NordenBladet — Today the Government supported the proposal made by the Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure Mr Taavi Aas to suspend air traffic between Estonia and the United Kingdom from midnight tonight until the end of this year in connection with information about the new strain of coronavirus spreading in the UK.
The restriction is established by the Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure.
As of December 20, due to the spread of the coronavirus and the discovery of a new strain, the United Kingdom has established additional restrictions. According to the information available to the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs, several countries, including Latvia, have already suspended, or are considering suspending the transport of air passengers with the United Kingdom. In addition, countries are considering additional isolation measures for passengers arriving from the United Kingdom.
“The Government agreed that it was necessary to take precautionary measures and temporarily suspend air traffic with the UK until the new year, along with other countries. The decision was made to protect the health of our people. The recommendation to avoid travelling abroad during the Christmas holidays and during the school breaks still applies – trips abroad should be postponed due to the continued high spread of coronavirus in other countries as well,” said Prime Minister Mr Jüri Ratas.
“The restriction on the transport of air passengers between Estonia and the United Kingdom is temporary and the government will review it as soon as we have more information about the new strain of coronavirus,” added the Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure Mr Taavi Aas.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications will provide more information about the restriction of air traffic.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is constantly monitoring the situation. If Estonian citizens encounter problems returning home, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requests contacting the consular assistance emergency phone +372 53 01 9999 (24 h).
NordenBladet — Today, on Sunday 20 December 2020, Finland repatriated six Finnish children and two adult mothers from north-east Syria. The persons are now in the care of competent Finnish authorities.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs organised the repatriation in cooperation with German authorities. In the same connection, Germany repatriated German children and their mothers.
Under section 22 of the Constitution of Finland, Finnish public authorities are obligated to safeguard the basic rights of the Finnish children interned in the camps insofar as this is possible. The basic rights of the children interned in the al-Hol camps can be safeguarded only by repatriating them to Finland.
The mothers of the children were repatriated together with the children. It is not possible to repatriate only the children. In all actions, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.
About fifteen Finnish children and less than ten mothers are still interned in the camps in north-east Syria. Altogether, more than six thousand foreign children and approximately three thousand foreign mothers, of whom approximately 600 children and 300 women are EU citizens, are still in the camps. About half of the children are younger than five years old. The camps in north-east Syria constitute a long-term security risk. The longer the children remain in the camps, without protection and education, the harder it will be to counter radical extremism.
A virtual press conference will be arranged on 20 December 2020 at 14.00 in the Government Press Room.More information: MFA/Current Affairs: Counsellor Pekka Shemeikka, p. 050 311 2361
NordenBladet – Today school’s winter holiday began. Ivanka Shoshana had a Christmas party at school (however, parents were not allowed to attend due to Covid-19 risk). That was sad, because Ivanka (12) goes to the newly renovated Tallinn Tondi School for the first year (the school for children with special needs) and parents can see their children’s studies and school events only virtually. So in the morning I hand my child over on the front door and in the early afternoon I go and collect my child from the front door again, this all due to the covid-related precautions. Another sad news is that Ivanka’s assistant teacher lately caught the virus and recently also a schoolchild tested positive.
Ivanka Shoshana has generally been all her life a very healthy child, just now and then a minor cold if anything. Hoping not to bring bad luck, but I trust that this will remain so. She strengthens her health regularly (takes icy showers), is athletic and washes her hands very carefully (even way too often). To my mind, autistic children are clever, and although communication is indeed not their selling point, they do well in googling stuff, at least I can say that about my daughter. The extent of her actual knowledge is difficult to measure, I cannot even assert how many languages she masters, she regularly listens to google translation for her phrases, she follows videos in different languages and routinely surfs the web. At least her English language is fluent (since that is one thing I am capable of evaluating), and most of the things she watches or looks up online are in English.
Actually, I just recently wondered that I would need to monitor her web conduct with a tracking device (I will download the ManicTime program to her laptop), so that I can keep an eye on the sites that she visits during the day. For example, meanwhile I noticed that she watches Family Guy cartoons, which I find to be very inappropriate for a minor’s eyes. The animated sit-com jokes, created by Seth MacFarlane for Fox Broadcasting Company, are steeped in social criticism and the parody is generally quite excellent, but for the younger generation it is too much, to put it mildly. The central theme is built around the Griffin family who lives in the fictional Quahog-named town in Rhode Island. Peter Griffin is an overweight father character who is fond of booze and is slightly mentally handicapped, and for example Stewie Griffin is the family’s youngest son, who is a speaking infant that now and then desires to kill his mother. I told Ivanka that she does not have my permission to continue watching that cartoon anymore, because it is violent and not proper for children, and it seems to me she does not watch it any longer, however I intend to monitor the situation. She sometimes comes to me and asks, when she grows up would that change things and would she then be allowed to watch, and I reply that indeed then she can but for the time being I suggest that she watches something more friendly, like for example the Moomins. Today we had a lengthy discussion about the Moomins. I said that it is not only children that watch the Moomins, the story is so great that even grown-ups love and watch it, that I also love to watch the Moomins, despite being a grown-up. She went on asking – do grandmothers also watch the Moomins? Does grandpa, too, watch the Moomins? Does aunt Sirli watch them as well? etc. That was so sweet. I replied that indeed everybody does 🙂 And then she, too, watched.
But there is one more cartoon that she likes – it is The Loud House! I would say it is quite The Loud House passion! She is a fully committed fan and oftentimes comes to me with her laptop and has a black-and-white video frozen at some stage and she would ask me to print the screen so she can color the picture (below there are some examples …these are a fraction of the pile that has been printed …enough material to create a home-made color book!). Yet this is not where it ends – today she came to me and announced that she would like Santa Claus to bring her the stuffed toys from The Loud House series: the characters Lisa, Luna and Lana. That’s how it is. Now can anybody please tell me where I might find those toys that soon? Haha …as far as I know the characters created for Chris Savino Nickelodeon are on sale only in America.
(blog continues after gallery)
Estella Elisheva spent three hours in the evening with the cell phone at her ear – giggled and talked with one of her best friends, classmate Rahel. It is so nice to hear how fluently she speaks good Russian. Estella Elisheva went to a Russian-speaking school the Tallinn Jewish School 8 years ago, able only to say “My name is Estella Elisheva”. I believe that
mastering many languages is the greatest gift I have made to my daughter by taking this decision. Since kindergarten I have taught her that three things matter in life, and she should go in for these, then I will never nag with her what her other grades are or what kind of grade list she brings home.
These three things that I have recommended for her are:
1. Learn languages,
2. Take good care of yourself, be athletic, fit, etc,
3. Go in for a favourite hobby (for her this has been music/the violin). To be able to make it to somewhere requires commitment and it will not be possible to excel in everything.
And now, to wrap it up, the final scene that remains is our today evening’s festive neck steak with saute onion. Honestly, for quite some time I have been fascinated by gourmet food! From the time I began to raise my awareness about healthy nutrition, food has become my priority. I enjoy preparing the food, I add a lot of love, I enjoy serving the food and oh do I enjoy the eating of a meal that has been prepared with the heart! Never again will I eat a meal standing up or rushing around like I used to do when I started my businesses. The beautiful ceramics tableware (handmade by me or my child, or specially ordered to be handmade), the lovely napkins, the pleasantly served and garnered food – this is a part of my day every day! I will not step an inch back from this standard, ever!
PS! It is so wonderful to have your own garden!!! How I love the countryside life!!! This year I froze berries in glass jars (to be even more nature-friendly and to avoid plastic). These are some sweet berry jars, so nice and heartwarming to open up in winter time!
NordenBladet — The Ministry of the Interior has appointed a working group to prepare cooperation between rescue services, the police and the Border Guard in the use of unmanned aircraft. The objective of the working group is to harmonise sector-specific instructions on unmanned aircraft and to intensify cooperation between authorities.
The working group will examine, for example, the possibilities of harmonising training related to unmanned aircraft and implementing the training partly in cooperation with the authorities. At the same time, the working group will explore how statistics can be compiled on the carrying out of official activities related to unmanned aviation by using consistent national methods. The establishment of the working group is linked to reforms under preparation in the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom. These reforms will update the national regulations concerning the authorities’ use of aviation to comply with European Union regulations. The aviation regulation, which will enter into force in 2021, includes new cooperation and operational obligations for the authorities.The working group now appointed is made up of representatives from the Ministry of the Interior’s Department for Rescue Services and Police Department, regional rescue departments, the Emergency Services Academy Finland, the Border Guard and the National Police Board. The term of the working group is from 1 January to 31 December 2021.
NordenBladet — The Riigikogu passed three Acts at the last regular sitting of its autumn session.
The purpose of the Act on Amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Forensic Examination Act (implementation of the Regulation on the mutual recognition of freezing orders and confiscation orders and the Regulation on the European Public Prosecutor’s Office) (261 SE), initiated by the Government, is to ensure cooperation between the European Union Member States in the mutual recognition of freezing and confiscation orders according to an EU Regulation that is applicable from 19 December 2020.
According to the Act, the Prosecutor’s Office will be the competent authority to handle and execute freezing orders, and the Harju County Court will have the competence to recognise the orders. The Ministry of Justice will have the competence to handle confiscation orders and courts will have the competence to recognise confiscation orders. The mutual recognition of freezing and confiscation orders is expected to become faster, as the above regulation provides for specific deadlines for the recognition and execution of the orders.
In addition, the Act will make an amendment in connection with the application of the EU Regulation providing for the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. The Act will provide the powers of the European Prosecutor and the European Delegated Prosecutor in criminal proceedings.
The Act amends the provisions that give the Prosecutor General a certain procedural competence. It also provides that in fulfilling their duties linked to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, the European Prosecutor and the European Delegated Prosecutor will enjoy the same rights as the Prosecutor’s Office under the Code of Criminal Procedure. It also specifies the competence of the Prosecutor’s Office in pre-trial procedure, the procedure for resolving appeals, and the signing of the work contract of the head of an expert agency.
91 members of the Riigikogu were in favour of passing the Act.
The Act on Amendments to the Natural Gas Act (256 SE), initiated by the Government, will transpose the EU directive concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas.
The amendments are related to the additional obligations of the Competition Authority with regard to the conduct of cross-border disputes and the regulation for the conclusion of agreements with third countries on the operation of transmission lines and upstream pipeline networks. It also specifies the starting of the negotiations between a third country and Estonia for the conclusion of agreements on the operation of transmission lines and upstream pipeline networks, concluding the contract, and receiving the relevant permission from the European Commission.
85 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act, one abstained.
The Act on Amendments to the Estonian Public Broadcasting Act (122 SE), initiated by the Reform Party, will extend the target group and the range of persons with hearing disabilities to whom the Estonian Public Broadcasting must ensure the availability of the original programmes offered by the television programme services to the best of their ability.
With the Act, the word “vaegkuuljatele” (“persons with hearing disabilities”) will be replaced with the words “kuulmispuudega inimestele” (“persons with hearing loss”) in the third sentence of clause 5 (1) 1) of the Estonian Public Broadcasting Act. The essential meaning of this sentence is that the original programmes of the Estonian Public Broadcasting must be made available to the maximum extent possible to people with hearing disabilities. Original programmes also include, among other things, public communications, speeches and welcoming addresses by heads of state that are intended for the whole society and are broadcast on national television, and which currently are not always interpreted into sign language.
85 members of the Riigikogu were in favour of passing the Act.
The Riigikogu passed a total of 59 legal acts during the 2020 autumn session.
After the sitting, Santa Claus came to the Riigikogu and gave his point of view of the activities of the members of the Riigikogu.
NordenBladet — For the first time, a comprehensive maritime spatial plan has been prepared for the Finnish marine area, compiled in an extensive cooperation process between various actors. The plan is a presentation with a map covering both territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone. It outlines, for example, significant and potential areas for underwater natural and cultural values, energy production, fishing, aquaculture, shipping and tourism. The aim is to reconcile the needs of different sectors and thus to improve the management of maritime industries and the state of the marine environment.
“Finland’s marine area has been searched through, and we have a tool in our hands to help reconcile different maritime interests. We now have a clearer picture, for instance, of the possibilities of increasing offshore wind power. Use of the sea must be based on a healthy sea and archipelago and on the preservation of unique natural values, as identified in the Maritime Spatial Plan. My warm thanks to those who have worked hard for the plan along the Finnish coast for years,” says Krista Mikkonen, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change.
The Maritime Spatial Plan provides information to serve in the background of more detailed regional plans, such as regional land use plans, and to support regional development work and permit procedures. The information can also be utilised by different sectors. The Maritime Spatial Plan is not included in the system of land use planning and has no legal effect. The plan is updated at least every ten years.
The plan is drawn up in collaboration by eight coastal regional councils. Regional authorities, various stakeholders and research institutes are also actively involved in the work.
Maritime spatial plans are drawn up in each EU Member State located by the sea. The aim of the Baltic Sea countries is that the plans can also coordinate projects and activities across maritime boundaries, secure ecological connections and improve the state of the marine environment.
Future strengths of the Finnish marine area
Northern Bothnian Sea, Kvarken and Bothnian Bay
The area is characterised by a coastline with post-glacial rebound, large rivers with inhabited estuaries, a partly shallow sea area and ice-covered winter conditions. The Bothnian Bay National Park and the Kvarken Archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will continue to attract the development of tourism and recreation.
The multisectoral industry based on shipping will continue to play a key role. Most coastal areas and the Kvarken Archipelago are important fishing areas. The Bothnian Bay is home to migratory fish in the Baltic Sea, and aquaculture areas are being developed with marine nature in mind.
The Vaasa-Umeå link creates the preconditions for developing activities in the Kvarken area. The Northern Bothnian Sea and the Bothnian Bay have potential areas for offshore wind power plants.
Archipelago Sea and Southern Bothnian SeaThe location of the Bothnian Sea in the transitional zone between southern and northern species, the Archipelago Sea Biosphere Site and the coastal rivers and estuaries form a unique entity, the preservation of which is supported by the Bothnian Sea and Archipelago Sea National Parks. The diverse cultural heritage and natural values are the attractions of the area.
The region is home to an internationally competitive concentration of ports and high-tech maritime industries. In the future, all industrial activities will focus on solutions that improve the state of the marine environment. The aim is to develop renewable energy production and, in particular, to increase offshore wind power. Fishing in the southern part of the Bothnian Sea and aquaculture based on new technology in the Archipelago Sea are viable livelihoods.
Gulf of Finland
In the Gulf of Finland, maritime activities are integrated while also fostering the good state of the marine environment. The marine area is heavily trafficked and has major international ports, which generate growth.Cities by the sea are a gateway for tourists to the archipelago, whose unique atmosphere also attracts new residents and actors. Sustainable recreation and tourism services are developed on the terms of local residents, nature and cultural values. Research cooperation linked with marine areas creates blue growth, i.e. innovation, product development and new jobs.
NordenBladet — The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health predicts that the first batch of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine arrive in Finland already over Christmas. Finland prepares to start vaccinations alongside other EU countries on 27 December if the marketing authorisation and deliveries are in order.
Vaccine deliveries can start only after the European Commission has granted the vaccine a marketing authorisation. The Commission grants marketing authorisations in the EU based on a scientific evaluation and a positive recommendation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The EMA is expected to give its recommendation on Monday 21 December. The Ministry does not yet know the size of the first batch of vaccines to arrive in Finland but expects it to be relatively small.
NordenBladet — Director General Esa Pulkkinen from the Defence Policy Department of the Ministry of Defence has been nominated as member of the Commission on the Irish Defence Forces.Minister for Defence and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ireland, Mr Simon Coveney has established an independent Commission, tasked to ensure that the Irish Defence Forces are fit for purpose and to develop a long-term vision for beyond 2030.
Ireland has invited national and international experts on defence and security policy to work on the Commission. Mr Aidan O’Driscoll, former Secretary General of the Department of Justice of Ireland, will chair the Commission.- It is naturally a great honour for me, as a Finn, to participate in the development of the Defence Forces in another EU member state. In my previous job as Director General of the EU Military Staff, I was from time to time in close contact with Ireland and the Irish Chief of Defence, says Director General Pulkkinen.
He will take part in the Commission’s work in addition to his permanent duties at the Ministry of Defence.
NordenBladet — Police traffic enforcement is of key importance to improving road safety and combating traffic crime. However, other broad-based, as well as targeted actions are also needed. An action programme for police traffic enforcement and traffic safety for 2021–2024, prepared by the Ministry of the Interior, was sent for comments on 18 December.
“The programme’s objectives are to reduce traffic deaths and serious injuries, and to combat the grey economy in commercial transport. It also aims to enhance the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of traffic crime. Maintaining traffic safety is naturally another key objective of the programme”, says Chief Superintendent Jari Pajunen.
The programme emphasises, among other things, cooperation, communication, and preventive measuresThe action programme emphasises effectiveness, cooperation, skills, communication, fact-based management, and preventive action. As the organisation in charge of police operations, the National Police Board of Finland will implement the objectives of the action programme.
The Ministry of Transport and Communication is currently preparing a national traffic safety strategy. The action programme for the police will be updated on the basis of the conclusions of this strategy if necessary.
Police improve road safety together with stakeholders and citizens
Police cooperation and information sharing with other road safety authorities, organisations and municipalities is essential. Cooperation is local, regional, national, and international and it aims to improve traffic safety.It is also important that citizens want to cooperate with the police to promote road safety. The effectiveness of policing is largely based on the assistance and cooperation of citizens, and their support for police work.
Reductions in road deaths falling short of targets in recent yearsRoad safety has improved over the long term, but the targets for the reduction of traffic deaths have not been achieved in recent years. According to preliminary information from Statistics Finland, 210 people died and 4,994 were injured in road traffic in 2019. According to preliminary data, 196 people died on the roads during the January–November period this year.
NordenBladet — The Government and central labour market organisations have negotiated joint equal pay measures for the period 2020–2023. The Equal Pay Programme aims to reduce the average pay gap between women and men. The aims would be achieved through agreement and pay policies, development of pay systems, harmonising work and family life, and reducing gender segregation in working life.
The new Equal Pay Programme includes a number of practical actions to strengthen pay equality in the coming years. The parties to the Programme are committed to, among other things, updating the gender impact assessment recommendation, examining the effects of employment and collective agreements on pay differences, increasing pay awareness, guiding gender equality planning in workplaces, examining pay systems based on job competence from the perspective of equal pay and promoting the use of parental leave by fathers.
In addition, business and industry organisations, education authorities and providers of education will carry out a joint project to end gender segregation in working life.
Minister Thomas Blomqvist welcomes the Equal Pay Programme: “The Tripartite Equal Pay Programme is a concrete joint commitment to promoting equal pay. The average pay gap between women and men is still 16% and that has to change. The Programme includes many steps to advance equal pay and, when we combine them with the Government’s own measures, I am optimistic the pay gap can be reduced.”
According to the labour organisations representing employees, “promotion of equal pay must take place in the workplace, in the unions and central labour organisations as well as in society as a whole. Important ways to reduce the pay gap include pay transparency, uniform criteria for assessing the requirements of work and a more equal allocation of family leave among parents. It is important to take swift action now.”
The labour organisations representing employers also welcome the new Equal Pay Programme.
“The average pay gap between women and men is about the difference in the average earnings of men and women at the level of society – not about employers paying different salaries to women and men doing the same work. We are therefore very pleased that the Equal Pay Programme includes a broad-based project to eradicate gender segregation in the labour market. The project aims to address the division of sectors, professions and tasks into women’s and men’s work, and thereby reduce the average gender pay gap in a sustainable manner.
”In addition to the Equal Pay Programme, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health will also advance other measures under the Government Programme to strengthen pay equality. These include, among other things, large research projects that develop a method for comparing pay for work with equal value and assess the gender impact of collective agreements. Central labour market organisations also have their own measures to promote equal pay.
Equal Pay Programme 2020–2023
The Equal Pay Programme brings together the joint measures of the Government and central labour market organisations to promote equality in pay. The parties to the Programme include central labour market organisations, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, and the Ministry of Education and Culture. Equal Pay Programmes have been implemented since 2006.
