NordenBladet — Employment, equal opportunities, social protection and health were key themes on the agenda the Porto Social Summit on Friday 7 May. The summit was organised by the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU.
The aim of the summit was to strengthen the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights. In addition to the members of the European Council, the summit was attended by EU-level representatives of labour market organisations, OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría and ILO Director-General Guy Ryder, among others. The participants spent most of the meeting working in workshops. Prime Minister Sanna Marin participated in a panel on education and innovation.
In her speech, Prime Minister Marin emphasised the importance of education as the key to the EU’s economic success. “Europe needs creative thinking and skilled hands to drive the digital and green transition forward. The conclusion is clear: people’s skills are Europe’s most important resource. With this in mind, the EU should set the goal of having the highest level of education in the world,” said Prime Minister Marin.
Prime Minister Marin also stressed the importance of closer EU cooperation in the education sector and drew attention to the digital transformation in education. She went on to describe the role education plays in strengthening the resilience of societies and advancing equality and inclusion. The programme for Friday evening also includes an informal dinner of heads of state or government, where the main themes on the agenda will be the EU’s joint measures to combat COVID-19 and the EU-India Leaders’ Meeting taking place on Saturday. Also on Saturday 8 May, the members of the European Council will hold an informal meeting in Porto, where they will continue their discussion on social issues and adopt the Porto Declaration.
NordenBladet — On Thursday 5 May, the President of the Republic decided to appoint a new non-resident ambassador and a representative to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.The President of the Republic appointed Ambassador Anne Lammila to serve as a non-resident Ambassador to Lesotho. In addition, the President of the Republic authorised Counsellor Tanja Grén to represent Finland in the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), starting on 1 August 2021.
NordenBladet — The Ministry of the Interior has published a report on the perceived security threats raised by different religious communities in Finland concerning their religious premises. The report also lists proposals for improving the safety and security of such premises.
Issues and concerns related to the security of the premises of religious communities have emerged internationally in recent years as a result of terrorist attacks against them. As for Finland, the threat has at least been made public in the annual report of the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service.
On 20 July 2020, the Ministry of the Interior set up a working group tasked with identifying security threats to the premises of religious communities. The survey was carried out as an online survey sent to all religious communities operating in Finland. A total of 309 responses were received.
The responses show that roughly three in four respondents (74%) feel that their religious premises are safe.“Yet there are noteworthy differences between different religious groups. Almost 93 per cent of Christian respondents felt safe in the vicinity of their church and other religious premises. However, only 69 per cent of Muslim respondents and only one third of Jewish respondents felt safe near their respective religious premises, says chairman of the working group Tarja Mankkinen, who is Head of Development at the Ministry of the Interior.
The respondents indicate that their lost sense of security was due to factors such as troublemakers or other disturbing behaviour in the vicinity of the religious premises, inadequate transport arrangements, poor lighting or lack of lighting outside such premises, and vandalism, including defacement of walls or other property damage. Some members of religious communities noted that their sense of security is undermined because of the prejudices, fears, threats and different kinds of hate speech they have experienced.
“Almost half of the respondents felt that hate speech on the internet affects their sense of security. Half of the respondents also pointed out that because of online hate speech they no longer visit their own religious premises as often as they used to,” says Mankkinen.
The survey also revealed that one in five respondents have encountered violence or a threat of violence inside or in the vicinity of their religious premises. In particular, violence has been experienced by members of Finland’s Jewish communities, representing 40 percent of the respondents.
Religious communities call for clear security plans
The survey also mapped out ways to improve the safety and security of the premises of religious communities.
“The users of religious premises wished that their communities would have in place clear safety plans, crisis plans and rescue plans. They also want to have training on security issues,” says Mankkinen.
The respondents moreover felt that the security of the premises could be improved e.g. by installing video surveillance or door entry alarm systems or hiring security guards; keeping the doors locked, avoiding being alone, drawing up clear safety guidelines and escape routes; and by reporting and intervening on unsafe situations,” Mankkinen notes.
The results of the survey were analysed by Jana Turk, doctoral student at the University of Helsinki. The analysis is statistically representative for the Christian and Islamic communities, but not for the Jewish community because of its inadequate response rate.
NordenBladet — Finnish and Canadian ministers and UN Women will organise a webinar on May 18, to seek ways to safeguard the position of women and girls in the post-pandemic reconstruction.The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for everyone, and especially for women. However, the economic empowerment of women is a condition for sustainable recovery from the crisis. How to safeguard the rights and economic opportunities of women and girls in the post-pandemic reconstruction?Finland and Canada are strong advocates of the position of women around the world. Women and girls must have equal opportunities to benefit from the opportunities offered by technology and innovation, and this can be facilitated by supporting female entrepreneurs and girls’ education. Academic research, too, plays an important role in improving the position of women and girls.On Tuesday 18 May 2021 at 16.00–17.15, Finland’s Embassy in Ottawa, the University of Ottawa and the Canadian Foreign Ministry will co-organise a webinar “Advancing Women and Girls’ rights: Harnessing Technology and Innovation in Support of the Economic Empowerment of Women in the Wake of the Pandemic”.The webinar will be opened by Roy Eriksson, Ambassador of Finland in Ottawa, and Jacques Frémont, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ottawa. The panellists will be Finland’s Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari, Canada’s Minister of Democratic Institutions Karina Gould, and Executive Director of UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. Other participants include Milja Köpsi, Leader of the Mimmit koodaa (women code) programme, and Professor Barbara Orser from the University of Ottawa. The moderator is Martine Lagacé, Associate Vice-President of Research Promotion and Development at the University of Ottawa.The free webinar will held in English, and it is open to everyone interested in the topic.Webinar programme (in English)Link to the registration (in English and French)
NordenBladet — Global megatrends such as digitalisation, ageing population and climate change pose long-term challenges to the Nordic welfare model. The extensive research project carried out by the Nordic Council of Ministers and the research institute FAFO delved into the future of work in the Nordic countries. The final report of the project was published on 7 May 2021. The employment ministers from the Nordic countries will discuss the report’s themes at their informal video meeting on 2 June 2021.In the Future of Work project, researchers examined the future of work from the perspective of digitalisation, platform economy, working conditions and employment legislation. They considered the effects of the megatrends and the coronavirus crisis on the Nordic welfare model and how the current practices could be updated to better suit to the working life of the future. The key issue is how to maintain in a changing labour market the Nordic welfare model and a high employment rate, which is essential for the future of the welfare model.According to researchers, the Nordic welfare model can, despite the challenges facing it, be a solution to the emerging problems. Digital technology is already widely utilised in the Nordic countries, and digitalisation has not led to inequalities in society or the labour market. Researchers recommend that the Nordic countries continue to invest in education, development of skills and fair working conditions.The research project launched in late 2017 was carried out by a group of more than 30 researchers from Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden.Nordic employment ministers to discuss the future of workThe employment ministers from the Nordic countries will discuss the findings of the Future of Work project at an informal video conference on 2 June 2021. The meeting will be organised by Finland, which chairs the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2021. In addition to ministers, representatives of the social partners will be invited to the meeting.Issues related to working life will also be discussed at three conferences in autumn organised by Finland during its Presidency. They will address the Nordic wage formation system, the future of work from the perspective of climate change, and the promotion of inclusive labour markets. The formal meeting of the Nordic employment ministers is scheduled to take place in November 2021.
NordenBladet — Prime Minister Sanna Marin met with Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa on Friday 6 May in Porto. The main themes of their bilateral meeting were increasing economic cooperation between the countries and topical EU issues. Finland and Portugal have traditionally had good relations, which have been further deepened by EU partnership.
Portugal has identified forestry development as one of the key areas of its post-pandemic economic recovery plan. One of the main objectives of developing forest management is to reduce forest fires, which have increased dramatically in Portugal as a result of drought caused by climate change. Finland and Portugal began their cooperation in the forest sector in connection with a trade mission by then-Prime Minister Juha Sipilä in autumn 2018.
“Finland has leading expertise in the green transition and digital economy, which are of great interest to Portugal. Businesses should seize the opportunity and take advantage of the possibilities offered by the EU recovery instrument. Cooperation between our countries in the forest sector is progressing well,” Prime Minister Marin said.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Marin also addressed the lack of a tax treaty between Finland and Portugal. Portugal has not yet ratified the tax treaty signed in 2016.Prime Minister Marin’s visit to Portugal will continue on 7 and 8 May, when she will attend the EU summits hosted by the Portuguese Council Presidency.
NordenBladet — On Thursday 6 May, the Government appointed Vesa Vuorenkoski, Master of Laws and Social Sciences, as State Secretary to Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Tytti Tuppurainen. The State Secretary’s term ends with that of the Minister.
State Secretary Vuorenkoski took his oath of office at the same Government plenary session.Before the Prime Minister’s Office, Vuorenkoski served as Head of Political Affairs at Akava, the Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland. He has also served as Chief Legal Adviser, Senior Legal Adviser and Senior Adviser for Industrial Policies at Akava. Prior to these positions, he worked as Director of Fountain Park, and he also has experience as an entrepreneur. Earlier, Vuorenkoski served as a Special Adviser at the Ministry of Education and as an Assistant to a Member of Parliament.
State Secretaries assist ministers in matters related to political steering and preparatory work. They also assist and represent the ministers in the drafting of policy outlines and in interministerial coordination, harmonising of policy positions, implementation of the Government Programme in the minister’s administrative branch, and handling of EU and international affairs.
NordenBladet — Value-added tax (VAT) on online purchases will, in future, also be payable on consignments valued at EUR 22 or less that are imported from outside the European Union. The Government proposes that the applicable legislative amendments be approved by the President of the Republic for entry into force at the beginning of July.
VAT has not so far been collected on consignments valued at EUR 22 or less if the goods were imported from outside the EU. At the same time, VAT has been payable on small purchases made within the EU.
Under the legislative amendments, the tax exemption for consignments imported from outside the EU will be removed, which will improve the competitive position of companies within the EU by creating equal conditions for competition.
Changes will also be made to distance selling of goods within the EU. In addition, the administrative burden of VAT will be eased.
NordenBladet — Event guarantee aims to reduce the financial risk of organising events. The guarantee is a payment commitment given to event organisers in advance for the costs declared by them. If the event were cancelled or its size restricted by law or order of an authority, compensation would be paid for the costs incurred.
The Government submitted its legislative proposal to Parliament on 6 May 2021. Companies would apply for the compensation at the State Treasury. Applications would be accepted in June after the Parliament has considered the proposal and the President of the Republic has approved it. The Act is scheduled to enter into force on 1 June 2021.
“Operators in the cultural and event sectors have been in a difficult situation for a long time and we want to support them. At the same time, we want to offer people the opportunity to participate in events. I hope that the event guarantee will encourage organisers to arrange events, even though the coronavirus epidemic continues. The guarantee can also help organisers who seek external funding for their event,” says Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä.
Event guarantee to apply to established organisers
The State Treasury would grant the event guarantee to event organisers. The guarantee would apply to public events of at least 200 people that take place between 1 June and 30 November 2021.
The event guarantee would apply to established, professional organisers of public events. The organisers must have a Business ID and a permanent organisation and their turnover must have been more than EUR 150,000 in 2019. Typically, established event organisers have hired staff, but sole entrepreneurs could also apply for event guarantee. The event guarantee would apply to, for example, art and cultural festivals, concerts and exhibitions, sports events, music festivals, fairs and similar events that are not organised regularly as part of year-round activities.
Event guarantee is based on pre-announced and actual costsIn its application, the event organiser should include the planned time, place and duration of the event, the estimated costs and any subcontractors of the event.
The organiser would apply for the event guarantee, but the compensation for cancelled events would also be paid to the subcontracts included in the application.
If the event is cancelled completely by law or by order of an authority, 85% of the costs will be reimbursed. Only actual costs announced in advance could be compensated. The event is considered cancelled if a law or order of an authority restricting such events is in force no more than 60 days before the event.
In case the size of the event is restricted by law or order of an authority to allow no more than 85% of the initially planned participants, the event guarantee could compensate for the costs in part.
Aid granted earlier under the same temporary State aid rules of the European Commission will be taken into account when granting the guarantee. The total amount of coronavirus-related aid, such as business cost support, cannot exceed EUR 1.8 million.
Ministry of Education and Culture also grants event support
The event guarantee would not be granted for events organised regularly throughout the year. Such events include weekly performances, concerts and plays, or sports events organised as a series.
The Ministry of Education and Culture will organise separate application rounds for these events. In addition, events organised as activities of general interest in arts, culture, sports and spiritual life will be supported primarily by grants from the administrative branch of the Ministry of Education and Culture.
The event guarantee also would not apply to small-scale events organised as part of recreational activities or an association’s fundraising.
The Government has reserved EUR 80 million for the event guarantee and a total of about EUR 230 million for the support package for the cultural, arts, sports and event sectors. The proposal was circulated for comments and evaluated by the Legislative Evaluation Council in March-April. The comments received were taken into account in the preparation.
NordenBladet — Finland will contribute EUR 3 million to the COVID-19 Emergency Appeal of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help India, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Niger. Finland will help India with EUR 1 million and the other three countries with nearly EUR 500,000 each. The Finnish Red Cross will also provide material assistance.
The COVID-19 pandemic remains serious across the world and is particularly hard on already fragile states. The IFRC appeal will allocate support to healthcare sectors, to addressing the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and to vaccine rollout, including vaccine transports, organisation of vaccinations and sharing of information about vaccines. Finland’s contribution will be channelled via the Finnish Red Cross.
“It is important to show solidarity with the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Overcoming the coronavirus across the world will benefit Finland, too. By supporting the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, we are efficiently responding to the coronavirus pandemic even in the most difficult conditions,” says Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari.
The overall funding requirement for the IFRC appeal is around EUR 2.3 billion, and it is severely underfunded. At the moment, the appeal has received contributions amounting to EUR 1.59 billion.
