NordenBladet – A solemn day of remembrance in Vágar. Today marks the 25th anniversary of a horrific plane crash in the mountains west of Sørvágur.
The 3rd of August 1996 is a day that lives vividly in the minds of those old enough to remember.On this Saturday, high-ranking officials in the Danish defence travelled to the Faroes in a Gulfstream aircraft.
The plane never made it to Vágar Airport, however, as shortly before landing it crashed into the mountainside near the Selvík creek west of Sørvágur.
Nine people, four crew members and five passengers, died in the accident. Eight of these were Danish citizens, including the then Danish chief of defence and his wife. One of the two pilots was a Faroese citizen.
NordenBladet — The Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the parliaments of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Ireland, Poland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States underline in their joint statement that the completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline will undermine the European gas market, endanger security, and threaten the already precarious sovereignty of Ukraine.
In the opinion of Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Marko Mihkelson, the joint decision of the United States and Germany to give the green light to the completion of Nord Stream 2 could strain the security situation of the whole Europe. “The completion of the project will give Russia yet another tool to pressure and blackmail Ukraine as an important energy transit country. The parties involved have to understand that the only one to profit from the gas pipeline is Russia. It is a serious security crisis,” he added.
Mihkelson pointed out that the joint statement emphasised that it was necessary to make a collective commitment to increase support to the security and defence capabilities of Ukraine by delivering a road map for Ukraine’s path towards joining the NATO alliance, and to agree upon a European Union membership perspective for Ukraine. “We need to make a collective commitment to increase support to the security and defence capabilities of Ukraine in order to prevent a deepening of the current security crisis, exacerbated by the threats created by Nord Stream 2,” the Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees emphasise. They also call for commitments from NATO to strengthen deterrence, especially on the Eastern Flank from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea.
The signatories consider Nord Stream 2 a geopolitical project geared towards expanding Russia’s influence on Europe by dominating the energy market. “The likely repercussion of the completion and operation of Nord Stream 2 is to undermine the development of a single, liberalized, and open European market by consolidating sources of supply in the Nord Stream 2 system and deterring investment in alternatives,” the joint statement says. “We expect a clear commitment from Germany to reduce dependency on gas imported from Russia and move towards green energy.”
It is also insisted that any further agreements on Nord Stream 2 necessitate consultations across the transatlantic family. “Countering malign Russian aggression is in all of NATO’s, all EU members, and our partners in Central and Eastern Europe vital national security interests,” the signatories emphasise.
NordenBladet — Extending compulsory education to upper secondary education will cause changes to legislation concerning work carried out by people under 18 years of age. The starting point is that young people’s work shifts must not overlap with instruction that requires their attendance. The changes will enter into force on 1 August 2021.
The new Act on Compulsory Education entered into force on 1 August 2021. Compulsory education ends when the person reaches the age of 18 or when they complete an upper secondary qualification (a general upper secondary qualification or a vocational qualification).
Persons aged 15 years who have completed basic education can be permanently employed Under the Young Workers Act, an employer can hire a person who has turned 15 years and has completed compulsory education to an employment or public service relationship on a permanent basis.As a result of the amendment to the Act, a young person aged 15 years, who has completed the basic education syllabus referred to in the Basic Education Act or whose obligation to complete the basic education syllabus has otherwise ended, may be admitted to permanent employment. Young people usually complete the basic education syllabus (basic education) in the year when they turn 16.
A young person who has completed basic education and who attends upper secondary education can still work part-time, for example, insofar as the work is suitable for them. It is also still possible to complete a vocational qualification as apprenticeship training based on fixed-term employment or public service relationship.
Before hiring a young worker, an employer must obtain a reliable account of the young person’s age and that their obligation to complete the basic education syllabus has ended.
The Act lays down the conditions under which young people under 15 years of age and those still attending basic education can be employed during the school year or holidays. The Act also contains terms under which a person aged 13 or younger may be hired to work temporarily as a performer or assistant at art and cultural performances or similar events. These provisions remain unchanged.
Employer to consider secondary school studies in work shifts
Attending compulsory education is a young person’s primary obligation. For this reason, a provision has been added to the Act concerning employees under the age of 18 who are attending post-comprehensive compulsory education, which usually is upper secondary education. Employers must arrange the working hours of such young workers in a way that does not preclude their participation in education. In order for the employer to plan work shifts, a young worker must inform the employer well in advance of any compulsory study attendance required of them.If work and studies overlap, a young worker has the right to refuse a shift that would prevent them from participating in instruction.
These amendments also apply to work carried out in shipping and on fishing vessels. As before, persons who work at sea and on fishing vessels must be at least 16 years old.
Act aims to protect young people
The Young Workers Act applies to work carried out by people under 18 years of age. The Act lays down, among other things, the conditions under which a young worker can be employed, the working hours and rest periods, and the requirements concerning the safety and health of work. The purpose of the special provisions concerning young workers is to protect them from excessive strain caused by work.
NordenBladet — Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will meet Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi in Helsinki on 3 August.
The Ministers will discuss the bilateral relations between Finland and Jordan as well as topical regional questions.
“Jordan is an important partner in the Middle East for Finland and the EU. We appreciate Jordan’s efforts to promote stability and peace in the crisis-ridden region. In our bilateral political and commercial relations, there is plenty of room for closer cooperation,” says Foreign Minister Haavisto.
NordenBladet —The northwestern part of Finland is fighting the worst forest fire in half a century as fires rage roughly 300 hectares over five days.
On Monday 26th July, a fire broke out south of the Finnish town, Kalajoki, due to the exceptionally hot summer weather.
Experts noted that the fire located near Kalajoki is Finland’s most significant forest fire since 1971 when a fire burnt roughly 1,600 hectares of land.
Roughly 250 people have been deployed to help combat the fire, including the nation’s army. Additionally, four helicopters have been mobilized.
Luckily, the affected area is sparsely populated, and no casualties have been reported as of yet.
Jarmo Haapanen, Chief of Firefighting Operations near Kalajoki, explains, “It’s still burning, but it hasn’t got bigger; it’s limited to 300 hectares.”
Haapanen followed up by saying that it would take at least a minimum of one week to be put out but could be closer to two or three weeks.
NordenBladet — Adopted in June 2013, Protocol No. 15 to the European Convention on Human Rights will enter into force on 1 August 2021. Its entry into force will reduce the application period to four months and also introduce other changes to the right to submit applications to the European Court of Human Rights. The shorter application period is, however, subject to a transition period, which ends on 1 February 2022.
The fifteenth protocol amending the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) was adopted and opened for signature on 24 June 2013. As all the Contracting Parties to the ECHR, including Finland, have now ratified the Protocol, it will enter into force on 1 August 2021.
The Protocol brings some major changes to the process of lodging an application with the European Court of Human Rights that sits in Strasbourg. As regards applicants, the most significant change is the reduction of the period for submitting an application. The current six-month application period will be reduced to four months after a final domestic decision.
The reduced time period is, however, subject to a transition rule under which the four-month period for submitting an application to the Court will not be effective before 1 February 2022. The shorter application period will also not apply to cases where the final national decision was given prior to the entry into force of the Protocol, i.e. before 1 August 2021.
Another major change concerns the admissibility criteria of a human rights application at the Court with regard to ‘significant disadvantage’. Following this amendment, cases where the applicant has not suffered a significant disadvantage will not be admitted, even if the alleged human rights violation had not been duly considered by a domestic tribunal. Consequently, the European Court of Human Rights will no longer process applications that can be characterised as insignificant.
The Protocol underlines the subsidiarity of the application mechanism under the European Convention on Human Rights in relation to applying the Convention at national level. Alleged human rights violations should primarily be processed before national courts.
The Protocol removes the right of the parties to an application to object to relinquishment of jurisdiction by a Chamber to the Grand Chamber in cases that involve an important issue concerning the interpretation of the Convention, or in cases where the ruling would amount to a potential conflict with the Court’s existing case-law.
The Protocol also sets an upper age limit of 65 years for judicial candidates to the European Court of Human Rights.
NordenBladet — The UN Food Systems Summit will be held at the level of heads of state or government in connection with the UN General Assembly in September. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Jari Leppä and Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari represented Finland at the ministerial level Pre-Summit in Rome on 26–28 July.
The UN Food Systems Pre-Summit brought together an unprecedented number of participants: nearly 20,000 virtual delegates and around 500 in-person delegates. More than a hundred ministers from all over the world, including small island states, contributed to the discussions. In addition to representatives of different states, a large number of representatives from civil society organisations (CSOs), food producers, business life and academia also attended the meeting.
The ministers of the Finnish Government participated in the meeting virtually. Minister Leppä delivered Finland’s address to the meeting and presented Finland’s efforts to improve the sustainability of food systems, including the One Health approach, school meals, nutrition recommendations, the Shared Table concept, and research and innovations related to carbon sequestration in the soil. Minister Skinnari gave an opening speech at the thematic session on school meals. In his speech, he emphasised the importance of school feeding for children’s health and learning outcomes. According to him, free school meals have been one of the factors contributing to Finland’s development into a welfare state. Minister Skinnari is the World Food Programme (WFP) champion for school feeding and he directs global work to set up a coalition to support school feeding worldwide.
“The Sustainable Development Goals can only be attained by improving the sustainability of food systems”In her speech, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed emphasised the importance of food systems in the efforts to achieve the other Sustainable Development Goals. In her opinion, the SDGs can only be achieved by improving the sustainability of food systems. Mohammed also emphasised that it is important to involve all parties in the work.
The meeting placed particular emphasis on the contribution of women, young people and indigenous peoples. However, some CSOs criticised the role given to large companies in the preparation process and protested against the Pre-Summit by organising a shadow meeting at the same time. Deputy Secretary-General Mohammed appealed to the organisations and expressed her hope that they would also participate in the process – active involvement is the only way to exert influence on the content of the work.
The meeting repeated several times the same serious facts: as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 800 million people are suffering from hunger and as many as three billion cannot afford nutritious food. At the same time, the deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals, the year 2030, is only nine harvests away.We must change the course of development quickly and effectively, otherwise the goals will be beyond reach. Commitments and measures in support of food systems are needed immediately.
At the end of the meeting, seven action tracks with a wide impact on the sustainability of food systems were presented: nutrition and eradication of hunger, reduction of food waste, school feeding, agroecology, blue (water) foods, livelihoods and working conditions, and resilience. The objective is to involve as many countries as possible in the coalitions working towards these goals.
NordenBladet – Like last year, the popular midnight singalong at ólavsøka was cancelled out of Covid concerns and, like last year, thousands ignored the ban.
The head of the epidemic commission is slightly annoyed after hearing that people ignored the ban against gathering for singalong.
“It is fair to assume that people should have learned about social distancing by now,” says Michael Boolsen, police chief and head of the epidemic commission.
Social distancing guidelines were widely flaunted throughout ólavsøka, but the risk of infection increases significantly when a large crowd gathers together to sing, he adds.
“As we probably all know by now, the virus is transmitted through droplets and aerosol particles, which travel more freely through the air when many people sing in close proximity to one another.”
Most people appeared to enjoy the festivities, but it wasn’t patriotic bliss for everyone.
Police received six reports of fighting during the two days. In one of the instances, a woman was punched in the face, and in another a father and son ended up in a fight.
NordenBladet — The Ministry of Transport and Communications will hold a stakeholder event on the preparation of the Transport Safety Strategy on Tuesday 10 August 2021 at 13-15. The event is by invitation, but anyone interested can watch it live. Participants other than invited guests will also have the opportunity to present comments and ask questions during the event.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications is currently preparing a new Transport Safety Strategy. Its vision is to improve safety in all modes of transport to the point that by 2050, no one will die or be seriously injured in traffic. The draft strategy was prepared in broad-based cross-administrative cooperation with various transport sector stakeholders. The draft is currently being circulated for comments.
Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakka will give the opening speech at the event. Director of the Ministry’s Safety and Security Unit Elina Immonen will give a presentation on the Transport Safety Strategy and the work that has gone into preparing it. The event will also feature talks by representatives from the National Police Board, the Finnish Lifeboat Institution and the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom.
The event is being held as part of the Conference on the Future of Europe, in which all EU citizens are welcome to participate in the discussions and create a vision for a common future. Come to the event to hear about the preparation of the Transport Safety Strategy and to learn what its objectives are and why. You can also share your opinions and vision for safe transport.
Watch the webcast of the stakeholder event
The stakeholder event on the Transport Safety Strategy on Tuesday 10 August will be streamed as a live webcast. Watch it from 13.00 to 15.00 on the Ministry’s YouTube channel.A subtitled recording of the event will be available later at the same address.
The webcast will also include a discussion platform open to all participants. Continue the discussion on social media using the hashtags #TransportSafetyStrategy, #YourFuture and #FutureofEurope.
You can also have your say on the preparation of the draft strategy by submitting an opinion through the Lausuntopalvelu.fi service. The deadline for submitting opinions on the Transport Safety Strategy is 13 August 2021. The preparation of the strategy will then be continued by public servants together with stakeholders. A government resolution on the strategy is to be adopted by the end of this year.
NordenBladet — The Government has amended the decree restricting the activities of food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic. The amended decree will enter into force on 31 July 2021.
In line with the decree, restrictions on the opening and licensing hours of food and beverage service businesses will be in force in the following regions where the epidemic is now in the acceleration phase: Kainuu, Kanta-Häme, Central Finland, North Karelia, North Savo and Satakunta. The earlier set restrictions applicable during the acceleration phase will remain in force in the following regions: Kymenlaakso, Pirkanmaa, Päijät-Häme and Southwest Finland.Food and beverage service businesses may serve alcoholic beverages between 7.00 and 00.00 and be open between 5.00 and 1.00.
Restaurants that primarily serve alcoholic beverages may have half the normal number of customer seats in use in indoor premises. Other restaurants 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 on outdoor terraces is not limited. Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in the regions of Åland, South Ostrobothnia, North Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, South Savo, Ostrobothnia, South Karelia and Lapland from 31 July: There are no separate restrictions on the number of customers or licensing and opening hours.The obligations to observe the general hygiene guidelines and to keep a safe distance apply in areas where the epidemic is at a stable level and in the acceleration phase.
Exceptions to restrictions remain unchanged
The 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.The regional epidemic situation will be reviewed over the course of next week and restrictions will be amended in accordance with the regional situation.
