NordenBladet — On 5 November 2020, the Government submitted a letter on the European Commission’s proposal concerning the implementation of the Single European Sky (SES) to Parliament. In the proposed Regulation, four previous SES regulations have been merged into one regulation. In addition, the Commission proposes that the Regulation on establishing a European Union Aviation Safety Agency be amended by adding provisions on the Performance Review Body of the Single European Sky to it.The Government considers that the objectives of the Single European Sky and the related reform of the air traffic management system can be generally supported.Single European Sky enables more efficient use of air spaceThe Single European Sky initiative was launched 20 years ago to improve the general effectiveness of the organisation and management of the European air space by reforming the sector that provides air navigation services. The aim is to harmonise the European airspace, which is fragmented and based on the Member States. The Single European Sky is estimated to provide huge benefits through the maximisation of the air space capacity, improved safety and a reduction in the costs and environmental effects resulting from the provision of air traffic services.The Government considers it important that more efficient use of the airspace can be achieved through the Single European Sky and as a result, flight delays, costs and air traffic emissions can be reduced. The Government supports reforming the regulation of SES in a manner that encourages improvement in the achievement of environmental objectives and in the reduction of emissions and air navigation costs.The COVID-19 pandemic has also revealed that the performance and charges of air navigation services are not regulated in a very flexible manner. For example, exceptionally great deviations from the traffic forecast cannot be taken into account. The purpose of the proposed Regulation is to address this challenge as well.The legislative initiative is also aimed at improving the competitiveness of the EU’s air traffic system. The aim is to enhance the performance of the air traffic services, ensure the openness of the provision of air navigation services and enhance the independence and role of the national supervisory authority in the implementation of the performance targets. In addition, the purpose of the Regulation is to enhance the role and the powers of the Network Manager and create a new performance review body that will administratively be in connection with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency EASA.The Government considers it important that airspace management and planning remain at the national level, even if the powers of the Network Manager are increased. Furthermore, the Government considers it appropriate to maintain Finland’s integrated air navigation system also in future and emphasises the importance of close cooperation between civil and military aviation operators. According to the Government, the powers and tasks assigned to the Network Manager and the Performance Review Body must also be appropriately regulated.In addition, the proposal includes provisions on a new kind of air traffic data service and a general information service for unmanned aviation. The Government is in favour of promoting the collection, management and use of air traffic data by enabling new kinds of services in a market-oriented manner.What next?The European Commission published the renewed SES2+ proposal and the proposal for the Regulation on amending the EASA regulation on 22 September 2020. The ministers of transport discussed the proposals in their video conference held on 8 October 2020. The consideration of the proposals began in the European Council’s Working Party on Aviation in October 2020 and will continue at least for the duration of autumn 2020. The schedule for their examination in the European Parliament is not yet known.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — A virtual meeting between Mika Lintilä, Minister of Economic Affairs, and Zhang Jianhua, Director of China’s National Energy Administration (NEA), will take place on Thursday, 5 November 2020. They will discuss the development of the energy sector in both countries, the current state of cooperation and the prospects for the future.The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and the NEA will accelerate cooperation between Finland and China in the field of energy by holding a ministerial meeting. Minister Mika Lintilä and Director Zhang Jianhua will discuss renewable energy solutions and other topics.“Finland has long cooperated with China in the energy sector and has built a reputation as a provider of clean solutions. It is necessary to promote this cooperation in a practical way in the future,” Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä says.For both parties, the introduction of energy technology solutions has been an interesting area of cooperation both from economic and environmental viewpoints. Similarly to Finland, China has announced its intention to achieve carbon neutrality. China aims to cut carbon dioxide emissions starting at 2030 and to become carbon neutral by 2060. This creates an opportunity for Finnish companies, because energy technology plays an important role in reducing emissions.Clean energy, intelligent energy systems and innovations at the heart of cooperationThe Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and the NEA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2017, which has laid the foundation for cooperation between Finland and China. The MOU, which was updated in June 2020, includes the themes of clean energy, intelligent energy systems and innovations in energy technology.Business Finland and the Chinese energy sector institute EPPEI have coordinated the energy cooperation between China and Finland at a practical level. Other companies and actors have also participated in the cooperation. Business Finland currently supports the internationalisation of Finnish companies through the Smart Energy programme.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 130th session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 4 November 2020 will be held in virtual format. Finland’s representative at the meeting will be Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto. The main topics on the meeting agenda will be the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on democracy, the rule of law and human rights.At their annual session, the ministers, who represent the 47 member States of the Council of Europe, discuss the Council’s role in European crises and conflicts, the long-term effectiveness of the System of the European Convention on Human Rights, and the organisation’s activities in the neighbouring areas.  Greece, which currently holds the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, will organise a celebration to mark the 70th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights in Athens.“The Council of Europe has actively defended democracy, the rule of law and human rights in Europe also during the coronavirus pandemic,” says Minister Haavisto. “The 70 year-old European Convention on Human Rights is our strongest foundation in responding to today’s challenges. Both scientific and technological advances and disputes and conflicts are transforming Europe at an ever faster pace. The European Court of Human Rights keeps abreast of these developments, maintaining the Convention as a dynamic instrument.The previous session of the Committee of Ministers was held in Helsinki in 2019, when Finland served as the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. 

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Saara Reinimäki, M.Soc.Sc., has been appointed Director of the Automation Unit in the Information Department at the Ministry of Transport and Communications. The appointment is from 9 November 2020 until 31 December 2021.Reinimäki has worked at the Ministry as Communications Specialist and Head of Communications in 2016-2018 and as Senior Specialist and Chief Specialist in the Ministry’s Services Department in 2018-2020. Prior to this she worked as Communications Specialist in the Finnish Environment Institute.The Automation Unit is a new unit in the Ministry. It is responsible for ensuring that automation of different modes of transport is progressing, the technical requirements for vehicles are up-to-date and that regulation on the transport of dangerous goods is in line with international agreements and European Union legislation.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — According to a recent study, gender equality planning and pay surveys have not been fully realised at workplaces as envisaged in the Act on Equality between Women and Men. The majority of workplaces that are obliged to prepare a gender equality plan do so, but there is considerable variation in the scope, quality and timeliness of these plans. There are challenges concerning pay surveys in particularThe Ministry of Social Affairs and Health commissioned Statistics Finland to conduct a study on gender equality plans and pay surveys at workplaces 2020. The study examined the coverage and quality of these personnel policy plans and surveys and how common they are at workplaces. The study, which was based on an extensive questionnaire, focused on both private and public sector organisations.“It seems that workplace equality plans have improved slightly compared to the previous study that was conducted ten years ago,” says Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality Thomas Blomqvist. “However, it appears that the greatest challenges are still related to pay surveys. The study highlights the need to amend the Act on Equality between Women and Men and to improve its implementation.” “Labour market organisations also play a key role in improving gender equality plans and pay surveys,” says Minister Blomqvist.Based on the results of the study, there are major differences between organisations as to the coverage of gender equality plans. “The biggest shortcomings are in the preparation and content of pay surveys,” says Senior Statistician Henna Attila from Statistics Finland. “What is positive is that the majority of organisations comply with the Act by drawing up a gender equality plan.”
        
Comprehensive gender equality plans of a high quality are an important tool for promoting gender equality and narrowing the pay gap between men and women. The average pay gap between women and men in the whole labour market is 16 per cent, and it is narrowing very slowly. The same pay for the same work or for work of equal value is a both fundamental and human right.The results of the study will be used in the promotion of equal pay, and they will also serve as background information for the development of legislation. The study is part of the set of measures under the Programme of Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Government that aims to promote equal pay in 2020–2023. This set of measures also includes the common measures of the Government and central labour market organisations for narrowing the gender pay gap. The negotiations on the measures are reaching their conclusion.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Prime Minister Sanna Marin has expressed her condolences to Austrian Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz following the attacks in Vienna.Prime Minister Marin expressed her deepest sympathies to the families of the deceased and to others who have been touched by the attacks. 

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — On Thursday 29 October, the members of the European Council discussed ways to intensify joint efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. This time, the EU leaders’ discussion focused in particular on issues related to testing and vaccines. At the start of the meeting, the EU leaders strongly condemned the terrorist attacks in France.The members of the European Council noted that the disease situation is once again deteriorating rapidly. As a rule, measures to limit the spread of the pandemic are the responsibility of the individual Member States. That said, close coordination of measures and an effective exchange of information play an integral role in thwarting the pandemic, which affects all Member States.  “Cooperation in the development of rapid tests is a good example of what we can do within the framework of the EU to improve citizens’ safety. In terms of joint EU measures, the mutual recognition of tests and the harmonisation of testing practices would also be important,” said Prime Minister Sanna Marin. During their videoconference, the Council members also discussed the EU’s joint projects to obtain a vaccine. The EU leaders affirmed that it is the responsibility of the Member States to decide on the vaccination of population groups, which means that the Member States must draw up national vaccination strategies before vaccines can be deployed. 

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The European Commission has pointed out that the EU-UK withdrawal agreement has been partially misinterpreted in Finland. Under the withdrawal agreement, all UK citizens, including those who have a document certifying a permanent right of EU residence in Finland, must exchange that document for a residence permit card.The withdrawal agreement states that these persons have the right to exchange their previous right of residence for a new one. In Finland, this right was initially interpreted as a recommendation rather than an obligation. However, the Commission has sent a clear message that all UK citizens must apply for a new status under the withdrawal agreement in order to retain their rights under the agreement in Finland.Until now, the Ministry of the Interior and the Finnish Immigration Service have already strongly recommended that all UK citizens apply for a new status because the right of residence under the withdrawal agreement will make it easier to go about their business in Finland and at the Schengen external border.Applications may be submitted until the end of September 2021The application for a right of residence under the withdrawal agreement is free of charge for those who have a document certifying a previous permanent right of residence in the EU. There is still plenty of time to submit the application. The period of application for the right of residence under the withdrawal agreement began on 1 October 2020 and will continue until 30 September 2021.The new uniform interpretation will clarify the position of the UK citizens living in Finland in future, as everyone will have a new residence permit card. We apologise for the previous incorrect instructions.Finland’s earlier interpretation is evident from the rationale of the legislative proposal concerning the residence rights of UK citizens, but it is not laid down in the act itself. Therefore, the act does not necessarily need to be amended. The Ministry of the Interior will assess any need for changes that may come up later.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The restrictions concerning the activities of food and beverage service businesses, namely restaurants, bars and cafes, were temporarily added to the Communicable Diseases Act, under section 58a, in May. Now the validity of the Act on Temporarily Amending the Communicable Diseases Act and the temporary section will be extended from 1 November 2020 to 28 February 2021. Without the extension, the Act would cease to be valid after October. The President of the Republic approved the Act on 29 October.As the COVID-19 epidemic continues, the validity of the temporary provisions of the Communicable Diseases Act will be extended so that the general obligations regarding the activities of food and beverage service businesses will remain in force after October. Under the Act, the Government may also in the future issue further provisions supplementing the Act on the obligations of food and beverage service businesses in order to prevent the spread of a communicable disease. In addition, the Government may lay down provisions on the restrictions concerning the opening and licensing hours and numbers of customers of food and beverage service businesses by decree. Under the Act, the restrictions must be necessary to prevent the spread of a generally hazardous communicable disease in each area and in such food and beverage service establishments that the restrictions concern. What is new in the Act is that the restrictions on opening hours do not apply to food and beverage service businesses on vessels and aircraft that operate between Finland and other countries or abroad or to food and beverage service businesses that operate at distributions stations for liquid fuels.The Government issued a decree on the restrictions at its extraordinary session on 29 October 2020.The decree and restrictions are based on the Government’s hybrid strategy, which aims to curb the epidemic effectively while minimising the adverse impact on people, businesses, society and the exercise of fundamental rights.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The Government decided on 29 October to impose temporary restrictions on the activities of food and beverage service businesses as of 1 November 2020. The decree was adopted under the new temporary provisions of the Communicable Diseases Act and will remain in force until 15 December 2020.*The current requirements for food and beverage service businesses concerning guidance, hygiene practices and safe distances in customer seating will remain unchanged. Similarly, food and beverage service businesses are still subject to the existing obligations concerning the planning of their activities. The decree elaborates on the restrictions on the amount of customer seating in food and beverage service businesses and on opening hours and hours when alcohol can be served.
In the regions of Uusimaa, Southwest Finland, Kanta-Häme, Pirkanmaa and Ostrobothnia, which are currently in the acceleration or community transmission phase of the epidemic, the amount of customer seating in businesses that primarily serve alcoholic beverages is now restricted to half the normal amount. These businesses typically include pubs, bars and nightclubs.For other food and beverage service businesses in the above-mentioned regions, the amount of customer seating is restricted to three quarters of the normal amount. These businesses typically include restaurants, cafes, fast food restaurants and pizzerias. In other parts of Finland, the number of customer seats is not restricted. Restrictions on opening hours and the serving of alcoholic beverages according to the epidemiological situationIn the regions of Uusimaa, Southwest Finland, Kanta-Häme, Pirkanmaa and Ostrobothnia, which are currently in the acceleration or community transmission phase of the epidemic, businesses must stop serving alcoholic beverages by 22.00 at the latest. All food and beverage service businesses in Ostrobothnia must be closed by 23.00 at the latest. In the other regions listed above, businesses that primarily serve alcoholic beverages must also be closed at 23.00, but other food and beverage service businesses may remain open until 24.00. Businesses in other parts of Finland must stop serving alcohol by 24.00 at the latest, as is currently the case. In locations outside the regions of Uusimaa, Southwest Finland, Kanta-Häme, Pirkanmaa and Ostrobothnia, businesses that primarily serve alcoholic beverage must close by 1.00 at the latest, but other food and beverage service businesses may be open round the clock. Otherwise, the decree adds flexibility to the restrictions on the opening hours of food and beverage service businesses so that businesses subject to the restrictions may reopen one hour after closing. This means that in line with the decree, a business that has stopped serving alcoholic beverages at 24.00 and must close at 1.00 may reopen as a night cafe starting at 2.00, for example.
The restrictions on opening hours do not apply to food and beverage service businesses on vessels and aircraft that operate between Finland and other countries or abroad or to food and beverage service businesses that operate at distribution stations for liquid fuels.Going forward, if there are no COVID-19 infections in a region, the above-mentioned restrictions will be lifted altogether by amending the decree.The Government is continuously monitoring the development of the epidemic to make sure that only those restrictions needed to prevent the spread COVID-19 are in place in each region and in the food and beverage service businesses subject to restrictions.* Correction made on 29 October at 17.00: the decree will remain in force until 15 December 2020.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi