NordenBladet — On 29 June, the Government decided on country-specific changes to the restrictions on entry into Finland on the basis of the epidemiological situation. Internal border controls will be lifted for Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein and Slovakia from 1 July.
Restrictions on external border traffic will be lifted for traffic arriving in Finland from Bulgaria and for residents of Albania, Hong Kong, Japan, Lebanon, Macao, North Macedonia and Taiwan arriving in Finland in traffic from these countries or territories.
Restrictions on entry will be reinstated for traffic arriving from Monaco and for residents of Rwanda in traffic arriving from Rwanda to Finland. These restrictions will also enter into force on 1 July 2021.
NordenBladet —A provision on fingerprinting that supplements the relevant EU Regulation will be added to the Identity Card Act. In future, fingerprints will be taken from any person applying for an identity card, except for a person under the age of 12 or from a person in respect of whom fingerprinting is physically impossible, for example. The President of the Republic approved the amendment on 29 June. The Act will enter into force on 2 August 2021.
The Identity Card Act has been updated to be in line with the EU Regulation on identity cards. Because of the EU Regulation, the information content and appearance of identity cards will also be reformed. The aim of the Regulation is to improve the reliability and security of identity cards of EU citizens.
Fingerprints taken for a passport can in future be used to apply for an identity card
The fingerprint is a biometric identifier, and it is a permanent and immutable part of each individual. For such biometric identifiers, specific requirements for data security are needed to ensure the protection of privacy. For this reason, separate provisions on data security related to the chip of an identity card are laid down in the Identity Card Act.
As fingerprints and facial images are particularly sensitive data, they may be accessed by authorities issuing identity cards — police departments, Finnish missions, the police and the Border Guard — and by Customs when it acts as a criminal investigation authority or carries out the duties of a border control authority.
“In Finland, passport applicants must already have their fingerprints taken and stored in the passport register. Similarly, the Identity Card Act includes a provision on the storage of fingerprints in the identity card register. To make it easier to use the services, every applicant can in future use their fingerprints taken for the passport to apply for an identity card. Fingerprints taken for the identity card can also be used for passport applications in future,” says Marja-Leena Härkönen, Senior Specialist from the Ministry of the Interior.
The storage of fingerprints in the identity card register will not only protect the rights of the person giving the fingerprint but also the rights of other persons to their personal data and their appropriate use. The storage of fingerprints in the register and the comparison of fingerprint data with the register are aimed at preventing identity misuse.
Parliament passed the government bill for amending the Identity Card Act on 4 June 2021. On Tuesday 29 June 2021, the President of the Republic approved the bill passed by Parliament. The Act will enter into force on 2 August 2021, at the same time as the application of the EU Regulation begins.
NordenBladet — On Tuesday 29 June, the President of the Republic appointed Member of Parliament Li Andersson as Minister of Education and a member of the Government, and Master of Arts, Member of Parliament Hanna Sarkkinen as Minister of Social Affairs and Health.
At the same time, the President released Member of Parliament Jussi Saramo from the post of Minister of Education and his membership in the Government, and Member of Parliament Aino-Kaisa Pekonen from the post of Minister of Social Affairs and Health and her membership in the Government.
At the beginning of this government term, the Left Alliance Parliamentary Group and Party Council decided to divide the portfolio of the Minister of Social Affairs and Health into two two-year posts.
Li Andersson will return from parental leave to her post of Minister of Education. Following the presidential session, the Government plenary session made decisions on changes to the ministerial portfolios, deputising arrangements and the composition of ministerial committees and working groups.
Minister Sarkkinen also gave her declaration of office and judicial affirmation.The Government appointed Dan Koivulaakso, Master of Social Sciences, as State Secretary to the Minister of Education and Saila Ruuth, Master of Social Sciences, to continue as State Secretary to the Minister of Social Affairs and Health.
NordenBladet — On 29 June 2021, the Government granted EUR 2 million to the Regional Council of Lapland for the development of the Kemi-Tornio region. In all, the Government has allocated EUR 12.75 million to the area to manage the sudden structural change caused by the closure of the Veitsiluoto paper mill in Kemi.
The sudden structural change measures were launched immediately after Stora Enso announced its plan to close the paper mill in April. Local operators and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment quickly formed a group to assess the situation and to formulate an action plan to re-employ the workers and promote the vitality of the region.
Summary of funding from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment:
* Employment appropriations, EUR 2.55 million (decision by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment)
* National business aid authorisation, EUR 4.2 million (Government session on 23 June 2021)
* Business aid authorisation from the European Regional Development Fund, EUR 4 million (decision by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment)
* National business aid authorisation, EUR 2 million (Government session on 29 June 2021)
A development plan by local operators in Lapland presents ways to create new jobs to replace the lost ones as quickly as possible, and to thereby minimise the negative effects of the mill’s closure.
According to the plan, new jobs will be created through investments in the industrial circular economy, basic industry and tourism as well as the commerce and services sectors. Support from the State will be allocated to promote business renewal, innovation and skills.
In addition, part of the funding will support capabilities in green transition, digitalisation and utilisation of technology.
These measures will strengthen entrepreneurship and the creation of start-ups.
Individual and social support are important in the early stages of a sudden structural change. Later, individual employment, training and retraining solutions also gain in significance.
NordenBladet — The Government has issued a new decree restricting the activities of restaurants and other food and beverage service businesses owing to the COVID-19 epidemic. The new decree was issued under section 58a of the Communicable Diseases Act, the validity of which has been extended by an act that will enter into force on 1 July 2021. The decree will renew the existing restrictions. In other words, it will have no effect on the restrictions currently in force.The new decree will enter into force on 1 July 2021.
Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in baseline areas in the regions of Åland, South Ostrobothnia, Kainuu, North Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, Southwest Finland, North Savo, North Karelia, Central Finland, South Savo, Ostrobothnia, Satakunta, South Karelia, Pirkanmaa, Kymenlaakso, Päijät-Häme, Kanta-Häme and Lapland from 24 June
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:
The restaurants and other businesses serving food and/or beverages must clearly inform people arriving there that a person with symptoms consistent with a COVID-19 infection is not allowed to enter the premises. The businesses must ensure that the customers use the premises in such a way that they are spaced as far apart as possible, and the customer seats are at a sufficient distance from each other.
The businesses must ensure that the premises and surfaces are cleaned and that the customers are given the opportunity to clean their hands.The businesses must draw up a written plan on how to implement the obligations and restrictions laid down for their activities and the use of their indoor and outdoor facilities.All customers must have their own seat at a table or similar.
The seat requirement does not apply to restaurant activities outdoors.Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in areas in the acceleration phase in the region of Uusimaa from 24 JuneFood and beverage service businesses may serve alcoholic beverages between 7.00 and 00.00 and be open between 5.00 and 1.00.
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.
NordenBladet — On 30 June to 1 July 2021, Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen will host a defence minister meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) countries in Helsinki. The ministers will discuss topical security issues in the Baltic Sea region and the Arctic region. A political steering document guiding JEF military activities will be signed in the meeting.
In addition, a scenario-based exercise will be organised during the meeting to explore the decision-making mechanisms and conditions for their cooperation.
“The JEF activities focus on the Baltic Sea and Arctic environments that are important for Finland and activities that involve Finland’s key partner countries,” says Minister Antti Kaikkonen.
The UK-led JEF is a multilateral framework for defence cooperation formed by ten countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Finland joined the JEF in summer 2017 at the same time as Sweden.
The most recent expansion took place in April this year when Iceland joined.
NordenBladet — Matti Hirvola and Jenny Suominen will deputise for Special Advisers to Krista Kiuru, Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services, starting on 1 July and 1 August respectively.
Of the current Special Advisers, Laura Lindeberg will be on maternity leave between 23 June and 31 December 2021 and on holiday between 1 and 31 January 2022, and Sampo Varjonen will be on paternity leave between 1 July and 31 December 2021.
Matti Hirvola, aged 46, will deputise for Special Adviser Sampo Varjonen. Hirvola will transfer to the post from Parliament where he has served as Special Assistant to Deputy Speaker Antti Rinne.
Prior to that, he worked as Special Adviser to the Prime Minister in political affairs and as Special Adviser to the Minister of Finance.
Hirvola holds the degrees of Master of Arts and Master of Social Sciences.Jenny Suominen, aged 41, will deputise for Special Adviser Laura Lindeberg.
Suominen will transfer to the post from her current position as the Social Democratic Party’s organisation manager.
Her previous positions include Executive Director of the Uusimaa District of the Social Democratic Party, Assistant to a Member of the European Parliament (committee work) and Assistant to a Member of Parliament of Finland. Suominen holds a Master’s degree in Social Sciences.
NordenBladet — The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has circulated for comments a Government proposal, which will create the legislative basis for a new digital service platform for employment services (TE Services). The new service platform would improve the matching of employees with jobs and make employment services more efficient.
The reform aims to create digital TE services that are customer-oriented and user-friendly. The new digital TE public services would replace the customer information system of TE Offices as well as the customer and expert services (TE online services) currently in use. The services for personal and business customers and experts, as well as the informational content of TE public services, would become available on the Job Market service platform. The aim is also to clarify and update the regulation on the processing of customer data in public employment and business services. The draft proposal can be commented on Lausuntopalvelut.fi until 20 August 2021.
A new online service to improve the matching of jobseekers with jobs
The Job Market platform utilises artificial intelligence to enable jobseekers and employers to find each other faster and better. Compared with the current TE online service, the new service would allow jobseekers to create and publish job search profiles. The draft proposal contains provisions on the processing of data on job search profiles and the retrieval of data on published job search profiles as well as reviews of the roles of operators involved in the processing of personal data. The draft proposal is included in the 2022 budget proposal and will be discussed alongside it. The laws are scheduled to enter into force on 2 May 2022.The test versions of the Job Market service platform are already in use.
NordenBladet — President of the Riigikogu Jüri Ratas said in his video address on the occasion of the Victory Day that Estonia’s persistence relied on our friends and allies, but started from our homes and our cooperation.
Ratas recalled that, once again, the time had come to fly our blue-black-and-white flag. “With each decorative national flag, we celebrate our freedom,” Ratas said. “In this way, we carry on the unity of our ancestors, under which they fought bravely for our independence. We also create certainty that we will be able to defend, uphold and take forward together the timeless value we have inherited, our own Estonia.”
Ratas emphasised that the free, steadfast and successful Estonia would last until we cared for each other day by day, we noticed, spoke to and helped each other, and did not fill our daily lives with indifference, shiftlessness and violence. He believes it is important to continue committed and purposeful work so that it would be better to live in Estonia, and not to take today or tomorrow for granted.
“During these holidays, this means time and again doing everything to make sure that no life in our country is in danger. We all should be able to consider the consequences of our actions. As well as to notice what others are doing,” the President of the Riigikogu underlined. Please, let us take care of ourselves, our close ones and others, so that the holidays would pass safely and the freedom of our Estonia lasted for ever! Happy Victory Day and happy midsummer!”
NordenBladet — The Estonian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is in Strasbourg, France, for the third part of the Assembly’s 2021 session.
The Head of the Estonian delegation Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski said that today’s sitting would focus on fighting the pandemic and defining the lessons learned, and would highlight the need to protect the fundamental rights in a changed situation. “Social inequality, psychological tension caused by the difficult situation, ensuring freedoms and rights – these are the key words of this event,” Jufereva-Skuratovski said.
The debate today will touch on the need for a more effective solidarity mechanism that would alleviate the migration pressure on the front line countries, and on the freedom of action and speech of incarcerated politicians in Catalonia and Turkey.
Tomorrow’s topics include media freedom and people’s right to information, socio-economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and its impact on the rights of children.
Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski will give a speech at a discussion on vaccine passports and protection of fundamental rights. “We need vaccine passports to restore life to normality, but our common goal is to reach a point where we could give these up,” she said.
The Wednesday meeting is dedicated to domestic violence against women to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Istanbul Convention. The head of the Estonian delegation is giving a speech during a discussion on opportunities to increase the participation of women from underrepresented groups in politics and public decision-making processes. Her speech to her colleagues emphasises that male politicians should act as equal partners to female politicians, and women should have the same political opportunities to participate and make decisions.
Members of the Estonian delegation to the PACE Eerik-Niiles Kross and Raivo Tamm will also take part in the event.
