NordenBladet — Prime Minister Sanna Marin will attend a video meeting of European Council members and participate in the Euro Summit on 25 and 26 March.The March European Council is being held remotely due to COVID-19.
Themes to be discussed at the video meeting include the COVID-19 pandemic, the single market, industrial policy, the digital transformation and the economy, the Eastern Mediterranean and an information point on Russia. The Euro Summit, which will also be held as a remote meeting, will focus on strengthening the international role of the euro. President of the United States Joe Biden will join the video meeting during the non-agenda portion on Thursday evening.
NordenBladet — The employment service pilots (TE pilots) launched by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment during spring 2021 are part of the Government’s working capacity programme, which aims to improve access to and conditions of employment for persons with partial work ability or disabilities, and to coordinate services better.
With the help of the TE service pilots, the service needs of jobseekers with partial work ability will be identified better and jobseeker and employer services will be connected into one service package. The pilots will also seek educational opportunities for jobseekers and increase cooperation with organisations. The themes of the pilot projects have been chosen together with work ability coordinators, TE Offices and experts from the partnership network.
The eight areas selected for the pilot are:
North Ostrobothnia ELY Centre
Uusimaa ELY Centre
North Karelia ELY Centre
South Ostrobothnia ELY Centre
Lapland ELY Centre
Pirkanmaa ELY Centre
Ostrobothnia ELY Centre
Häme ELY Centre
A total of 13 ELY Centres applied for funding. The funding can be used for the procurement of services under the Act on public employment and business service and for employment policy projects.
NordenBladet — The domestic ownership programme presents a vision of a Finnish ownership society in 2030 where ownership is widely appreciated and ownership is considered as a common good. The culture of responsible ownership and accepting the growth in prosperity are part of the Finnish identity. The attitude to ownership is open and encouraging.
The working group led by Member of Parliament Juha Sipilä submitted its report to Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä on 24 March 2021. The task of the working group was to identify means to strengthen, diversify and promote equality in the Finnish ownership of companies.
Working group proposes almost 70 measures to be implement in the short or longer term
Some of the proposed measures are related to the current challenges faced by companies and households. The majority of the proposals, however, aim to make the Finnish society and people considerably stronger than at present to meet the challenges of the future.
“Finland’s economic growth and success are in our own hands. Through competent domestic ownership we can promote productivity and investments. In the end, what ownership is all about is ways to finance the welfare society, that is, the citizens wellbeing and future,” Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä says.
“Economic growth is an absolute necessity to ensure the services of our welfare society. This, in turn, requires a strong ownership society where we should have even larger numbers of competent owners. To strengthen the equity capital that serves as the stabilising keel and facilitator of growth for business, we must have committed ownership and remove the bottlenecks in financing. Fortunately, economic and productivity growth and, through these, the wellbeing of us Finns are in our own hands,” says Juha Sipilä, Member of Parliament and chair of the working group.
Several proposals concerning the business environment and financing of companiesFinnish economy is based on a strong group of SMEs owned by private entrepreneurs and families that invest in Finland and perform well in the export market. The key idea in the proposals is to make sure that adequate and proportionate incentives and financing instruments are offered to companies in all stages of their development. Broad-based and professional competence in ownership is needed in all stages of the companies’ lifecycle.
The proposals will promote and strengthen the investment opportunities for business angels, business environment for entrepreneurs, and financing options for companies. There are several proposals concerned with smoother transfers of ownership, including an impact investment project to promote the transfers.The working group also wishes to develop models for employee ownership of companies, including making it easier to set up employees’ mutual funds. Options should be taken into account in attracting international experts.
Stronger economic competence and positive attitude to ownership
The working group considers that the Finnish society should also invest in a positive attitude and competence in ownership at all levels of education, starting from primary and secondary education. The curricula should be reviewed and updated to provide adequate content related to economic competence, and scientific research should be increased.
The aim of the programme is that people would regard saving, investing and ownership as natural elements of their own lives. The working group proposes that the equity savings account would be further developed e.g. by raising the maximum amount of funds to be invested in the account to EUR 100,000. People are also encouraged to save for retirement on a voluntary basis by owning shares.
Report is based on several consultations
The working group heard more than a hundred experts and held six regional consultations on the theme “towards responsible domestic ownership”. A total of 24 organisations sent their comments in writing, and several online surveys were organised to get the views of companies, other stakeholders and private citizens.
Together with the report of the working group, three background reports were also published: Subsidiary economy and foreign corporate acquisitions in Finland: a threat or opportunity? (Tero Luoma), Description of the business environment of domestic ownership (background report of the working group’s secretariat) and “Business environment of ownership and policy measures in reference countries”. (4Front Oy).
A collection of articles was published earlier in the Business Review (Yrityskatsaus) under the theme “Responsible and competent domestic ownership”. These four reports and the theme issue of the Business Review constitute a comprehensive package to learn about the environment of domestic ownership in Finland.
NordenBladet — The main topic of the informal video conference of the European affairs ministers on 23 March were the preparations for the video conference of the members of the European Council, to take place on 25–26 March 2021. The ministers also had a debate on the European Semester for economic policy coordination, and they were briefed on the ongoing preparations for the Conference on the Future of Europe. Finland was represented at the Council meeting by Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Tytti Tuppurainen.
The European affairs ministers exchanged views on the draft conclusions for the March European Council. The European Council meeting agenda features the EU response to the COVID-19 pandemic, enhancement of the single market, industrial policy, digital transformation and the economy, the eastern Mediterranean, and relations with Russia. Finland underlines that all efforts should be made to speed up the delivery timelines for coronavirus vaccines. Finland is ready to advocate a common European vaccination certificate and to promote global solidarity in order to guarantee vaccine availability.
“Ensuring timely delivery of vaccines continues to be our first priority. We must do our utmost within the EU to speed up vaccinations. Vaccines drive into an exit from the coronavirus crisis,” says Minister Tuppurainen. “The EU must also be better prepared for potential cross-border health threats. We need an EU-wide pandemic preparedness plan that would be built on a cross-border emergency response mechanism jointly agreed upon in advance. It would allow for better coordination of measures and restrictions at Member States’ borders,” the Minister says. As for the single market, industrial policy, and digital transformation and the economy, Finland’s goal is to have the single market reinforced in a manner that will strengthen sustainable growth, competitiveness and crisis resilience within the EU. A strong and more integrated single market is the best assurance when striving to achieve strategic autonomy for the EU.
Finland also finds that the EU should pursue its policy on Turkey on a consistent and long-term basis. Diplomatic efforts should be continued to find lasting solutions to the problem areas in the relations. The readiness expressed by Turkey for more constructive interaction is welcomed. It is essential to note that this is an enduring change in attitude that will define Turkey’s future activity and concrete actions in the eastern Mediterranean, too. Should Turkey revert to its practices that encourage confrontation and instability, the EU must deliver a united and strong response. The EU should also express its concern over the problematic democracy, rule of law and human rights development in Turkey. “I am much concerned about Turkey’s decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention combating violence against women. We call upon Turkey to return to the Convention,” says the Finnish Minister for European Affairs. The European affairs ministers moreover held a debate on Council measures related to the 2021 European Semester, during which the Member States align their budgetary and economic policies with the objectives and rules agreed at the EU level. The European Semester is the main tool for evening out disparities between Member States, for promoting employment and social cohesion and for maintaining stability in the euro area. This year, the recommendation on the economic policy of the euro area also provides policy guidance on the priorities that euro area Member States should pursue in their Recovery and Resilience Plans. Finland finds it important that the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN (Agenda 2030) would also be acknowledged as part of the European Semester. The euro area recommendations are acceptable for Finland.
In addition, the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union reported on the state of preparations for the Conference on the Future of Europe. The joint declaration of the European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission on the Conference on the Future of Europe was signed on 10 March 2021. The declared goal is to launch a top-down, citizen-centred process for hearing the views of EU citizens on the current challenges and opportunities of the Union. The outcomes of the Conference will be reported to the European Council in spring 2022.
In the General Affairs Council (GAC), the Member States are primarily represented by their ministers for European affairs. The tasks of the Council include preparations for the European Council meetings. The GAC is also responsible for a number of cross-cutting policy areas, including negotiations on the multiannual financial framework and EU enlargement. Questions relating to the rule of law are also an established part of the Council’s agenda.
NordenBladet — In 2021–2022, Finland allocates EUR two million for the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), which works to strengthen the creation of trading opportunities for least-developed countries (LDCs). The agreement on the support was signed on 23 March 2021 in Geneva.
Finland has supported the EIF partnership since 2008 by approximately EUR 23.5 million.Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari considers that the support to the EIF is important in that it strengthens least developed countries’ financial capacity.
“Least developed countries have not benefited from the opportunities offered by global trade as was expected when the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted. Through its long-term support, Finland strengthens LDCs’ export efforts and helps to lay a foundation for recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. I am also happy that the EIF is assisting LDCs to reform their economies in a more equitable and climate-resilient direction,” the Minister says.
Enhanced Integrated Framework is a global partnership of donors and international organisations committed to assisting least developed countries in the empowerment and diversification of their economies. The EIF helps them harness global trade to achieve sustainable economic growth, create jobs, and reduce poverty.
NordenBladet — Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services Krista Kiuru has appointed a working group to prepare a gambling policy programme and to draw up guidelines for its implementation until 2030. The aim is to reverse the upward trend in gambling-related harm and problems permanently.
To prevent and reduce gambling-related harm effectively, we need a number of similar and mutually supportive measures that are carried out simultaneously and both in the short and long term. In preparing the programme, the working group will focus on preventive work, gambling services that aim to prevent harm, and guidance. The aim of the group’s work is also to ensure that players and those close to them have access to the necessary services to receive help for gambling problems. The programme will complement and support the measures of the National Mental Health Strategy and the Action Plan on Alcohol, Tobacco, Drugs and Gambling as well as legislative drafting. The term of the working group will run from 15 March 2021 to 31 March 2022. The working group is chaired by Director Jari Keinänen from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The preparation of the programme was agreed on in the Government Programme.
The responsibility for implementing the programme and preventing gambling-related harm rests with three ministries. The Ministry of the Interior is responsible for legislation on lotteries, the Prime Minister’s Office for the ownership steering of Veikkaus Oy and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health for the prevention of harm related to gambling. The National Police Board monitors the provision of gambling services, and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare implements and coordinates the measures to prevent gambling-related harm. A working group consisting of public officials from these Ministries and agencies is responsible for preparing the programme.
Stakeholders will have the opportunity to take part in the preparation of the programme, and the working group will hear a wide range of experts and other operators in the gambling sector during its work.
NordenBladet — In its meeting on 22 March, the Government discussed the possible adoption of restrictions on movement. The preparation of the restrictions will continue and the Government will return to the issue in its informal meeting tomorrow at 18.00. The Government will also inform the parties in Parliament about the restrictions at 16.00.
Temporary closure of food and beverage service business continues
The Government decided to propose that the closure of restaurants be continued by three weeks until 18 April. The continuation of the closure was deemed necessary based on the epidemic situation. A related government proposal is due to be submitted to Parliament in an extraordinary government plenary session on 23 March.The closure is to continue under the same conditions as the current closure. Restaurants and other food and beverage service businesses will remain closed to customers in areas where the COVID-19 epidemic situation is the most serious. Provisions on the areas of application will be laid down by government decree. Food and beverage service business will stay closed to customers in the regions where the epidemic is in the acceleration or community transmission phase. With the exception of Southern Ostrobothnia, the regions will remain the same as under the current closure. The epidemic situation in South Ostrobothnia will be re-examined by tomorrow 23 March.
Uusimaa
Southwest Finland
Satakunta
Kanta-Häme
Pirkanmaa
Päijät-Häme
Kymenlaakso
South Karelia
South Savo
Central Finland
Ostrobothnia
North Ostrobothnia
Lapland
Åland
The following regions do not fall under the closure requirement: North Karelia, Central Ostrobothnia, Kainuu and North Savo. In these regions, food and beverage service business must observe provisions laid down in the Communicable Diseases Act and by virtue of the same Act.
The food and beverage service businesses to remain temporarily closed will include cafés, restaurants, bars and nightclubs that are open to the public. The restriction will also affect outdoor terraces. It will not affect canteens in residential homes for older people or staff restaurants that are not open to other customers, for example.
During the closure, restaurants and cafés are still allowed to sell portions directly to the customer for takeaway or deliver them either themselves or using other service providers.The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has prepared a support model for the reasonable compensation of businesses affected by the current closure measures. This aid is to be implemented as part of business cost support. The proposal is currently under consideration by Parliament.
NordenBladet — On 18 March 2021, Finnish Ambassador to Iraq Vesa Häkkinen opened an Honorary Consulate of Finland in Mosul together with Najm Al-Jubouri, Governor of the Nineveh Governorate. The Honorary Consulate of Finland is the first foreign honorary consulate in Mosul.
Ambassador Vesa Häkkinen (in the middle) met with the new Honorary Consul of Finland in Mosul Nouri Al-Mosawi (left) and Governor Najm Al-Jubouri of the Governorate of Ninewa. Photo: Maija Miettinen-Timko
By opening an Honorary Consulate in Mosul, Finland wants to demonstrate its support for the reconstruction of Iraq. In 2014, Mosul suffered very serious damages after terrorist organisation ISIL took control of the city. The battle for Mosul ended in a victory over ISIL in July 2017.Mosul, a city on the bank of the Tigris River in northwest Iraq, is the second biggest city in Iraq. Tradition has it that the city was founded in 641. It is the capital of the Governorate of Nineveh. The consular district covers the whole governorate.
The Honorary Consul’s task is to promote the economic and cultural relations between Finland and Iraq
The newly appointed Honorary Consul of Finland in Mosul, Nouri Al-Mosawi, has an extensive knowledge of business life in Iraq, the Middle East and Finland. His spouse, Hala Al-Sarraf, is Executive Director of the Iraq Health Access Organization (IHAO), which is a non-governmental non-profit organization. IHAO’s office and the Finnish Honorary Consulate in Mosul are located in the same building.
Visit to Al-Yarmouk Park, which is a UN Habitat rehabilitation project in Mosul. Finland has taken part in projects carried out by the UN in the region by funding mine clearance by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS). Honorary Consul of Finland in Mosul Nouri Al-Mosawi in the middle. Photo: Vesa Häkkinen
The key task of the Honorary Consul of Finland in Mosul is to work in cooperation with the Embassy of Finland in Baghdad and promote the commercial, economic and cultural relations between Finland and Iraq and especially between Finland and the district under the jurisdiction of the Honorary Consulate. The Honorary Consul will participate in efforts to strengthen the image of Finland in the country. He may also give advice to Finnish companies in matters relating, for example, to local business culture and possible cooperation partners. The Honorary Consulate of Finland in Mosul does not provide consular services.
Honorary consulates complement the network of missions abroad
Honorary consulates complement Finland’s network of missions abroad, which consists of embassies, consulates general, consulates and other missions. Honorary consuls are private citizens handling the task on a part-time basis without remuneration. Finland has approximately 400 honorary consulates around the world.The Honorary Consulate of Finland is the first foreign honorary consulate in Mosul and the only honorary consulate of Finland in Iraq. Finland has had an honorary consulate before in Baghdad, but it was in operation for only two years, from 1956 until 1958, when it had to be closed because the honorary consul went in exile. Finland and the Republic of Iraq established diplomatic relations in 1959.
NordenBladet — Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will attend the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday 22 March. The agenda highlights are the EU’s Southern Neighbourhood, Turkey and discussion with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet. In Brussels Minister Haavisto will also attend the meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs on 24 March.
The discussion on Turkey by the EU Foreign Ministers will take place to prepare for the European Council meeting on 25–26 March. The EU and Turkey share many common interests, and Turkey’s geographical location in the south-eastern corner of Europe is strategically very important. After the difficult year, the EU hopes for a turn for the better. To achieve this change, Turkey must show that it is ready and willing to resume partnership. Finland considers it important to have well-functioning, open and long-term relations between the EU and Turkey. The Communication on the EU’s Southern Neighbourhood and the Economic and Investment Plan to support this were published in February. At their meeting in March, the Foreign Ministers will discuss the implementation of the plan and agree on concrete next steps to strengthen cooperation with the countries in the region. Finland considers it important that the partner countries are committed to common objectives and the EU’s values. The key values are respect for human rights and equality, and compliance with good governance and the rule of law.At their meeting the EU Foreign Ministers will hold an informal exchange via video connections with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet. The EU plays a key role in the UN Human Rights Council. Finland has been dedicated to promoting human rights for decades. Finland is seeking membership of the UN Human Rights Council for the term 2022–2024.
The current affairs to be discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council are Russia, Venezuela, the Western Balkans, Georgia and Myanmar. With respect to Myanmar, new restrictive measures targeting those directly responsible for the military coup are to be adopted. The ministers will also decide on sanctions to be imposed under the global human rights sanction regime of the EU.During his visit to Brussels Minister Haavisto will also attend the meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs on 24 March.
NordenBladet — The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health requests comments on a draft decree specifying the Act on the Electronic Processing of Client Data in Healthcare and Social Welfare. The decree would lay down provisions whereby digital certificates of vaccinations and laboratory test results would be available to people in the My Kanta Pages.
In the first phase, the digital certificate would prove that a person has been vaccinated against COVID-19. The aim is to make the digital vaccination certificate permanent so that in the future digital vaccination certificates would be available in the My Kanta Pages for all kinds of vaccinations and even for laboratory test results.
Decree would not lay down provisions on the intended uses of the certificateFinland is preparing a digital COVID-19 vaccination certificate that would be available in the My Kanta Pages service, and the decree is related to this certificate. The certificate would be compatible with the Digital Green Certificate proposed by the European Commission, which is a COVID-19 certificate valid in all EU Member States. The certificate could be digital vaccination data, a QR code or a combination of these available in the My Kanta Pages and people could display the certificate on their mobile device or have it printed on paper.
Healthcare professionals record the information on vaccinations and other examinations in the My Kanta Pages after the person has been vaccinated, and the record keeper is responsible for making sure that the information recorded in the My Kanta Pages is correct.
The decree would not lay down provisions on the purposes for which the certificate could be used. People could decide themselves how and when to use the certificate.The digital vaccination certificate would be free.
Because some people do not use or are not able to use the My Kanta Pages, they could request a paper version of their vaccination certificate from the organisation that administered their vaccine. At the moment, people can request a paper certificate from the administering unit when they receive a vaccine.
Decree would not impose new obligations on healthcare professionals The decree specifying the Act on the Electronic Processing of Client Data in Healthcare and Social Welfare would not impose any new obligations on healthcare professionals, but they would still have their current statutory obligations.
Before the digital vaccination certificate can be introduced, it is, however, first necessary to make sure that vaccination data is recorded in the Kanta Services in a uniform and comprehensive manner and in the correct form. For this purpose, changes need to be made to a large number of the patient data systems currently in use or a separate application attached to the Kanta Services needs to be introduced to record vaccination information. Comments can be submitted until 9 April 2021Comments on the decree can be submitted between 19 March and 9 April 2021.
request for comments at lausuntopalvelu.fi (service for online consultation)The aim is that the decree would enter into force on 1 May 2021 and the technical implementation of the certificate would be ready in May 2021.
