NordenBladet — Today, on Monday 17 May, Prime Minister Sanna Marin will visit the cities of Pori and Rauma. During her visit, the Prime Minister will meet with representatives from the cities and the regional council to discuss topical issues in the region. The visit will be organised with special consideration for health safety.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — On 14 May 2021, Teollisuuden Voima Oyj submitted an environmental impact assessment report concerning its project on the final disposal of very low-level nuclear waste in the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant area to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment acts as the coordinating authority in the project.

NordenBladet — Finland is following with grave concern the escalation of the crisis in Israel and the Palestinian Territory. All violence against civilians is to be strictly condemned.

The escalation of the situation again underscores the urgent need of a just solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Finland’s position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains unchanged. Finland supports a two-state solution achieved through negotiations carried out by the parties in an equal manner. The use of force and violence must be replaced by negotiations.The State of Israel has the right to protect its citizens from terrorist attacks. At the same time, International Humanitarian Law must be respected and civilians must be protected.

The untenable situation in Gaza calls for an urgent solution. A sustainable solution is also crucial to the difficult situation in East Jerusalem and the whole West Bank. Israel’s settlement activity is illegal under international law and undermines prospects for a two-state solution.Leaders are required to show responsibility. At worst, the current acts of violence may create instability in the entire Middle East. Finland welcomes the mediation efforts of regional actors in this difficult situation.

Statement by the High Representative of the EEAS website: Israel/Palestine: Statement by the High Representative on the escalation of confrontations

NordenBladet — Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will visit Kazakhstan on 12–14 May.

The aim of the visit is to strengthen the commercial and economic relations between Finland and Kazakhstan. Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources Magzum Mirzagalijev, who is the co-chair of the Finnish-Kazakh Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation, will host the visit. From Finland’s side, the Commission is co-chaired by Minister Skinnari. This is the first meeting between the chairs. During the trip, Minister Skinnari will have also other high-level meetings. The purpose of these meetings is to discuss not only the strengthening of the commercial and economic cooperation but also other topical matters The Minister will be accompanied by a business delegation.      Kazakhstan is the biggest economy in Central Asia. Dependent on oil and raw materials, the country is trying to diversify its economy. Kazakhstan’s Recovery Plan for Economy, published last year, prioritises green growth, digitalisation and infrastructure. These sectors will open up good marketing opportunities for Finnish companies. Thanks to its central location, Kazakhstan also plays a key role in the development of logistics links from Europe to China.

“Kazakhstan is already the most important export market for Finland in Central Asia. It is centrally located when it comes to rail traffic to East Asia. Now is the time to agree on important matters for the whole decade. Integrating Finnish companies into a rapid growth track requires us all,” Skinnari says.

NordenBladet — On Monday 17 May, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will host a virtual dialogue on measures to avoid the adverse human rights effects of climate change.

The Foreign Minister of Finland, Pekka Haavisto, will discuss the topic with UN Youth Delegates of Finland and young advocates from Eastern Africa.The structure of the event builds on the Finnish innovative concept, called Timeout. Timeout dialogue offers tools for facilitated discussion for people from different backgrounds. The aim is to foster a feeling of inclusion between the participants and to reach a better understanding of different views. The discussion will be moderated by Laura Arikka, Chief Executive Officer at Timeout Foundation.Human rights impacts of climate change prioritised in Finland’s campaign to be elected to UN Human Rights Council

NordenBladet — The Government appointed Mikko Kivikoski to serve as Deputy Director General of the Department for Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs for a fixed term from 17 May 2021 to 31 August 2025.

Kivikoski is currently working on a special assignment in the Department for Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. In 2017–2020, he was Finnish Ambassador in Nur-Sultan and, in 2014–2017, Deputy Head of Mission in St Petersburg.  In 2009–2012, he worked in the Unit for Russia, where his responsibilities included, for example, the bilateral relations between Finland and Russia, and Russia’s foreign and security policy. In the Diplomatic Service, he has held positions in the Permanent Mission of Finland to the UN, Finland’s Permanent Mission to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna, and Finland’s Embassies in Riga and Moscow.

Kivikoski joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 2001. He holds the degree of Licentiate of Social Sciences.

NordenBladet — The Government has amended the decree restricting the activities of restaurants and other food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic. The restrictions will be eased almost throughout the country, depending on the epidemiological situation in each area. The amendment to the decree will enter into force on 13 May at 00.00.

Based on the decision adopted by the Government last week, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health decided on 10 May to discontinue the nationwide tiers of COVID-19 prevention measures. Going forward, COVID-19 prevention in Finland will focus on regional restrictions and recommendations. The action plan for implementing the Government’s hybrid strategy divides the epidemic into three phases: baseline, acceleration phase and community transmission phase. The regional restrictions on food and beverage service businesses will be updated weekly to correspond to the prevailing epidemiological situation. The Government will carry out the next review of the restrictions, particularly of those for the community transmission phase, by 27 May.

Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in areas that are at a stable level in the regions of Åland, South Ostrobothnia, Kainuu, North Ostrobothnia, North Savo, North Karelia, Central Finland, South Savo, Ostrobothnia and Satakunta and the Hospital District of Lapland from 13 May

Restaurants may serve alcoholic beverages between 7.00 and 00.00 and be open to customers between 5.00 and 1.00.Restaurants that primarily serve alcoholic beverages may have in use half the normal number of customer seats in indoor premises. In other restaurants, 75 per cent of customer seats may be in use in indoor premises. The restrictions on the number of customer seats do not apply in Åland.

In these regions, restaurants must also instruct customers to stay seated in indoor premises. This means that dancing and karaoke, for example, are prohibited in indoor premises.On outdoor terraces, each customer must have a seat, and everyone must take care of safe distances. The customer seating restrictions and ‘dance ban’ do not apply to outdoor terraces.Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in areas that are in the acceleration phase in the regions of Kanta-Häme, Central Ostrobothnia, Kymenlaakso and Pirkanmaa and the Hospital District of Länsi-Pohja from 13 May

Restaurants may serve alcoholic beverages between 7.00 and 22.00 and be open between 5.00 and 23.00. Restaurants that primarily serve alcoholic beverages may have in use half the normal number of customer seats in indoor premises. Other restaurants may seat 75 per cent of their normal number of customers inside their establishments.In these regions, restaurants must also instruct customers to stay seated in indoor premises. This means that dancing and karaoke, for example, are prohibited in indoor premises.

On outdoor terraces, each customer must have a seat, and everyone must take care of safe distances. The customer seating restrictions and ‘dance ban’ do not apply to outdoor terraces.Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in areas that are in the community transmission phase in the regions of Päijät-Häme, South Karelia, Southwest Finland and Uusimaa from 13 May

Restaurants that primarily serve alcoholic beverages may be open between 7.00 and 18.00. Other restaurants may be open between 5.00 and 19.00. They may have in use half the normal number of customer seats in indoor premises.

Other restaurants may serve alcoholic beverages between 7.00 and 19.00 and be open between 5.00 and 20.00. They may have in use 75 per cent of their normal number of customers seats in indoor premises.

The restaurants located in these areas must also instruct customers to stay seated in indoor premises. This means that dancing and karaoke, for example, are prohibited.On outdoor terraces, each customer must have a seat, and everyone must take care of safe distances. The above-mentioned customer seating restrictions and ‘dance ban’ do not apply to outdoor terraces.

Exceptions to restrictions remain unchanged
The restrictions laid down in the decree do not apply to the activities of staff restaurants or to takeaway sales of food to customers.

The restrictions on opening hours do not apply to food and beverage service businesses on vessels and aircraft that operate between Finland and other countries or abroad or to food and beverage service businesses that operate at distribution stations for liquid fuels.

NordenBladet — The government report on the General Government Fiscal Plan was submitted to Parliament at the government plenary session on 12 May 2021. The appropriation for the administrative branch of the Ministry of the Interior will remain under EUR 1.5 billion per year during the 2022–2025 spending limits period.

The spending limits decision takes into account the increases to police and the Border Guard for the higher rents related to Senate Properties’ premises projects, in accordance with the government decision last year. In addition, increases were granted to the police, the Border Guard and the Finnish Immigration Service for the national implementation of the provisions on the interoperability of information systems, and to the police, the Border Guard and rescue services for the national implementation of the Galileo satellite navigation system’s public regulated service.

An appropriation of EUR 17.6 million is proposed for equipping the new premises of the Finnish Security Intelligence Service. The increase is related to the lease agreement signed last year by the Finnish Security Intelligence Service, which will move to the new premises once they have been completed.

NordenBladet — Entrepreneurs have been temporarily entitled to labour market support because of the coronavirus pandemic. On 12 May 2021, the Government submitted a proposal to Parliament to extend the right of entrepreneurs to labour market support until 30 September 2021. The aim is to ensure the livelihood of entrepreneurs in the uncertain situation caused by the pandemic.

The temporary extension to entrepreneurs’ right to unemployment benefit currently in force is scheduled to end on 30 June 2021.

“While coronavirus epidemic shows signs of subsiding, it will take some time before demand will resume and business activities return to normal in all sectors. Labour market support has been one of the key tools to support entrepreneurs during the coronavirus crisis and we consider extending it necessary at this time,” Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen says.

22,500 entrepreneurs receive labour market support every monthAccording to data from Kela, 22,500 entrepreneurs on average received labour market support each month in the early part of 2021. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment estimates that the extension would apply to around 22,000 entrepreneurs a month unless the epidemic and employment situation changes significantly. The government proposal on labour market support to entrepreneurs is included in the third supplementary budget proposal for 2021. Extending the temporary amendment until the end of September is estimated to increase spending on unemployment security by about EUR 48 million.

All entrepreneurs entitled to support regardless of sector The temporary extension to entrepreneurs’ right to unemployment benefit entered into force on 8 April 2020. The extension made entrepreneurs eligible for labour market support in a situation where the amount of work or income received from business activities has decreased due to the pandemic. The right to claim labour market support applies to all entrepreneurs regardless of whether they engage in business as self-employed persons or in the form of a company. Support can be granted to entrepreneurs in all sectors.Closing down the business is not a condition for being entitled to labour market support. When entrepreneurs or self-employed persons close down their business, they become eligible to unemployment benefit under other provisions of the Unemployment Security Act.

How can entrepreneurs apply for labour market support?
The entrepreneur registers as an unemployed jobseeker and provides an account of the termination of their full-time employment or decrease in income due to the coronavirus epidemic.The TE Office issues a labour policy statement to Kela.The entrepreneur applies to Kela for labour market support.Kela pays the labour market support to the entrepreneur.Entrepreneurs, who have already registered as unemployed jobseekers at the TE Office and receive labour market support due to the extension of the amendment, will continue to interact with the TE Office as agreed.

NordenBladet — On 12 May 2021, the Government submitted to Parliament a proposal to amend the Act on Transport Services.

The purpose of the amendment is to provide for continuation of the advance booking service in Vaalimaa and to extend it to other road border crossing stations between Finland and Russia.

The Act on Transport Services would include a new section on the control and management of goods transport at road border crossing stations between Finland and Russia.As part of its task of ensuring the smooth flow of traffic, the provider of road traffic control and management services could offer these services for goods traffic arriving at road border crossing stations as well as for the purpose of ensuring the smooth flow of the related customs measures and border checks. When providing the services, it could, as a data controller, process the relevant personal data. It would be possible to collect data in the information system by automatic identification of a registration number or other unique identifier.

The Act is scheduled to enter into force on 1 July 2021.What next?A referral debate will be held on the proposal now submitted by the Government to Parliament. The timetable for the debate will be listed on Parliament’s website (upcoming plenary sessions).After the referral debate, the proposal will be taken to a Parliamentary Committee. After the Committee submits a report, the matter will be discussed in a plenary session.