NordenBladet — The Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) is an internationally oriented expert organisation operating under the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.
Persons who applied for the position of Director General:
Niina Ahtonen
Olli Breilin
Mikko Eklund
Tommy Grahn
Anni Huhtala
Markku Järvenpää
Kari Knuutila
Jaakko Koppinen
Jarkko Koskinen
Pasi Niemistö
Antti Rautavaara
Markus Sovala
Kimmo Tiilikainen
Antti Toivanen
Saku Vuori
4 applicants did not want their names published.
The position became available after the current Director General Mika Nykänen was selected as chief executive of Helsinki Region Transport HSL.
The Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) is an internationally oriented expert organisation operating under the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. The GTK produces geological information and services for the needs of society and business. The information produced by the GTK promotes the sustainable use of natural resources. The GTK provides extensive expert, research and laboratory services as well as digital services, which it continuously develops. More than 400 experts work at the GTK.
Applications were accepted until Monday 11 January 2021 at 16.15. The list of applicants may be updated if more applications that have been submitted by the deadline arrive later by post or through the Registry.
NordenBladet — On 11 January, Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Estonian Prime Minister Jüri Ratas discussed bilateral relations between Finland and Estonia, the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and progress on vaccine coverage in the EU, other topical EU matters and international issues.
Prime Minister Marin thanked Estonia for its good management of the Nordic-Baltic NB8 cooperation format during its term as coordinator in 2020. As coordinator of the NB8 cooperation format this year, Finland will be focusing on the digital transformation, innovation and climate policy.
The prime ministers engage in regular discussions on the management of the COVID-19 pandemic and other topical issues.
NordenBladet — In a telephone conversation on 8 January, Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė discussed bilateral relations between Finland and Lithuania, EU affairs and international issues.
Prime Minister Marin congratulated Šimonytė on her recent appointment as Prime Minister. The Prime Ministers have not yet met in person, but they talked via video connection.
The discussion highlighted the importance of EU cooperation in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly when it comes to ensuring adequate vaccine procurement. The Prime Ministers exchanged views on the national implementation of EU recovery measures, the green transition in the agricultural, energy and transport sectors, education, and the digital transformation.
The Prime Ministers also exchanged views on opportunities for closer cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic countries. Finland will coordinate the regional Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) cooperation format in 2021. During its term as coordinator, Finland aims to focus on the digital transformation, innovation and climate policy.
The Prime Ministers also had a comprehensive discussion on relations with Russia and the situation in Belarus.
NordenBladet — The EU should exert great pressure on the vaccine manufacturers to ensure the speedy delivery of vaccines to the EU Member States, says Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services Krista Kiuru.
In her letter to Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Minister Kiuru emphasises that she finds it unacceptable that the deliveries to the EU have been delayed while some other countries have received ample quantities of vaccines. She also underlines that it is important not to compromise on the safety of vaccines.
In her letter, Minister Kiuru also welcomes the initiative to scale up production capacity in the EU through public funding. However, she wishes to stress that this investment should be turned into concrete results through speedier delivery of vaccines.
NordenBladet — The recent events in the United States, one of the oldest democracies in the world, have shocked people and nations across the world. Finland is no exception. The violent invasion of the country’s Capitol building and the attempt to prevent the confirmation of the election results are serious and unacceptable acts. Yesterday’s events have also claimed casualties.
Europe and the United States share a common historical value base, which came under attack yesterday. We cannot accept actions that disrupt the democratic process or question the outcome of free elections.
It is good that Congress managed to confirm the election results despite the violence. It shows that democracy and its institutions are able to operate even under exceptional circumstances. Yesterday’s events have been widely condemned in the United States.
President Joe Biden and his administration will begin their work on 20 January. We want to establish close cooperation with the new administration. President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will have a great deal of work to do, not least of all to strengthen unity within their country.
Finland has always had good, close and extensive relations with the United States. We have many expectations when it comes to cooperation, both bilaterally and within the framework of the European Union, in areas where it has been challenging over the past few years. An example could be the fight against climate change.
Multilateral institutions need the leadership of a United States of America that is committed to strengthening them. We need strong cooperation with the United States in our work to combat climate change and advance human rights, democracy and equality. The ongoing global pandemic has also shown how important strong multilateral cooperation is, and how fragile we are without it.
NordenBladet — On 7 January, the Government decided to extend the restrictions on entry into the country until 9 February 2021. The COVID-19 epidemic is still clearly growing globally, and the number of infections is increasing in most countries more sharply than in Finland. It is therefore not justified to ease the restrictions until the new health security measures under preparation have been made sufficiently available.
The decision is based on the limit value of a maximum of 25 new cases of the disease per 100,000 persons in the previous 14 days. It applies to Schengen countries, non-Schengen EU countries and the United Kingdom.
Restrictions on internal border control remain unchanged
Internal border traffic refers to traffic between Finland and other Schengen countries. Restrictions on internal border traffic are in force for traffic between Finland and Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, with the exception of leisure boating.
However, day-to-day travel is permitted for local border communities at Finland’s land border with Sweden. Similarly, commuting and other essential travel is permitted for local border communities at the Finland’s land border with Norway. In addition, people can come to work in Finland from Sweden and Estonia without a 10-day self-isolation period.
Crossing the internal border between Finland and Sweden and between Finland and Norway is also permitted on ice-covered border rivers, but it will not be allowed to go ashore to the territory of another state. In addition, residents of border communities and Saami people may cross the land border between Finland and Sweden and between Finland and Norway (including lakes) and border rivers also at places other than border crossing points. However, the above-mentioned right does not permit them to cross the border with a motor vehicle, with the exception of off-road vehicles.
At the internal borders, the restrictions on entry allow only return traffic to Finland, transit traffic, work-related travel and travel for other essential reasons, apart from the above-mentioned exceptions. A 10-day period of self-isolation is recommended for travellers arriving in Finland. Travellers can shorten their self-isolation period at their discretion if they take two voluntary COVID-19 tests.
Minor changes to restrictions on external border traffic
External border traffic refers to traffic between Finland and non-Schengen countries. Restrictions on entry will also be reinstated for residents of Japan and South Korea arriving in Finland. The change will enter into force 11 January 2021. In all other respects, the restrictions on external border traffic will remain unchanged and be extended until 9 February 2021. Restrictions have already been lifted for traffic arriving in Finland from the Vatican, and for traffic between Finland and Australia, Rwanda, Singapore, Thailand and New Zealand for residents of these countries.
The decision concerning lifting the restrictions for residents of China and of the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions who are travelling from these regions to Finland will remain unchanged, provided that reciprocity is confirmed by the Council of the European Union.
People may still come to Finland from the following European countries for work or other essential reasons: Andorra, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Monaco, Romania, San Marino and the United Kingdom. The restrictions on entry for these countries correspond to the restrictions on internal border traffic. A 10-day period of self-isolation is recommended for travellers arriving in Finland.
For all other non-Schengen countries, restrictions on entry permit only return traffic to Finland and other EU and Schengen countries, transit traffic at Helsinki Airport and other essential traffic. In addition, a 10-day period of self-isolation is recommended for travellers arriving in Finland. Travellers can shorten their self-isolation period at their discretion if they take two voluntary COVID-19 tests.
The United Kingdom withdrew from the EU on 1 February 2020. The transition period ended on 31 December 2020. After the transition period, i.e. from 1 January 2021, UK citizens will be subject to the provisions concerning third-country nationals in border checks.
Government still recommends avoiding unnecessary travel to high-risk countries
Under the Constitution of Finland, Finnish citizens and residents of Finland always have the right to return to Finland, and everyone has the right to leave Finland if they so wish, provided that there is no legal impediment to this. However, the Government still recommends avoiding unnecessary travel to other countries, except for countries for which the restrictions on entry have been lifted.
Travellers must be aware of the current entry and quarantine regulations of their country of destination and they must take into account the quarantine and testing recommendations for those returning to Finland.
NordenBladet — In its plenary session on Thursday 7 January, the Government appointed Anna-Mari Vimpari (M.Soc.Sci.) State Secretary to Ministers Annika Saarikko, Matti Vanhanen, Jari Leppä, Mika Lintilä and Antti Kaikkonen from 7 January 2021 onwards. The State Secretaries’ terms end with those of the ministers.State Secretary Vimpari took her oath of office at the same Government plenary session.
Prior to her appointment as State Secretary, Anna-Mari Vimpari served as Secretary General of the Centre Party parliamentary group and, before this, as Managing Director of Miltton Networks Oy. Vimpari has also served as Adviser to Prime Ministers Mari Kiviniemi and Matti Vanhanen in EU affairs, as Special Adviser to Minister of Public Administration and Local Government Kiviniemi and as Special Adviser to Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen in Parliamentary Affairs.
The Government also appointed Kimmo Tiilikainen (M.Sc. Agriculture and Forestry) State Secretary to Ministers Jari Leppä, Mika Lintilä and Matti Vanhanen from 7 January 2021. Tiilikainen has served as State Secretary to Ministers Leppä and Lintilä since 12 December 2019.
State Secretaries assist ministers in matters relating 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 — On 7 January 2021, the Ministry of the Interior sent out for comments a proposal for reforming the Lotteries Act, which regulates gambling in Finland. The key points of the proposal include preventing the harm caused by gambling in an effective manner, combating marketing that violates the Lotteries Act, and securing Veikkaus Oy’s capacity to channel the demand for gambling. The basic premise of the reform is that Finland’s gambling system will also in the future be based on the state monopoly in line with the Government Programme. The proposal is based on the Programme of Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Government, which states that the Government will implement the second phase of the reform of the Lotteries Act.
“The proposal includes a number of different measures to prevent the harm caused by gambling and any gambling activities that violate the Lotteries Act. An example of such measures is placing game machines in a way that reduces the harm caused by gambling to vulnerable persons in particular. The proposal will also help secure the gambling monopoly in Finland in line with the Government Programme. It is a package where different elements complement one another,” says Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo.
Provisions on compulsory identification to be included in ActVeikkaus Oy has announced that it will extend the identification requirement to all of its gambling games. This would also be laid down in the Act. The identification of slot machine players became compulsory from the beginning of 2021. The identification requirement would start apply to other gambling games by the beginning of 2023 at the latest and to scratch cards at the beginning of 2024.
The Act would lay down provisions on the use of game and player data that would increase as a result of the identification requirement. Veikkaus would have the right to use the data for the purpose of operating games responsibly, for example addressing individual cases of harmful gambling. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) could receive and analyse data for the purposes of assessing and monitoring the harmful effects of gambling. This would further improve the prevention and reduction of harm caused by gambling. The reform would also promote the use of this data in other scientific research.
Prevention of harm must be taken into account when placing slot machinesAs regards the location of slot machines, it is proposed that Veikkaus and the establishments providing space for slot machines be required to take account of the principles of preventing the harm caused by gambling and to draw up a related plan.The location and use of slot machines should be planned to minimise the harm caused by gambling. When placing slot machines, particular attention should be paid to the harm that gambling causes to minors and vulnerable persons. The establishments providing space for slot machines should see to it that the personnel are familiar with the obligations laid down in the Act and in the plans made by the establishments when it comes to the location of slot machines.
Tougher regulation on marketing of gambling
The current regulation on the permitted marketing of gambling is based on directing gambling towards gambling services that are provided by Veikkaus Oy under the Lotteries Act. It is proposed that this principle of marketing be supplemented so that marketing would be moderate and it would direct gambling towards gambling activities that cause less harm.
The provisions on marketing would also be specified by introducing new restrictions on the content and ways of permitted marketing. In addition, the Act would directly prohibit the marketing of certain particularly harmful gambling games, such as slot machines. Nowadays, decisions on such prohibitions are made when decrees on the rules governing gambling are issued. Betting and totalisator betting would form an exception to the current practice because their marketing would be permitted in future to support Veikkaus Oy’s capacity to channel the demand for gambling. However, information would no longer be given about betting events relating to games associated with particularly harmful effects because of the ambiguity in the interpretation of such information.
As for visual or printed advertising, the Act would include an obligation to provide information about the age limit for gambling, the possibility to apply for a gambling prohibition, services providing help for gambling problems, and the possibility to prohibit direct marketing if players have set a ban on their gambling.
Measures will also be taken to intensify the monitoring of marketing to ensure compliance with the Lotteries Act. The National Police Board could propose to the Market Court that, as a new tool, an administrative penalty payment be imposed for marketing that violates the Lotteries Act. In future, the National Police Board could also prohibit private individuals from marketing gambling activities when marketing violates the Lotteries Act.
Blocking of payment transactions to prevent gambling outside the monopoly system
It is possible to prevent the harm caused by gambling by restricting the accessibility of gambling services. For this reason, it it proposed that measures for blocking payment transactions be introduced to prevent gambling outside the monopoly system.
The National Police Board would maintain a blacklist of gambling companies which target marketing at mainland Finland and whose payment transactions with banks and other payment service providers should be blocked.
Veikkaus could engage in business-to-business activitiesThe proposal would not only introduce measures to support the channelling capacity of Veikkaus but also allow Veikkaus to establish a subsidiary for the provision of services other than gambling. The subsidiary would focus on providing gambling products and services to other companies but it would not be allowed to provide gambling services to consumers.
The proposal was prepared by a broad-based working group as part of the project set up to reform the Lotteries Act. The working group heard a number of experts, and in addition, the Ministry of the Interior held a broad-based consultation on the proposal in November 2020.The deadline for submitting comments is 5 February 2021. The government proposal is due to be submitted to Parliament in June 2021.
NordenBladet — The UK’s withdrawal from the EU will be complete on 1 January 2021. The Trade and Cooperation Agreement and the complementary agreements on security of classified information and nuclear cooperation, which were agreed by the EU Commission and the UK on 24 December 2020, will be applied provisionally from the beginning of the year. The agreements have not yet been ratified but the provisional application of the agreements prevents the UK’s withdrawal from the Union without a deal. Brexit will have various effects on work and business.
Impact of Brexit on businessesAs is typical of free trade agreements, the agreement covers topics such as trade in goods, trade in services and investments, digital trade, capital transfers and payments, protection of intellectual property, public procurement, small and medium-sized enterprises, energy, transparency, good regulatory practices and regulatory cooperation, and provisions on equal conditions of competition and sustainable development.
The purpose of the agreement is to create conditions for trade between EU and UK companies. The agreement does not replace the internal market. The provisions in the agreement are considerably more general than the precise obligations in internal market legislation. The agreement reflects a more distant relationship between two sovereign parties, which inevitably means new barriers to trade compared with the current situation. The free movement of goods, services, capital and people ends.
However, the agreement is a comprehensive trade agreement and in parts more extensive than previous EU agreements. For example, the agreement grants a completely duty-free and quota-free treatment of products from each party as long as the products comply with the agreement’s rules of origin. It also includes rules on equal conditions of competition related to State aid, work and environmental regulation, fight against climate change, carbon pricing and tax transparency, as well as a binding dispute settlement mechanism and the option for countermeasures to ensure the effective implementation of the agreement. The agreement’s provisions on energy are more detailed than in EU trade agreements usually.
The agreement’s provisions on the UK’s participation in the EU’s research programmes are largely the same as the existing association agreements for the Horizon 2020 framework programme.
Impact of Brexit on citizens
The withdrawal agreement of February 2020 ensured a controlled exit of the UK from the EU and addressed the position of EU citizens residing in the EU and UK citizens residing in EU. The withdrawal agreement safeguards the residence, employment and social security rights of EU citizens residing in the UK and UK citizens residing in the EU under EU law for life if they have settled in the UK or the EU before the end of the transition period. Their status and rights will be safeguarded as they were under the key EU legislation on 31 December 2020. With regard to persons moving to each other’s territory after 31 December 2020, free movement will end and restrictions will be placed on the entry and rights of EU and UK citizens.Provisional application of the agreementThe UK’s withdrawal from the EU entered into force on 1 February 2020. A transition period, which entered into force as per the withdrawal agreement, lasted until the end of 2020. During this time, the EU’s current rules remained in force and the future relationship was under negotiation.
On 24 December 2020, the EU and the UK concluded their negotiations on the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) and agreed the Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (NCA) and the Security of Classified Information Agreement (SCIA).
The EU countries decided on 29 December 2020 that the three agreements could be applied provisionally from 1 January 2021. The European Council adopted the decision by written procedure on 29 December 2020. This prevented a “no-deal” scenario after the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020.
The provisional application of the agreement is set to end on 28 February 2021 at the latest. The European Parliament is expected to approve the agreements by then. The Council, i.e. the Member States, will subsequently take a formal decision on the approval of the agreements and they will enter into force definitely.
NordenBladet — The number of coronavirus infections reported in Finland decreased during the Christmas week (21-27 December). The number of coronavirus tests administered also fell significantly from the previous weeks. It is therefore possible that cases will be reported with a delay in the near future.The total number of new cases in the last reporting period (21–31 December) was 3,950, which was almost 2,000 fewer cases than in the preceding two-week period. The incidence of new cases was 71 per 100,000 inhabitants and in the preceding two-week period it was 93 per 100,000 inhabitants.