 2021.Vähä-Sipilä will be responsible for directing the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) measures at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. He will be in charge of managing and coordinating the RRF’s implementation at the Ministry, including cooperation between the different departments and the Ministry of Finance.“The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment plays an important role in implementing Finland’s Recovery and Resilience Plan. Effective implementation and good administration of the plan will be achieved in cooperation between many operators,” Vähä-Sipilä said. Vähä-Sipilä has worked as project manager at the Ministry since 2020. Prior to that, he was employed by the European Commission where he specialised in regional, structural and energy policy. Vähä-Sipilä has also been international relations manager at the National Emergency Supply Agency and programme coordinator and researcher at the University of Tampere.A total of 34 applications were received for the position.What is the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF)? The EU’s recovery programme will speed up the recovery of Europe’s economies, societies and people from the coronavirus crisis. The RRF is the largest instrument in the EU’s recovery programme. The aim is to promote the economic, social and territorial cohesion of the Union and to improve the Member States’ ability to recover.The RRF will provide funding for the Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland. The Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland will support growth that is ecologically, socially and economically sustainable in line with the aims of the Government Programme. The Programme will boost competitiveness, investment, RDI and measures to raise skill levels. Recovery funding promotes the renewal of economic structure and the competitive advantage of Finnish companies based on sustainable solutions.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — A few changes will be made to the restrictions on entry at external borders based on current incidence rates. The Government adopted a decision on the matter on 19 August and the decision will enter into force on 23 August. The restrictions will continue until 19 September. However, people may still enter Finland from all countries upon presenting an approved certificate of a full vaccine course.External border traffic refers to traffic between Finland and non-Schengen third countries. Restrictions on entry will be reinstated for residents of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Canada in traffic arriving in Finland from these countries. If a person arriving from these countries has not received a full vaccine course, 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.No other changes will be introduced to the restrictions on entry. Internal border control was lifted on 26 July, which means that persons arriving in Finland from the EU and Schengen countries can enter into the country without travel restrictions.See the websites below for more information on the entry restrictions and health security requirements in place.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi