NordenBladet — At its meeting on 18 March, the Ministerial Committee on Economic Policy decided on how funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) should be distributed among Finland’s Interreg programmes during the 2021–2027 programming period. The funding in question concerns seven programmes under the European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) objective, also known as Interreg programmes.

An indicative amount of EUR 162.7 million in ERDF funding has been allocated to Finland for Interreg programmes in the forthcoming programming period. The EU Member States are free to decide how to divide the funds among their various programmes.  The Ministerial Committee agreed that EUR 122.5 million would be allocated to cross-border cooperation programmes and EUR 40.2 million to transnational cooperation programmes.The ERDF funds would be distributed among the programmes in the same proportions as during the current 2014–2020 programming period to the extent possible.EUR 122.5 million to be allocated for cross-border cooperation:Aurora EUR 37.3 millionCentral Baltic EUR 37.2 million Kolarctic EUR 10.0 millionKarelia EUR 14.0 millionSouth-East Finland – Russia EUR 24.0 million
EUR 40.2 million to be allocated for transnational cooperation:
•    Baltic Sea Region EUR 29.3 million
•    Northern Periphery and Arctic EUR 10.9 millionIn addition to the above-mentioned programmes, Finland participates in four EU-wide interregional cooperation programmes: Interreg Europe, Interact, Urbact and Espon. ERDF funding for these is allocated directly from the EU budget by the European Commission.

The state budget will also include approximately EUR 121 million in national co-financing the Interreg programmes.All of the Interreg programmes are currently under preparation. The goal is to launch the first programmes at the end of 2021.

Interreg programmes aim to boost competitiveness and employment, particularly in border regions Interreg programmes are part of the EU’s regional and structural policy, also known as cohesion policy. The programmes aim to support the integration of border regions and wider cross-border cooperation areas and to build and strengthen networks between regions and cities. By increasing cooperation and promoting the exchange of experiences and the dissemination of good practices, the programmes can have a significant impact on competitiveness and economic development, especially in border regions. The programmes also aim to promote well-functioning labour markets in border regions and across borders. A further goal is to strengthen the entire Baltic Sea region as a European and global economic area and to find new solutions and models to address development problems in sparsely populated northern areas.

NordenBladet — Finland has started implementing Directive (EU) 2020/2184 on the quality of water intended for human consumption, also known as the Drinking Water Directive.The most important objective of the Directive is to ensure healthy drinking water. This will be achieved by examining the quality requirements for drinking water that are defined through risk management. Risk assessment must take into account the entire water production and distribution system, from raw water to tap water supplied to consumers. The quality recommendations for drinking water are, as a rule, updated in accordance with the recommendations issued by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The risk assessment and management of the entire water production chain allow the authorities and plants supplying drinking water to identify more ways to manage the health risks related to the supply of drinking water. Risk assessment also covers domestic distribution systems. In addition, the Directive contains provisions on the lists of materials that can be used to make products that come into contact with water intended for human consumption. Such products must also bear a marking when placed on the market, indicating that the products are fit for use in contact with drinking water.

One of the core ideas behind the Directive is to increase the transparency of water supply. For example, users must be provided with further and more up-to-date information on drinking water both online and in connection with their water bills.The implementation of the Drinking Water Directive requires that the provisions of the Directive be reconciled with those of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), the circular economy be promoted and energy consumption be reduced.

Legislation to be reformed in many administrative branches
The implementation of the Directive calls for many legislative amendments across several branches of government, particularly in the administrative branches of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. At first, it will be assessed what legislative amendments need to be made to implement the Directive and then the necessary legislative amendments and decrees will be prepared.  The aim is to send the draft government proposal on legislative amendments out for comments in March 2022 at the latest. Finland must bring the legislation into force and communicate its text to the European Commission by 12 January 2023.

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health was responsible for the preparations, and it is also responsible for the national implementation of the Directive. The Ministry has appointed a steering group to prepare the national implementation of the Drinking Water Directive. The term of the working runs from 15 February 2021 to 31 December 2022. The steering group will set up sub-groups to prepare the legislative amendments required by the Directive. It will also outline the content of the draft bills and decrees, the rationale for them and the schedules for preparing them. A negotiated solution was reached on the content of the Drinking Water Directive during Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU in December 2019. The Directive entered into force on 12 January 2021, and it must be implemented nationally within two years of its entry into force.

NordenBladet — The Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment have ordered a review of the grounds on which victims of human trafficking are granted residence permits. The review will be conducted by the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman acting as the national human trafficking rapporteur. The aim is to investigate how the Finnish Immigration Service applies the special regulation of the Aliens Act to the continuous residence permit granted to trafficking victims.

The review will examine the types of victims of human trafficking the Finnish Immigration Service has identified, what kinds of abuse the victims have endured and what their chances of surviving the abuse are. The examination will also cover how the Aliens Act has been applied in the processing of their applications and which factors have affected the interpretation of the Act. One central research question also concerns how the vulnerability of the trafficking victims has been recognised and evaluated on the basis of the Aliens Act.

The research subjects are the residence permit and asylum decisions concerning victims of human trafficking the Finnish Immigration Service has made in the period between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2020. The aim is to produce information, based on which the possible needs for legislation amendment and development of law application and interpretation practices can be assessed.

The Parliament has demanded the Government to find out whether there are legislative amendment needs related to the grounds for the residence permits of trafficking victims. For example, the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman has paid attention to the residence permit practices concerning victims of human trafficking, such as the high threshold for granting a continuous residence permit and the varying application practices. The preparations of the Government’s anti-trafficking action plan have also brought forward questions related to residence permits.

The review will support the Government’s work to prevent human trafficking
The research information produced by the review will also serve the sub-group of the development project of labour immigration set up by the Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen in March 2020. The sub-group will prepare measures with which the abuse of foreign labour can be better prevented, identified and combatted. The aim is also to review the conditions for a trafficking victim’s residence permit. The working group will utilise the research information when assessing whether there is the need to make amendments to the legislation concerning residence permit grounds or can the observations be affected in other ways, such as instructions or training.

The Government is committed to the prevention of human trafficking and the results of the review can be utilised in the efforts even more comprehensively. The Government Programme contains many items whose purpose is to enhance the prevention of human trafficking. The objectives include improved help for trafficking victims, faster identification and revelation of human trafficking, and fulfilment of criminal liability.

The Non-Discrimination Ombudsman is an independent authority that also acts as the national rapporteur of human trafficking. The duties of the national human trafficking rapporteur include the counselling and training of authorities, the management of the authorities’ operations and the making of surveys. It is the rapporteur’s duty to monitor the combatting of human trafficking in Finland and report the observations to the Government and Parliament.

The survey that is now in progress will be published in September 2021. Comprehensive research on the residence permit practices concerning victims of human trafficking has not been done before.

The Aliens Act contains a special regulation on the residence permits of trafficking victimsIn 2006, due to the international and EU obligations binding Finland, regulations concerning the residence permit for victims of human trafficking that can be either temporary or continuous were introduced to the Aliens Act. The central objectives of the reformation were the prevention of human trafficking crimes, catching of the criminals and protection of the victims so that they would not become victims of human trafficking again.

Victims of human trafficking are granted a temporary residence permit, if the victim’s residency in Finland is justified due to the pre-trial investigation or court hearing of human trafficking, the victim is open to cooperating with the authorities in order to catch those suspected of human trafficking and the victim no longer has ties to those suspected of human trafficking.

A continuous residence permit is granted if the victim is in a particularly vulnerable position. In this case it is not required that the victim’s residency in Finland is justified due to a pre-trial investigation or court hearing or that the victim is open to cooperating with the authorities in order to catch those suspected of human trafficking.

Becoming a victim of human trafficking may also be a reason to grant international protection or a residence permit due to a personal humanitarian reason.

For more information, please contact:
Special Expert Roope Jokinen, MoI, tel. 0295 488 362
Researcher Heini Kainulainen, NDO, tel. 0295 666 821
Government Counsellor Olli Sorainen, MEAE, tel. 0295 048 022

NordenBladet — To date, the costs incurred by Finnish authorities for the repatriation of 20 Finnish children and their mothers from northeast Syria amount to approximately EUR 395,000. The assignment began in 2019.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs organised the most recent repatriation in December 2020. At the time, all the costs incurred were not immediately clear. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has made a comprehensive analysis of the costs of the assignment so far.

The authorities’ travel expenses account for approximately EUR 199,000 of the total costs. The sum covers travel tickets, accommodation and daily allowances. Chartered transport costs amounted to approximately EUR 118,000. To ensure the security of the operations, the Ministry does not disclose the share of security costs. For reasons of security, it is not possible to itemise the share of smaller expenses from the total costs.Each assisted person has been charged their own travel expenses to Finland and the price of their travel documents. Indirect costs incurred by public authorities, such as their travel and accommodation expenses or expenses arising from security arrangements are not charged from citizens.

The assistance assignment is not over. Based on the Government Resolution of 19 December 2019, the activities led by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs continue in compliance with the provisions of the Constitution of Finland and international treaties.

The security situation in the al-Hol camp has deteriorated during the winter. Unknown perpetrators have assassinated more than 40 people during the first months of 2021, most of them in the Iraqi part of the camp. Seven children and two women died in a tent fire at the end of February. Children in the annex for foreign nationals do not have access to adequate healthcare or education. The growth environment in the camp is characterised by a radical ideology and absence of future prospects.

The camps in northeast Syria constitute a long-term security risk also for Europe. The longer the children are kept in a radicalising environment without education or protection the graver the risks. There are no perfect solutions. For Finland’s security, the worst option is to leave the children in the camps.

NordenBladet — On Thursday 18 March, Prime Minister Sanna Marin will attend a video meeting with the President of the European Council and the leaders of five other EU Member States.

Their meeting is in preparation for the European Council meeting to be held in Brussels on 25 and 26 March. Topics on the agenda will include the EU’s actions to manage the COVID-19 pandemic, the single market, industrial policy and the digital transformation, along with the situation in the Mediterranean and EU-Russia relations. Along with Prime Minister Marin, the Prime Ministers of Poland, Luxembourg, Belgium and Malta and the Chancellor of Austria will also participate in tomorrow’s small group meeting, which was convened by European Council President Charles Michel. President Michel is organising similar meetings for other groups of countries.

NordenBladet — In its recent report, the Parliamentary Committee on Crisis Management proposes that the level of ambition in Finnish crisis management should be raised. This requires commitment to more active and diverse participation, enhanced effectiveness and deeper cooperation between those involved in crisis management.

The Parliamentary Committee was tasked to produce an up-to-date overview of developments in and needs of international crisis management and of the environment where Finland participates in crisis management, as well as to present recommendations for future participation in crisis management and for measures that would improve its effectiveness. Finland’s participation in military crisis management has been on the decline. As for civilian crisis management, the objective has already been to raise the strength of Finland’s civilian crisis management force to at least 150 specialists.

“In future, the most important decisions relating to crisis management will be related to our capacity to respond to the changes and needs in the operating environment. The Parliamentary Committee has a clear common message. The report conveys a strong political will to maintain the high profile in crisis management that Finland has in international contexts as well as to ensure sufficient resources for both practical participation in crisis management tasks and the development of activities,” says Johanna Sumuvuori, State Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

The Committee emphasised the fact that participation in crisis management is part of Finland’s foreign, security and defence policy.  By participating in international crisis management, Finland contributes to security and bears responsibility for maintaining international peace and security and the rules-based international system.  Through crisis management, Finland also exercises influence in international organisations and in relation to partner countries.   Participation in international crisis management improves the security of Finns. It can also have a positive impact on our internal security and help to improve our national preparedness and capabilities.

The Parliamentary Committee gives five recommendations, according to which Finland should continue active and diverse participation in crisis management; set quantitative and qualitative objectives for participation; select geographic focus areas based on the development of the operating environment; enhance the effectiveness of crisis management; and strengthen the comprehensive approach to crisis management both nationally and internationally (coordination between crisis management, development cooperation, humanitarian assistance and mediation).

The Parliamentary Committee on Crisis Management is one of the five parliamentary committees appointed by the Government. According to its promise, the Government is committed to taking account of long-term objectives and to engaging in systematic parliamentary cooperation between the Government and Parliament. To fulfil this promise, the Government appointed five parliamentary committees to support the objective to strengthen transparency, inclusion and broad knowledge base during preparation. Representatives from all parliamentary parties and from central interest groups and non-governmental organisations were invited as committee members. The parliamentary committees are responsible for preparing major structural reforms over future electoral terms. Parliamentary committee work ensures a cross-sectoral approach and continuity across electoral terms. The purpose is to produce proposals for solutions and policies within agreed timeframes in ways that guarantee commitment to them.

NordenBladet — Together with the European Union, Finland has firmly condemned the military coup in Myanmar against its civilian government and urged restoration of the civilian government. The military authorities are demanded respect for human rights, the rule of law, freedom of assembly, and freedom of expression, including peaceful protests. The armed forces’ violence against protesters is strongly condemnable.

The EU is preparing targeted sanctions against the military authorities of Myanmar. Finland supports sanctions as part of efforts to exert influence on the military leadership behind the coup.

“The sanctions should be carefully targeted to avoid causing further suffering for the civilian population. Finland is concerned about the possibility of setbacks in human development in Myanmar,” says Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari. Finland is currently reviewing the preconditions of continuing development cooperation in Myanmar in order to make sure that the results of our long-term work there will not be destroyed.  Until now, Finland has committed to supporting Myanmar’s peace process, strengthening gender equality, developing the education sector, and promoting sustainable management of natural resources especially in the forest sector. The political situation is uncertain and unpredictable, and both the Finnish Embassy in Yangon and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Helsinki are following developments in Myanmar carefully. It is clear that we will not continue to channel funding for development cooperation to a state budget administered by the armed forces nor to the administration in power during the state of emergency.  Finland has suspended funding to cooperation with the administration, and disbursements to cooperation partners have not been made after the coup.

“Finland has supported democracy development in Myanmar respecting the principles of sustainable development and collaborating with reliable partners.  If working conditions in the country will allow the organisations to stay, it is possible that development cooperation can continue. The cooperation will continue provided that the results of our work will benefit the people of Myanmar,” says Minister Skinnari. Finland will discuss with the EU, the other Nordic countries, international organisations and other donors to reach agreement on a common policy and shared principles. Myanmar has been one of Finland’s partner countries since 2012. In recent years, Finland’s development cooperation in Myanmar, guided by the priorities set out in the Country Strategy, has been approximately EUR 16 million a year. Additionally, support has been channelled through humanitarian assistance, the EU, civil society organisations, higher education institutions, development finance institutions, and financial instruments used in the private sector.

NordenBladet — Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a remote bilateral meeting on 16 March 2021. In their first meeting, the prime ministers had an extensive discussion on how to deepen concrete cooperation between their countries and addressed a number of key international issues.

Prime Minister Marin highlighted the importance of equality – in particular the realisation of the rights of women and girls – for society and the economy. Prime Minister Marin told Prime Minister Modi about Finland’s human rights-based approach to foreign policy and Finland’s candidacy for membership in the UN Human Rights Council in 2022–2024.

Prime Minister Marin also emphasised the role of high-quality education in society. India is currently reforming its education system, and there is great potential for cooperation between Finland and India in this sphere.

The Prime Ministers discussed deepening bilateral relations in the fields of trade and investment, science, innovation and sustainable development. Finland and India have many partnerships that aim to promote sustainable development and digitalisation, among other objectives.

In their discussion, the prime ministers found opportunities for closer cooperation in fields such as new technologies and the digital transformation, including in the development of 6G technology, quantum computing and artificial intelligence. Finland and India have a great deal to offer each other in these areas.

The Prime Ministers discussed the fight against climate change, both as an international theme and from the perspective of climate initiatives in India and Finland. The joint declaration by Finland and India issued in connection with the meeting mentions, among other things, India’s initiative on the International Solar Alliance (ISA), which aims to promote the use of solar energy, and Finland’s joint initiative with Chile on the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action.

The discussion also touched on UN reforms. In this context, Prime Minister Marin affirmed Finland’s support for India’s efforts to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Another item on the agenda was the partnership between the EU and India, a topic the prime ministers will have the opportunity to discuss next at the upcoming India-EU27 Leaders’ Meeting to be held in Porto on 8 May 2021. The prime ministers also briefly discussed regional issues, such as the situations in Myanmar and Afghanistan, Arctic cooperation and Africa.

NordenBladet — The first meeting of the Nordic Council of Ministers for Digitalisation during Finland’s 2021 Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers discussed the digital green transition and decided on the priorities for cooperation over the next four years. According to Minister Paatero, the Nordic and Baltic countries can serve as an example for mitigating climate change through a value-based, inclusive digital transformation that also boosts competitiveness.

Minister of Local Government Sirpa Paatero chaired the meeting of the Nordic Council of Ministers for Digitalisation (MR-DIGITAL) on 16 March. The meeting was attended by ministers from the Nordic and Baltic countries and Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager of the European Commission. The ministers and Commissioner Vestager discussed the digital green transition and the role to be played in this transition by the countries of the region.In the discussions, Minister Paatero highlighted that the Nordic countries are leaders in public sector digitalisation in the EU, and that measures to tackle the pandemic have accelerated digitalisation, with large numbers of people working remotely, for example. The impact of remote working on transport emissions will be assessed by autumn. Finland’s strategy for reforming public governance sees digitalisation as a key to both environmental protection and more flexible working. The public sector must also lead the way in the procurement of sustainable and clean solutions. The Nordic and Baltic countries can work together in this.Addressing the meeting, Minister Paatero also emphasised the shared Nordic values and the fact that by taking the lead and working together, the countries of the region can play a bigger role than their size would suggest in the search for solutions to the most urgent of global challenges.

“The Nordic welfare model combined with high technology and the responsible and sustainable use of natural resources serves as a foundation on which we can build our competitiveness in the future.”, says minister Paatero.

In the debate, Commissioner Vestager highlighted the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), for which measures are being prepared in all EU Member States. She emphasised that the RRF is a key instrument for bringing the EU out of the current crisis. The purpose of the RRF is also to help the economies of EU countries to become more flexible and to promote digital development to ensure a dual transition to sustainability and digitalisation.

Finland’s 2021 Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers marks the start of a new four-year term for the Nordic Council of Ministers for Digitalisation (MR-DIGITAL). The meeting approved a roadmap for the coming years, which defines the priorities for cooperation and sets out packages of measures. These packages include Nordic Baltic eID cooperation to promote interoperability between digital identity systems of the Nordic and Baltic countries, and a Finnish Presidency project to promote cross-border data exchange between public authorities.

NordenBladet — The Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM) is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2021. In tribute to this, NCM will organise five debates on Nordic Day, 23 March.

NCM will delve deeper into five topical themes prioritised by the Finnish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers 2021 – Nordic solutions related to gender equality, freedom of movement, the circular economy, freedom of expression and culture. We will highlight Nordic collaborative contributions and discuss what the Nordic region means to key Nordic players. What do we want the Nordic region to look like in the future?The first of the five debates will focus on online hate and threats. Online abuse has become a commonplace phenomenon in the Nordic countries and risks silencing voices in the digital public space. In 2021, the Finnish Presidency and the Nordic Council’s Committee for Welfare in the Nordic Region will focus on digital abuse and online threats, approaching the theme from the perspective of equality. If possible, these topics have gained even more relevance during the ongoing pandemic. 23 March1–2 p.m. What can the Nordic countries do to make the Internet a safer place?

The options available to the Nordic countries to make the Internet a safer place will be discussed by politicians, researchers, organisations, and young Nordic people. The participants, including Thomas Blomqvist, Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality, Annika Hambrudd, Minister for Equality, Åland, Hanna Onwen-Huma, Senior Specialist at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Lisa Kaati, Head of Research at the Swedish Defence Research Agency, and Eva Biaudet, Chair of the National Council of Women of Finland, will discuss digital abuse from the perspective of equality. Welcome to join us! Facebook event:Nordic day: What can the Nordic countries do to make the Internet a safer place?The event will be held Swedish and Finnish. Nordic Day 2021 (Norden.org) #Nordensdag       #Norden2021