NordenBladet — The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has opened a call for applications to select Finland’s candidates for the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs). The EDIHs will support businesses and the public sector in the utilisation and deployment of digital solutions. Applications will be accepted until 15 January 2021.
The call for applications is open to organisations and groups that can provide and supply services to support the digital renewal of business. Only non-profit organisations can apply.
In the next phase, a limited call for applications for nationally selected candidates will be organised by the Commission. According to a preliminary schedule, the European call for applications will be held from the end of January until the end of April. The final selection of the EDIHS will be made by the European Commission. The Commission has proposed that 2–4 EDIHs be set up in Finland.Innovation hubs to form an EU-wide networkThe EDIHs are part of the EU’s new Digital Europe Programme and will become service centres for promoting digital investments.
They aim to make new technologies more widely and rapidly available to companies and the public sector. It is the EU’s objective to build the EDIH network based on existing actors. The network will offer customer-oriented services and support a sustainable digital renewal of the economy. The Digital Europe Programme has provisionally allocated approximately EUR 14.8 million to funding the Finnish hubs in 2021–2027. A corresponding amount of funding must come from the Member State, for example the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), companies or hubs. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will continue preparations for the national funding and support of hubs as part of the Artificial Intelligence 4.0 programme.
NordenBladet — The EU ministers responsible for competitiveness will discuss the future of European industrial policy at an informal video meeting on 19 November 2020. The three key themes of reform are digitalisation, carbon reduction and capacity to change.
Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä will represent Finland at the meeting.Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä will attend a video conference of EU competitiveness ministers responsible for the internal market and industrial policy on 19 November 2020. The meeting will discuss how the economic recovery can be used to reform industry. The aim is to strengthen cooperation at European level, promote the green transition for the reform of industry and improve the competitiveness of businesses at the same time.
NordenBladet —NEAFC is the intergovernmental organisation responsible for fisheries management in international waters in the North-East Atlantic. Its Contracting Parties are Denmark (in respect of the Faroe Islands and Greenland), the European Union, Iceland, Norway, the Russian Federation and the United Kingdom.
In opening the meeting, the President Mr Jacques Verborgh, welcomed the United Kingdom as NEAFC’s newest Contracting Party, having acceded to the Convention on 7th October 2020. The President noted that NEAFC regulated fisheries had continued throughout the pandemic period at fairly normal levels of activity and catch. Furthermore, the organisation had been able to maintain its normal business and also its monitoring surveillance and control activities by virtual means where necessary.
At the Annual Meeting, NEAFC adopted conservation and management measures for the year 2021 for a number of fish stocks on the basis of the latest scientific advice provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). These stocks include blue whiting, herring, redfish in the Irminger Sea, Rockall haddock, blue ling and certain grenadiers.
Measures on mackerel will await the conclusion of coastal States consultations continuing later this month. While the focus for the management measures is related to the economic, social and environmental objectives of these fisheries, NEAFC also took a fishery measure focused solely on conservation by extending the current prohibition of fisheries directed at spurdog (picked dogfish). NEAFC also received further scientific advice from ICES to help it consider how to enhance protection of deep sea sharks, rays and chimaeras.
The protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems, such as deep-sea corals and sponges, continues to be an important issue for NEAFC. NEAFC has for many years closed bottom fisheries in all areas where VMEs are known to occur or likely to occur according to scientific advice. This year’s ICES advice did not require any extension of such areas but NEAFC amended its regulations to make clear the vast majority of the Regulatory Area was in fact restricted if not closed to bottom fisheries. In addition, NEAFC has since last year put in place improvements to its monitoring control and surveillance to identify any suspicious activity by fishing vessels in the High Seas areas.
NEAFC agreed further elements of its Electronic Reporting System to enhance monitoring, control and enforcement. This is a system based on the UN/CEFACT FLUX standard for sustainable fisheries management that has now started to be implemented in 2020 by some Contracting Parties, and the agreements this year will help all the Contracting Parties to ultimately reach the same level of implementation.
NEAFC’s cooperation with other international organisations was highlighted at the Annual Meeting, this continued despite a reliance on virtual engagement rather than attendance at physical meetings. NEAFC has also enhanced the access of observers to its future meetings through amendments to the relevant rules of procedure.
Cooperating non-Contracting Party status for the Bahamas, Canada and New Zealand was renewed for the year 2021. These States will cooperate with NEAFC and, in some cases, deploy vessels for transhipment operations in the NEAFC Convention Area.
The meeting concluded with welcoming its new President for 2021 onwards, Janet Nørregaard (from Denmark in respect of the Faroe Islands and Greenland). It also thanked Jacques Verborgh for his excellent work as the President of NEAFC over the last 4 years as well as a long and active involvement in the organisation over more than 20 years, helping establish the Secretariat and leading in particular the work on computerisation of the Scheme of Control and Enforcement.
NordenBladet — Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä will meet Indonesia’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif on 18 November 2020 as part of a virtual Team Finland visit. The main themes of the meeting will be energy and Indonesia’s new intelligent energy projects.
The aim of the ministerial meeting is to improve the operating conditions of Finnish companies in the Indonesian energy markets and to promote business partnerships between Finland and Indonesia. Indonesia’s growing economy offers a wide range of opportunities for Finnish companies in the Southeast Asia region. In particular, the expertise of Finnish companies in renewable energy, electrification of society, bioeconomy and circular economy can be utilised for Indonesia’s economic development.
“I welcome the good relations between Finland and Indonesia. The energy sector in particular has played an important role and I hope that cooperation in the sector will become even closer in the future, for example within energy solutions promoting the circular economy,” says Minister Mika Lintilä.
As a large and growing economy, Indonesia is a potential partner for Finnish businesses. Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä visited Indonesia in 2017 with a Team Finland business delegation. During the visit, Lintilä met Deputy Minister Arcandra Tahar of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.The International Renewable Energy Agency IRENA estimates that the demand for energy in Indonesia could increase by one quarter and the demand for electricity could triple between 2015 and 2030. Although the country’s dependence on domestic coal and imported oil products has grown, it is also increasingly using renewable energy sources. Indonesia aims to increase the share of renewable energy to 23% of energy consumption by 2025 and to 31% by 2050.
Clean energy and waste recovery among topics of Finnish-Indonesian business seminarAfter the ministerial meeting, Business Finland will organise a virtual energy sector seminar (“Smart Energy, Waste to Energy and Waste to Value”) on 24 November 2020. Nine Finnish companies together with representatives of the Indonesian public and private sectors will participate in the seminar. Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä will present a video greeting at the beginning of event.Team Finland is a network of public sector actors providing internationalisation services to Finnish companies.
NordenBladet — A parliamentary steering group has approved a draft for the 12-year national transport system plan to be sent out for consultation. It has been published in the Gateway to Information on Government Projects.
The next step is to assess the impacts of the draft plan. The plan and the results of its impact assessment will be sent out for consultation in January 2021.The national transport system plan has been prepared at parliamentary level and in close interaction with stakeholders since June 2019.
The national transport system plan aims to add a longer-term perspective to the development of the transport system across Finland. The plan is approved for 12 years at a time.
Minister Harakka: Long-term perspective to the transport system development across Finland
“Our aim has been to improve efficiency, accessibility and sustainability throughout the country. Both businesses and citizens can better anticipate the provision of transport services. With better planning we can make full use of the EU funding,” says Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakka.
“The draft plan that was now published pays even more attention than before on the condition of our transport network, which will result in a reduction of the repair debt. Development needs are being identified throughout the country and I will respond to them when the plan is being implemented, says Minister Harakka.
The draft plan includes substantial measures to develop travel chains and public transport services, among other things. In addition, the transport system will be improved by investing heavily in the utilisation of information and digitalisation. The draft plan also contains guidelines on how transport issues will be dealt with in future agreements between the state and urban regions, for example.
Economic framework outlined – EUR 500 million annually for the development of the transport infrastructure network
The previous draft version of the transport system plan was published in September 2020. After that, the parliamentary steering group has outlined the economic framework from 2025 onwards.
Until 2024, the annual funding levels would be in line with the General Government Fiscal Plan.
According to the draft plan, the funding for basic transport infrastructure maintenance would be increased to EUR 1.4 billion a year starting from 2025.The funding for the development investments would be around EUR 500 million a year. According to the draft plan, the central government would allocate approximately EUR 6.1 billion to the development of the transport infrastructure network during the first 12-year planning period from 2021 to 2032, of which some EUR 3.35 billion would be available for new development projects. The development funding would be divided so that 44% be allocated for roads, 52% for the rail network and 4% for waterways.
In the preparation of the draft plan, the needs for the development of the transport network, including the state network, have been compiled in a strategic situational picture of the transport network. The national transport system plan defines how the transport network will be developed and the funding allocated.Parliament will ultimately decide on the state funding in connection with the annual budgets.
Next steps
The impacts of the draft plan will be assessed in November-December 2020.The draft plan and the results of its impact assessment will be sent out for consultation in January 2021. The comments will be taken into account when the plan is finalised.The Government will submit the first national transport system plan as a report to Parliament in spring 2021.
Based on the national transport system plan and the strategic situational picture of the transport network, the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency will draw up an investment programme for the state transport infrastructure networks for the next 6-8 years. The investment programme to be drawn up for the first time in 2021 is a knowledge-based view of how the development projects of the transport infrastructure network will be implemented. It will be used in the preparation of budget proposals.
NordenBladet —Today, the Government decided to extend the nationwide restriction on the night-time sale of alcohol until 26 January 2021 (incl.).
The restriction means that from 00:00 until 10:00, alcohol sales are prohibited in all locations that sell alcohol for on-site consumption, such as restaurants, bars, nightclubs.
The restriction on the sale of alcohol is not applicable aboard aircraft used for international passenger transport, in the security area of an international airport, and in a point of sale located after the check-in gates at the waiting area of an international port’s travel terminal. The restriction is also not applicable to using minibars and during breakfast for guests staying the night at accommodation establishments.
The further restrictions are necessary since the spread of the coronavirus is of an epidemic nature in Estonia, and one could get infected anywhere. According to Health Board data from 17 November, 186 people tested positive for the coronavirus over a 24 hour period, and the infection rate per 100,000 inhabitants over the past 14 days is 218. For comparison, the same indicator was 43 on 14 October, 22.8 on 12 September, and 4 on 1 August.
In establishing the national restriction on the sale of alcohol, the Government is guided by the supporting position of both the Health Board and the scientific advisory board which consults the Government.
Pursuant to the Alcohol Act, owners of mass media are required to immediately publish the content of the order. The Government Communication Unit will send an official notification concerning this.
The order will also be published in the State Gazette and on the kriis.ee website.
NordenBladet — The Riigikogu approved its agenda for this working week, which includes 13 items.
No deliberation of Bills or replies to interpellations have been scheduled for Monday’s sitting.
At Tuesday’s sitting, six Bills will be at the second reading. They are the following: the Bill on the Ratification of the Agreement on the Amendment and Termination of the Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden and the Government of the Republic of Estonia on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments (240 SE); the Bill on the Ratification of the Agreement for the Termination of Bilateral Investment Treaties between the Member States of the European Union (218 SE); the Bill on Amendments to the State Pension Insurance Act (253 SE); the Bill on Amendments to § 28 the Citizenship Act (217 SE); the Bill on Amendments to the Organic Farming Act and the Plant Propagation and Plant Variety Rights Act (260 SE); and the Bill on Amendments to the Feed Act (225 SE).
Three Bills will be at the first reading. They are the following: the Bill on Amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Other Acts (257 SE); the Bill on Amendments to the Local Government Financial Management Act (282 SE); and the Bill on Amendments to the Social Tax Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Act (244 SE).
At the sitting on Wednesday, three Bills will be at the second reading. They are the following: the State Budget for 2021 Bill (254 SE); the Bill on Amendments to the Tourism Act and the Consumer Protection Act (234 SE); and the Bill on Amendments to the Government of the Republic Act and Other Acts (merger of the Civil Aviation Administration, the Road Administration and the Maritime Administration) (236 SE).
At Thursday’s sitting, the matter of significant national importance “New generation of teachers and valuing of teacher’s profession as a mainstay of the sustainability of the state of Estonia” will be deliberated. Aadu Must, Chairman of the Cultural Affairs Committee; Madis Somelar, Chairman of the Board of the Estonian History and Civics Teachers Association, coordinator of the network of subject teachers, and teacher, class teacher and Director of Studies at Tallinn Secondary School of Science; Professor Margus Pedaste, Head of Pedagogicum at the University of Tartu; and Mailis Reps, Minister of Education and Research, will make reports.
The new Minister of the Environment Rain Epler took his oath of office before the Riigikogu.
During the open microphone, Jaak Juske,Kalle Grünthal and Peeter Ernits took the floor.
NordenBladet — Minister Mika Lintilä will conduct a virtual Team Finland visit to Mexico, starting 17 November 2020. The visit will start with Lintilä meeting Luz Maria de la Mora Sánchez, Mexico’s Undersecretary for Foreign Trade. The purpose of the visit is to strengthen commercial relations and innovation cooperation, especially within digitalisation, circular economy and sustainable solutions.
Mexico is a politically and economically important partner for Finland in Latin America. During his virtual visit to Mexico, Lintilä will discuss with de la Mora Sánchez the continuing development of the countries’ trade relations and promising new areas of cooperation. Finland has a lot to offer in the areas where Mexico now invests, including digitalisation, flexible and intelligent electricity networks and bioenergy, which offer natural opportunities for cooperation. “The coronavirus pandemic has revealed the need for digital solutions around the world and has placed such expertise at the heart of business competitiveness. As a pioneer in digitalisation, Finland wants to support the digital transition in Mexico, which would benefit both the public and private sectors,” Minister Lintilä says.
In addition to the meeting between Lintilä and de la Mora Sánchez, the visit will also include other high-level meetings with Mexican authorities as well as company events.
Future cooperation on sustainable development and circular economy
Mexico was the largest destination for Finnish exports in Latin America in 2019. The exports mainly consist of paper and paperboard products, specialised machinery as well as machinery and equipment. More than 40 Finnish companies operate in Mexico, employing more than 16,000 people. In the future, themes such as sustainable development and the circular economy may become an increasingly important area of cooperation between Finland and Mexico.
Team Finland is a network of public sector actors providing internationalisation services to Finnish companies.
NordenBladet — Minister Skinnari will visit Oslo on 17–19 November 2020. Finland and Norway have strong and versatile bilateral relations. Both countries have a common will to further deepen their mutual cooperation. During his visit to Oslo, Minister Skinnari will particularly focus on the commercial and economic relations between the countries and topical regional and international issues.
Minister Skinnari will meet Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ine Eriksen Søreide, Minister of International Development Dag Inge Ulstein, Minister of Trade and Industry Iselin Nybø, Minister of Petroleum and Energy Tina Bru and Minister of Fisheries and Seafood Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen. He will also meet representatives of the Norwegian business sector and Finnish companies operating in Norway. Minister Skinnari will discuss with his Norwegian colleagues topics such as opportunities for cooperation in the areas of the green transition, digitalisation and logistics as well as topical issues relating to trade policy, development policy and Arctic policy.
“The green transition provides significant opportunities for expanding cooperation between Finland and Norway. In uncertain times, the importance of both unrestricted trade and development cooperation is highlighted. With this in mind, it is important to meet my Norwegian colleagues and to seek common solutions to improving the sustainability of societies”, says Minister Skinnari.
NordenBladet — The ministers responsible for Sámi affairs and the presidents of the Sámi Parliaments will meet via remote connections on 18 November 2020. Finland’s Minister of Justice Anna-Maja Henriksson will chair the meeting.At their meeting, the ministers and the presidents of the Sámi Parliaments of Finland, Sweden and Norway will discuss, among other things, the current status of the Nordic Sámi Convention, the establishment of a Nordic resource centre for Sámi languages, Sámi Giellagáldu, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Sámi population.
– I attach great importance to cooperation between the ministers responsible for Sámi affairs and the Sámi Parliaments of all three countries. As the Sámi people live in the territory of several countries, cooperation is very much needed, says Minister of Justice Anna-Maja Henriksson.
Sámi language prize Gollegiella to be awarded in connection with the meeting
The Nordic Sámi language prize Gollegiella will be awarded in connection with the meeting. The prize is awarded every two years to private individuals, communities or organisations in Norway, Sweden, Finland or Russia for the promotion of the Sámi languages. The prize amounts to EUR 15,000.
