NordenBladet — During the past two years the Sustainable City programme, coordinated by the Ministry of the Environment, has proven an important instrument in creating cooperation and boosting practical changes towards sustainability. Now an interim evaluation has been conducted to help develop the programme, that will run until 2023, so that it will serve the needs of towns and cities of different sizes even better. In future stronger focus will be placed on impact and communication.According to the evaluation, conducted by Owal Group, the programme has adopted a broad perspective on sustainability and succeeded in developing the operations both in leading the cities and on the practical level. The programme has responded to the needs and achieved a great deal relative to the resources available. Especially the motivating attitude to the work has been praised. The programme has enhanced awareness of what sustainable urban development means in practice, boosted the development, and created concrete cooperation both among the towns and cities and between them and the state.The evaluation considers that the programme brings different municipal sectors together in a way that is smooth and natural. Cooperation and interaction have a key role in disseminating sustainability thinking. The programme has developed new solutions, networks and expertise and successfully activated municipalities, starting from their own needs. Building cooperation is important because in municipalities the sustainability themes are not the responsibility of individual sectors. Sustainability is often considered from the technical or environmental perspective, in which case attention is mainly drawn to ecological sustainability. Many of the stakeholders consider is praiseworthy that in the Sustainable City programme there is a strong focus on social sustainability as well.“We will continue with the broad perspective and focus on achieving permanent impacts in cooperation between the state and cities,” Director Virve Hokkanen says. “Reaching the sustainability targets may sometimes be difficult to measure, but the evaluation supports the view that the best results can be achieved through broad-based and multi-sectoral cooperation.” According to the evaluation, more attention should be paid to the economic benefits that will also be gained by developing sustainability. In future the different needs for support in municipalities of different sizes should also be recognised better. People’s awareness of the programme and communication on it should be enhanced to help disseminate and consolidate the results that have been achieved.The aim of the interim evaluation of the Sustainable City programme was to produce information on the achievements and impact in the first two years and support the targeting of activities during the remaining term. Besides literary materials, the evaluation was based on expert interviews and workshops to hear the views of the key developers and stakeholders. Sustainable City programmeThe five-year Sustainable City programme (2019–2023) boosts sustainable urban development in cooperation between different ministries, municipalities and other stakeholders. So far about 80 municipalities and 50 other organisations have participated in the programme. The key themes in the work are carbon reduction, smart solutions, health considerations and social sustainability, and solutions are sought especially to questions that cut across these themes.The work under the programme includes solving cities’ shared sustainability challenges, developing new solutions through practical pilots and development projects, replicating good practices and sharing experiences at an international scale. During the first two years information packages were produced on leading sustainability and for work on sustainability in municipalities, and solutions were tested through which the environment can support sustainability. EUR 4.4 million in state funding has been allocated for the programme, and the total budget that includes contributions from other sources is about EUR 6 million.Sustainable City programme website

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Climate change is projected to increase health risks all across the world and especially in developing countries. Climate change may affect the functioning and operational reliability of healthcare also in Finland. Risk prevention requires healthcare and social welfare to prepare for and adapt to changes in a timely fashion. The newly completed Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the healthcare and social welfare sector, extending until 2031, may be used as an asset in these efforts.Although the effects of climate change extend over a long time horizon, they are already visible to a certain extent. Consequently, alongside curbing emissions it is vital also that adaptation measures be launched now rather than later. Well placed in terms of both climate and economy, Finland as a developed society is fully capable of accomplishing this. Systematic adaptation nonetheless calls for an adequate knowledge base. The new Adaptation Plan provides a foundation for initiating systematic adaptation, increasing risk awareness and safeguarding the functioning of healthcare and social welfare also in the future.Adaptation Plan provides examples of adaptation measuresAdaptation measures must be sufficiently proactive and take into account also rapidly developing changes with regard to e.g. extreme weather conditions. In Finland, the effects of climate change vary regionally, which is why the regional and local perspective must be taken into account in adaptation measures.The Adaptation Plan contains 42 objectives and 92 related recommendations for measures. The objectives concern topics including a heatwave warning system, various guidelines and action plans, examination of the effects of climate change and adaptation measures, and intersectoral action. Education and training and communications are also catered for.The focus in the Adaptation Plan is on health protection and the adaptation of healthcare in the administrative branch of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The Adaptation Plan seeks to assess the current state of adaptation in Finland and the structures supporting it and to identify existing and new adaptation measures in the health and wellbeing sector.Designed to serve as a practical tool, the Adaptation Plan will add to the volume of guidelines relating to climate change in the healthcare and social welfare sector. The Adaptation Plan was prepared by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in cooperation with the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare THL and the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health TTL.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will participate in the virtually held World Village Festival on 29–30 May. The theme of the event – future – is prominently featured in the programmes produced by the Ministry. Changemaker representatives will challenge the Ministers to talk about climate change, matters concerning the use of internet and the opportunities for young people to influence in a global context.On Saturday, at 13–13.30, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto and Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will meet members of youth network Changemaker. The event can be followed online.The Ministers will be interviewed on the topic ‘Future world?’ by Joanna Slama and Iida Silfverhuth from the Changemaker network, which is part of Finn Church Aid.They will challenge the Ministers to talk about climate change, matters concerning the use of internet and the opportunities for young people to influence in a global context. What can Finland do to make sure young people get their voices heard?Nature’s loss of species – What can Finland do?

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — At the end of April, a total of 318,400 unemployed jobseekers were registered at the Employment and Economic Development Offices and municipalities participating in the local government pilots on employment. This is 114,600 less than a year earlier, but 88,800 more than in April two years ago. The number of unemployed jobseekers decreased by 13,100 from the previous month. Of the unemployed jobseekers, 158,600 were customers of municipalities participating in the local government pilots on employment. The number of unemployed jobseekers also includes those fully laid off. These figures are from the Employment Bulletin of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.At the end of April, the number of people laid off was 70,200 in the whole country, which was 113,800 fewer than at the same time the year before. The number of people fully laid off totalled 53,900, representing a decrease of 109,800 from April the year before. The number of people fully laid off decreased by 8,800 from March.The number of long-term unemployed — that is those who had been unemployed without interruption for at least a year — amounted to 109,700, up 42,300 on the previous year. The number of unemployed jobseekers over 50 years of age was 116,200, or 25,400 less than at the same time a year earlier.Unemployed jobseekers under 25 years of age numbered 38,600, representing a decrease of 17,700 from April last year. Among unemployed young people, the period of unemployment ended within three months on average in 56.1% of cases between January and April, which is 8.2 percentage points less than the year before.Increase in new vacanciesThe number of new vacancies reported during April totalled 76,100, or 26,000 more than in April the previous year. In all, the number of unfilled vacancies in April amounted to 152,900, which is 39,600 more than a year ago.At the end of April, the number of persons covered by services included in the activation rate amounted to 117,000, up 6,000 on the previous year. These services include pay subsidies, labour market training, work trials and self-motivated studies.Statistics Finland: Unemployment rate 9.0%

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — On 24 May, the Ministry of the Interior set up a project to carry out a study on a legislative amendment that would enable the granting of a temporary residence permit and an alien’s passport for a limited period to asylum seekers who have received a negative decision but who have found work. The purpose of the amendment would be to allow a person to travel to obtain a travel document from the authorities of their own country. In addition, the project will explore possible solutions to the situation of people who have resided in Finland for a long time without a right of stay.The project is based on the Action Plan for the Prevention of Irregular Entry and Stay published earlier in May. In line with the Government Programme, the Action Plan was updated for the period 2021–2024. The Action Plan includes a total of 52 actions, 10 of which focus on those without a right of stay in the country.“Two of the actions will be implemented through the studies that will now be conducted. This is one part of a broad package aimed at preventing social exclusion and the emergence of a parallel society,” says Jutta Gras, Senior Ministerial Adviser.An alien’s passport would help to obtain a national passport for a work-based permitIn the Government Programme, the Government undertakes to further develop legislation and practices to provide more flexible opportunities to secure a residence permit based on employment for those whose applications have been refused but who have found work. This means that a person who is integrated and has found work in Finland could obtain a residence permit for an employed person more flexibly, even though he or she has not been considered to be in need of protection. “The basic requirement for obtaining a residence permit is that a person can prove his or her identity with a reliable travel document. In some cases, an obstacle to obtaining a work-based permit has been that the applicant has not been able to present a valid travel document. It may be difficult to obtain a document if the person’s home country does not have a diplomatic or consular mission in Finland,” says Kukka Krüger, Chief Specialist.The project to be launched will examine whether a temporary residence permit and an alien’s passport could be obtained in such a case, provided that all other conditions for a residence permit are met. In this case, a person could continue to work in Finland with a residence permit for an employed person and, with an alien’s passport, to travel to obtain a national passport of his or her own country.Complementary solutions aim to reduce risks posed to society and to those without a right of stay in the countryAnother study to be carried out in the project concerns possible solutions to the situation of people who have been in Finland for a long time without a right of stay.The starting point is that a person without a right of stay in Finland leaves the country, primarily on a voluntary basis. In line with the Government Programme, the system of assisted voluntary return will be developed. In addition, Finland promotes cooperation in forced return and, more broadly, in return and migration matters with key countries. The work is carried out with the support of the EU and in cooperation with other EU Member States.Cooperation with the countries of origin of those to be returned does not always work as desired. Therefore, complementary solutions are also needed for the situation of those who have been in the country for a long time without a right of stay.“The aim now is to determine the conditions under which it would be justified to legalise the stay of these persons in Finland and to explore how this would be done. We will seek possible solutions from other EU countries and, above all, from the Nordic countries,” says Jutta Gras.The goal of the development of returns and complementary solutions is to reduce the risks that living without a right of stay poses to individuals themselves and to society.Further measures will be decided after completion of the studiesThe Migration Department of the Ministry of the Interior is preparing the project in close cooperation with the Police Department, the Finnish Immigration Service and the National Police Board. In addition, other key authorities, experts and relevant parties, such as NGOs, will be consulted in the project.The project will take into account the recommendations of a study, carried out as part of the Government’s analysis, assessment and research activities, which deals with the possibility of granting a residence permit to persons without a residence permit on grounds other than international protection and proposes that the conditions for issuing an alien’s passport be reviewed. A study completed in February 2021 examined the combined effects of the amendments made to the Aliens Act and the practices of applying the Act with regard to the status of those requesting and receiving international protection.In addition, the project will make use of the comparative study carried out by the European Migration Network on the challenges and practices of the EU Member States concerning those without a right of stay in the country. The study is scheduled to be completed in summer 2021.
The studies to be conducted in the project will be finished in autumn 2021. Further preparation will be decided on the basis of these studies. The project will continue until the end of 2022.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The Ministry of the Interior has submitted the draft equality and non-discrimination action plan for rescue services for statements. The aim of the action plan is rescue services that actively and systematically promote equality in the long term. The draft action plan will be out for comments from 24 May to 30 June 2021.The draft action plan includes a description of the current state of equality and non-discrimination in rescue services and defines objectives for promoting them. In addition, the draft action plan includes a glossary of equality and non-discrimination work.Prime Minister Marin’s Government Programme includes extensive commitments to promoting action to increase equality. Promoting equality and non-discrimination is also part of the strategy of rescue services.Diversity in rescue services would be seen as better customer serviceThe survey of the current state conducted during the preparation of the action plan strengthened the prior view that rescue services are a sector strongly segregated by sex. Women account for only 13% of full-time, full-pay personnel. Approximately one in three emergency care workers are women. Moreover, there are very few people of an immigrant background working in rescue services.Rescue education is currently only provided in Finnish, which makes it more difficult to ensure the provision of services in both national languages. More attention should also be paid to the availability of services in Sámi. Education in the sector should also pay attention to rescuing disabled and handicapped people and taking them into consideration in safety-related communications.“Rescue services should be representative of the entire population. The diversity of the sector plays an increasingly major role in preventing inequality and increasing the sense of safety in all population groups. Rescue services currently enjoy very strong trust, but we must continuously work for it,” says Kimmo Kohvakka, Director General for Rescue Services.Diversity in rescue services personnel would be seen as better customer service. The diversity of rescue services personnel will also maintain the appeal of the field. When rescue services are representative of the population to which they provide services, there is also understanding of the needs of the different population groups among the personnel. The state of equality and non-discrimination in rescue services is taken seriouslyThe survey of the current state also indicated that harassment is common in the field: men are harassed by customers and women by colleagues. Furthermore, it was noticed that the statutory obligations regarding plans, quotas and intervening in harassment are incompletely fulfilled in the field. The field also needs to increase expertise in non-discrimination and equality, both within organisations and at the national level.“The shortcomings and issues that emerged in the survey of the current state are alarming, and we are taking them seriously. As a central safety and security authority, rescue services must ensure that the principles of equality and non-discrimination are realised in our operations with regard to both personnel and service provision. The action plan submitted for statements will not fix the situation on its own; the sector must also actively and systematically promote measures to correct the situation,” Kohvakka emphasises.In surveying the current state, the working group carried out questionnaires and investigations to obtain as comprehensive a view as possible of the realisation of equality in rescue services. Accounts were requested from Statistics Finland, Non-Discrimination Ombudsman, divisions of occupational safety and health of regional state administrative agency and the Emergency Services Academy Finland.Questionnaires regarding the current state of equality and non-discrimination were conducted in both rescue services organisations and contractual fire brigades. In addition, the working group asked organisations representing population groups exposed to the risk of discrimination in a separate questionnaire how rescue services are seen from the point of view of the said population groups. Aiming for rescue services that actively promote equality and non-discriminationThe draft action plan specifies joint goals, responsibilities and measures for rescue services to promote equality and non-discrimination. The aim is rescue services that actively and systematically promote equality in the long term.The long-term objectives of rescue services with regard to promoting equality and non-discrimination would be strengthening leadership and expertise;ensuring equality and non-discrimination planning and rescue services free from harassment and discrimination;developing the working conditions, remuneration and benefits to be more equal and non-discriminating;encouraging people with different backgrounds into the sector and increasing diversity among employees;safe growth of minors in youth fire brigade work; and communications that take the points of view of equality and non-discrimination into consideration.“Equality and non-discrimination apply to all rescue services parties, and therefore they should also be promoted among all of the parties involved in the field. We are hoping to receive comprehensive statements from both within the sector and from the different population groups to which we provide services. Only this way can we get the best possible action plan for the field,” Kohvakka says.The draft action plan submitted for statements would apply to the state’s rescue services operators, rescue departments, associations and contractual fire brigades. The rescue services equality and non-discrimination working group would be responsible for the implementation and follow-up of the action plan. The working group includes representatives of regional state administrative agency, rescue departments, Emergency Services Academy Finland, Helsinki Rescue School, Suomen Pelastusalan ammattilaiset (association of Finnish rescue services professionals), Suomen Palopäällystöliitto (association of Finnish fire officers), The Finnish National Rescue Association (SPEK), Suomen Sopimuspalokuntien liitto (association of Finnish contractual fire brigades) and Suomen Pelastusalan naiset ry (association of women in fire and rescue service).

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Prime Minister Sanna Marin will attend the special meeting of the European Council in Brussels on Monday 24 and Tuesday 25 May. Topics on the agenda for the meeting include EU action against climate change, the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, EU–UK relations and external relations.At their meeting, the EU leaders will review the state of play regarding the coordination of the EU’s COVID-19 response measures and discuss the EU’s fight against climate change. The EU has set ambitious climate targets for 2030 and 2050. The European Commission is currently preparing detailed proposals on how to achieve these objectives. In line with the conclusions of December 2020, the EU leaders will discuss what additional guidance will be given to the Commission for preparing its upcoming proposals. 

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The Governing Board of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA) has awarded a cultural route certification to the Alvar Aalto Route – 20th Century Architecture and Design. The Aalto Route is the first certified route led by Finland.‒ This is a magnificent recognition of Finnish architecture and the significance of Aalto’s legacy. It required long-term work from the Network of Alvar Aalto Cities and the Alvar Aalto Foundation to establish this European route, says Minister of Science and Culture Annika Saarikko.The Council of Europe received 13 applications and certification was awarded to five routes. The Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe comprise 45 certified routes around Europe. Certification is granted to a route which is based on a theme relating to European culture and cultural heritage bringing together at least three countries. The Cultural Routes programme was launched by the Council of Europe in 1987. The first route to be certified was the Santiago de Compostela Pilgrim Routes.The Alvar Aalto Route – 20th Century Architecture and Design covers more than 60 architectural sites in 27 cities in five different countries: Finland, Germany, Estonia, Italy and France. Potential Alvar Aalto sites can be found in a total of ten European countries, from Rovaniemi in Finland to Riola di Vergato in Italy, and from Reykjavik in Iceland to Vyborg in Russia.– The Alvar Aalto Route enables to strengthen Finland’s role as a destination for cultural tourism. The advancement of cultural tourism is one the Government’s goals. A working group was set up this week to draw up a roadmap for ways to promote cultural tourism, says Minister Saarikko.The Alvar Aalto Route is administered by a joint project, the Alvar Aalto Architectural and Design Heritage Tourism Route Association, established by the Alvar Aalto Founcation and the Network of Alvar Aalto Cities in July 2020.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — On Friday 21 May 2021, the President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed issues relating to international crisis management. Finland currently has approximately 360 soldiers participating in ten military crisis management operations within the framework of the UN, the EU, NATO and the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.The President and the Ministerial Committee agreed that, in line with the policies set out in the Foreign and Security Policy Report and the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on Crisis Management, Finland will strengthen its crisis management participation in Africa by preparing to gradually increase its participation in the EU military training mission in Mali. The President and the Ministerial Committee stated that Finland would  take part in the Very High Readiness element of the NATO Response Force (NRF) with an infantry company in 2023 and an EOD diver unit in 2024 . Finland has participated in the NRF’s Response Forces Pool since 2012, and it is an important part of Finland’s partnership cooperation with NATO.The President and the Ministerial Committee received an overview of developments at NATO and current issues related to Finland’s NATO partnership. Finland will continue its close partnership cooperation with NATO.In addition, the President and the Ministerial Committee discussed the governmental action plan on China The meeting also discussed the preparation of the Government’s Defence Report.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen will be one of the keynote speakers at Global Leadership Day, organised by AIESEC on 21 May 2021. In her speech, Haatainen will encourage young people to acquire different skills and seize the opportunities offered by the transformation of work. The Minister will also emphasise the importance of mobility for international students and workers.She will highlight, for example, the significance of continuous learning.“All our citizens need to be equipped with skills and competences that help them to thrive in a fast-changing world. Continuous, lifelong learning is indeed a right, but also a necessity,” Haatainen says.The purpose of the Global Leadership Day is to give organisations and young people an opportunity to talk about the future of work and to create contacts in this way. The event is organised by AIESEC, an international youth organisation.Internationalisation is an important theme for FinlandThe event will offer young people an opportunity for international networking. Minister Haatainen will focus on the importance of internationalisation and mobility in her speech.“The pandemic has made us increasingly aware of how important mobility is for international students and workers. This also applies to Finland. Our future success will depend heavily on our ability to promote the opportunities for international talent to work and study here,” she adds.Haatainen will speak at 17.30 Finnish time. 

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi