NordenBladet — In their informal video meeting on 23 February, the EU ministers for European affairs discussed preparations for the informal video meeting of the members of the European Council and exchanged views on the European Democracy Action Plan. The ministers were also briefed on the state of play with regard to EU–UK relations and on the preparations for the Conference on the Future of Europe. Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Tytti Tuppurainen represented Finland at the meeting.Topics on the agenda for the informal videoconference of members of the European Council on 25–26 February include the EU’s measures to address the COVID-19 pandemic, preparedness for health threats, security and defence, and the EU’s relations with the Southern Neighbourhood. In Finland’s view, it is essential to promote a common and effective EU strategy in order to tackle COVID-19. The EU must strengthen its ability to respond to and prepare for cross-border health threats.Finland also supports strengthening and developing the EU’s security and defence policy. The EU must be able to bear responsibility for the security of its own area and for that of the neighbouring regions.“Accelerating vaccinations and preventing the spread of new virus variants play a key role in the EU’s efforts to combat COVID-19. We also need to launch discussions on how we can better reconcile health security and free movement in situations similar to the one we are now experiencing. We need to create common operating practices that have been agreed on in advance,” says Minister Tuppurainen.The ministers for European affairs held an extensive exchange of views the European Democracy Action Plan. Finland welcomes the Action Plan and considers it highly topical. Finland has actively participated in discussions with the Commission and other Member States on the preparation of the Action Plan and is of the view that it will provide a good framework for strengthening democracy. It is very important to protect the reliability of elections and promote democratic participation, to strengthen media freedom and pluralism, and to combat disinformation, manipulation and interference, including by foreign actors.“We need joint EU measures to combat disinformation and hate speech and prevent the spread of conspiracy theories. We have also raised this issue in our Government Report on EU Policy. It is worrying that people are hesitant to even run for election due to hate speech,” says Minister Tuppurainen.  The ministers also received a briefing on the state of play with regard to EU–UK relations. The Commission has proposed extending the provisional application of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which entered into force on 1 January 2021, until 30 April 2021, as the official translations of the agreement into all EU languages will not be ready until the end of April. The Member States have accepted the request.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. In the General Affairs Council (GAC), the EU 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. 
 

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Finland has now completed its first National Child Strategy. In 2020, the parliamentary committee which was responsible for preparing the Strategy formed a common view of the vision for a child- and family-friendly Finland that spans government terms.  The Strategy is based on three key ideas, which are to respect the rights of all children, take due account of children in society and support the wellbeing of children. Towards a Finland for all childrenThe Strategy will create a genuinely child- and family-friendly Finland that respects the rights of the child. The rights and status of children will also be mainstreamed, ensuring that children are consistently taken into consideration in all activities alongside with other members of society. Children will be informed of their rights.  The status of children in a vulnerable position will be secured, and their needs will be recognised better.Implementation of Child Strategy ensures realisation of children’s rightsThe National Child Strategy will guide the preparation of an implementation plan for each government term. The implementation of the Strategy will ensure that the rights of all children are realised as fully as possible. It will also support the inclusion of all children and their right to a future.The Strategy must be implemented through cross-administrative collaboration, involving a wide range of stakeholders in society, the civil society as well as children and adults of different ages and representing a variety of population groups.Child Strategy covers all children and young people under 18 years of ageThe National Child Strategy applies to all children and young people under the age of 18. In addition, the families in which children live and young adults in the transitional stage between childhood and adulthood are taken into account in the Strategy and its implementation.One of the objectives of the Strategy is to increase the inclusion of children and young people. An event about the Child Strategy will be held for children and young people on Wednesday 17 March 2021. Parliamentary committee formed a common view The parliamentary committee based its work on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and prior studies, and it prepared the Strategy in collaboration. The Strategy is based on the four general principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child — non-discrimination; the child’s best interests as the primary consideration; the child’s right to life, survival and development; and the inclusion of the child.“I am very pleased with the work carried out jointly by all members of the parliamentary committee and with the fact that we formed a common political will. We had a clear vision of how the Child Strategy will help build a Finland that respects the rights of all children and be a good place for children to be born and grow up in,” says Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services Krista Kiuru, who also served as chair of the committee.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The research project ordered by the Government surveys what types of complementary pathways for legal migration are available in different countries for use by people residing abroad who are in need of international protection. The focus is on work- and study-based pathways. This international comparison can help to support the consideration of the need of complimentary pathways in Finland as well as the international community’s efforts to find new solutions.Complementary pathways refer to arrangements where a residence permit is issued, for example, on the grounds of study or work, to a person residing abroad who is deemed to be in need of international protection. The aim is to enable a person to enter a country legally and safely without having to resort to human traffickers. The objective of the study is to obtain comprehensive information on what complementary pathways can mean in practice and what administrative and legislative solutions have been made by the countries applying these arrangements. Furthermore, statistics are produced on the scope of the approaches and to whom they are applied.Complementary pathways refer to a wide range of solutions, such as work-based and study-based programmes, humanitarian visas and various labour mobility arrangements. Comprehensive studies on the matter have not yet been conducted. The study surveys the practices adopted by a couple of different countries in more detail. The countries to be surveyed will be specified as the study progresses.For the EU, the development of complementary pathways is an important means of responding to immigrationComplementary immigration pathways for people in need of international protection are a significant and up-to-date theme in international discussions concerning immigration. It is expected that the number of people in need of international protection will continue to grow. At the same time, illegal crossings of external borders and human trafficking are characteristic of migration to the EU. The European Commission is leading the search for novel solutions to combat these phenomena in the EU. The European Commission issued an extensive Recommendation in September 2020 on the reform of immigration and asylum policy, which emphasises the development of legal migration pathways as part of the EU’s comprehensive approach to migration. The Commission issued also a separate Recommendation on the legal pathways. In this Recommendation, the Commission urges Member States to explore the possibilities of work-based and study-based admission for those in need of international protection and encourages EU Member States to share their experiences and best practices. In addition, the United Nation’s High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has a strategy for 2019–2021 to promote the reception of quota refugees and the use of complementary migration pathways at the global level.Finland has not adopted complementary pathwaysAccording to the Government Programme of Prime Minister Sanna Marin, the system of legal admission pathways will be developed as part of Finland’s EU policy. The study will create up-to-date information required by the Finnish government and authorities in forming the national view and engaging in the international discussion.  At present, persons in need of international protection can receive protection from Finland by coming here either as asylum seekers or through a resettlement programme as quota refugees. Complementary pathways are not used in Finland.The project will produce information to fulfil national needs as well as the needs of other countries as the research report will be written in English. Therefore, the project will support the joint efforts of the EU countries in finding and promoting immigration-related solutions so that functional solutions for an increasing number of people in need of international protection could be found.The study will be completed in autumn 2021The research project is part of implementing the government plan for analysis, assessment and research for 2021. The study will be completed in October. The research team includes experts from the Rehabilitation Foundation, Oxford Research AB and the Migration Institute of Finland. Joanne van Selm, an independent researcher on migration and refugee issues, is also participating in the project. The project steering group selected the party conducting the research through an open application process. The members of the steering group include representatives from the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.Additional information:Anna Rundgren, Senior Specialist, Ministry of the Interior, tel. +358 295 488 324, [email protected]
Sirkku Varjonen, Special Researcher, Rehabilitation Foundation, tel. +358 44 781 3141, [email protected]

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has sent the draft law concerning the amendment of the Aliens Act, prepared in cooperation with the authorities, for a round of consultation. It proposes that Finland would also adopt the national D visa. The proposal establishes the visa application and the prerequisites for issuing.The national D visa is based on the Schengen Convention, and the prerequisites for their issuing can also be regulated nationally. With the national D visa, individuals are allowed to reside in the granting country for a maximum of one year. The national D visa also allows to reside in the Schengen Area for a maximum of three months within any period of six months.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Prime Minister Sanna Marin will attend a video meeting of EU leaders on Tuesday 23 February. The meeting is in preparation for the videoconference of members of the European Council on 25–26 February, at which the leaders will discuss the EU’s measures to address the COVID-19 pandemic, preparedness for health threats, security and defence, and the EU’s relations with the Southern Neighbourhood. Today’s small group session, convened by President of the European Council Charles Michel, will also be attended by the Federal Chancellor of Austria, the Presidents of Cyprus and Romania and the Prime Minister of Slovenia. President Michel is organising similar meetings for other groups of countries.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Prime Minister Sanna Marin has invited Master of Laws Elisa Gebhard to be her Special Adviser. Gebhard, who took up her post on Monday 22 February, will be responsible for the Prime Minister’s communications and media relations.Gebhard comes to her post from her previous position as Public Relations Expert at Finance Finland. She has previously held several positions in the Social Democratic Parliamentary Group, including as Adviser to Jutta Urpilainen. 

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — In 2020, the Unit for Consular Assistance provided nearly twice as much guidance compared to the previous year. In the spring, during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, personal guidance and advice were given to tens of thousands of travellers stranded abroad. Thousands of travellers were assisted in returning to Finland after air traffic ground to a sudden halt.According to the statistics for 2020, Finland’s missions provided services to approximately 176,000 customers, nearly double that of the previous year. The increased number of contacts was also felt at the Foreign Ministry’s on-call centre, which received over 12,000 calls or emails over the year, busiest being March and April. Similar to previous years, most of the services consisted of guidance provided to customers.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has granted EUR 1 026 000 in discretionary government grants to 14 civil society organisations (CSOs) operating in the field of foreign and security policy.The support is granted from 2021 Budget item 24.90.50 (Certain government grants) and it is meant for CSOs’ activities that are related to Finland’s foreign and security policy and international commitments.In the call for government grant applications for 2021, special emphasis was laid on rules-based international cooperation; prevention of conflicts; crisis management and mediation; human rights and human security; the European Union as a global actor; comprehensive transatlantic cooperation; and security threats related to climate change.This is the fifth year when discretionary government grants are awarded based on an open application procedure.By the due date, 18 CSOs had submitted their applications to the Ministry. The amounts applied ranged between EUR 20,000 and EUR 380,000.This year, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs awarded discretionary government grants to the following CSOs:Crisis Management Initiative (CMI)European Movement in FinlandFinnwatchHistorians without Borders in FinlandFinnish League for Human RightsWider Security Network (WISE)Sámi CouncilSaferGlobe FinlandAtlantic Council of FinlandFinnish Red CrossCommittee of 100 in FinlandUN Association of FinlandWorld Federation of the DeafÅland Islands Peace Institute The awarded grants are general grants for the CSOs’ activities in 2021. Discretionary government grants are awarded for one year at a time.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has granted EUR 445,000 in discretionary government grants to civil society organisations’ (CSOs) Europe information. Grants were given to 21 CSOs and 23 projects.Discretionary government grants are awarded to CSOs to help them raise awareness and knowledge of the European Union in Finland. CSOs play an important role in enhancing general knowledge and understanding of the EU and in promoting related discussion. The grants strengthen CSOs’ Europe information and improve people’s basic knowledge of matters related to the European Union and Finland’s EU membership.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — On 22 February, the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU will hold an informal videoconference of EU Ministers for Employment, Social Affairs and Equality. Minister of Social Affairs and Health Aino-Kaisa Pekonen, Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen and Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality Thomas Blomqvist will represent Finland at the meeting.The meeting will explore themes to be addressed in the upcoming Action Plan for the European Pillar of Social Rights, which the European Commission will publish at the beginning of March. The EU Prime Ministers will adopt the Action Plan at the Portuguese Social Summit in Porto on 7–8 May 2021. At the meeting, the Ministers of Employment and Social Affairs will hold discussions in several working groups. Minister of Employment Haatainen will participate in the discussion on post-pandemic jobs and employment. Minister Pekonen’s group will discuss measures to prevent and reduce poverty and social exclusion. Minister Blomqvist, for his part, will participate in the discussion of Ministers of Equality on the role of gender equality in advancing COVID-19 recovery. Action Plan for European Pillar of Social Rights aims to strengthen citizens’ wellbeing The EU Prime Ministers adopted the European Pillar of Social Rights at the Social Summit in Gothenburg in November 2017. The Pillar of Social Rights contains 20 basic principles for education, gender equality, employment and the social sector. The principles are divided into three chapters: equal opportunities and access to the labour market, fair working conditions, and social protection and inclusion.Finland’s newly released Government report on EU policy considers the social dimension a top EU priority, and Finland places great importance on its development. The goal is to improve wellbeing in the Union in general and to narrow the gap in living standards by reducing poverty and inequality.Implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights in full is essential in order to strengthen the social dimension, promote fair and inclusive working life and ensure a well-functioning single market. With this in mind, we need a clear and concrete action plan that defines what measures are needed to implement the pillar, from whom and within what timeframe.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi