FINLAND

Enontekiö, the Finnish part of Lapland – municipality overview and info + PHOTOS!

NordenBladet – Enontekiö (Eanodat, Enontekis) is a municipality in the Finnish part of Lapland with approx. 1,900 inhabitants. It is situated in the outermost northwest of the country and occupies a large and very sparsely populated area of about 8,400 square kilometres (3,200 sq mi) between the Swedish and Norwegian border. Finland’s highest point, the Halti fell with a height of 1,324 metres (4,344 ft) above the mean sea level, lies in the north of Enontekiö, where the municipality occupies a part of the Scandinavian Mountains. The administrative centre of Enontekiö is the village of Hetta. About one fifth of the community’s population are Sami people. Enontekiö’s main industries are tourism and reindeer husbandry.

Location and dimensions
Enontekiö is located in the province of Lapland in the outermost northwest tip of Finland. The bulge between Swedish and Norwegian border, which is occupied by the municipality of Enontekiö, is called Käsivarsi (Finnish for “arm”), because before World War II, Finland’s borders had the shape of a woman’s figure (Suomi-neito) and the area looked like her raised right arm. The municipality occupies a large and sparsely populated area of 8,391.35 km2 (3,239.92 sq mi) (more than three times the area of Luxembourg). Thus Enontekiö is Finland’s third-largest municipality in size, after Inari and Sodankylä, and with a population density of only 0.24/km2 (0.62/sq mi), it is the second-most sparsely populated municipality, after Savukoski.

Enontekiö’s neighbouring municipalities are Inari in the east, Kittilä in the southeast, and Muonio in the south; on the Swedish side in the west, there is the municipality of Kiruna and on the Norwegian side in the north, there are Storfjord, Gáivuotna (Kåfjord), Nordreisa, and Kautokeino. Enontekiö shares a border of more than 450 kilometres (280 mi) with the two adjacent states. The border to Sweden is formed by the river Muonionjoki and its tributary, Könkämäeno.

Villages
The main village of Enontekiö is the settlement of Hetta in the south, with approx. 800 inhabitants. There is no village with the name of Enontekiö, but Hetta is often called the municipality’s name. Other important places are the village of Kilpisjärvi, which is located near the border triangle of Finland-Sweden-Norway, as well as Karesuvanto and Palojoensuu, both of which are located at the Muonionjoki at the Swedish border. Enontekiö’s villages are concentrated in the southern area and along the banks of the rivers Könkämäeno and Muonionjoki in the west of the municipality. Often, there is a corresponding village on the Swedish side of the river, bearing the same name (or the Swedish form of the name), e.g. Karesuvanto/Karesuando. In contrast, the part of the Käsivarsi Mountains away from the rivers is almost completely uninhabited.






5x Kilpisjärvi, Finland (NordenBladet)

Hetta (Northern Sami: Heahttá) is the main village in the municipality of Enontekiö in the north-west part of Finnish Lapland. It is also the municipality’s administrative centre and the start or end point of the standard trekking / skiing route across the Pallas-Yllastunturi National Park.

Enontekiö Airport is located 9 kilometres (6 mi) west of Hetta and generally has flights from Helsinki in the Spring months. Otherwise, the nearest Finnish airport is Kittilä, c. 2 hours South although Alta, in Norway is a similar distance. Tromso (Norway), Kiruna (Sweden) and Rovaniemi (Finland) are all a similar distance (c. 3–4 hours drive) although flying into Tromso is a good option if your intention is to spend the majority of your time in the far West of Enontekiö, in the village of Kilpisjärvi.

Hetta is a popular tourist destination for cross country skiers and winter outdoor activity enthusiasts. Ice fishing, husky sledding (the local company, Hetta Huskies, won a Gold Award in the World Responsible Tourism Awards in 2015), snowmobiling and visiting traditional reindeer farms are all popular activities for visitors. There is also plenty of cabin and hotel accommodation and easy access to the high tundra arctic plateaus just 20 km north of the village.


Hetta and Ounasrjärvi in Enontekiö, Finland (NordenBladet/Helena-Reet Ennet)

2x Hetta´s Church – Hetan kirkko (NordenBladet/Helena-Reet Ennet)

The following villages belong to Enontekiö (Sami name, if available, in parentheses):

Hetta (Heahttá)
Jatuni (Jáhton)
Karesuvanto (Gárasavvon)
Kelottijärvi
Ketomella
Kilpisjärvi (Gilbbesjávri)
Kultima (Gulddán)
Kuttanen (Guhttás)
Leppäjärvi (Leaibejávri)
Luspa (Luspi)
Markkina (Boaresmárkan)
Maunu (Mávdna)
Muotkajärvi (Muotkejávri)
Näkkälä (Neahčil)
Nartteli
Nunnanen (Njunnás)
Palojärvi (Bálojávri)
Palojoensuu (Bálojohnjálbmi)
Peltovuoma (Bealdovuopmi)
Raittijärvi
Ropinsalmi
Saivomuotka
Sonkamuotka
Vähäniva
Vuontisjärvi (Vuottesjávri)
Yli-Kyrö



2x Little Näkkälä village in Enontekiö, Finland (NordenBladet/Helena-Reet Ennet)

Topography
In its northern tip, Enontekiö is the only Finnish municipality that includes part of the Scandinavian Mountains. Through that and through its location in the far north of Finland, it is geologically and scenically very different from the rest of the country. Halti, the highest mountain of Finland with a height of 1,324 m, is located in Enontekiö, together with all 21 other mountains higher than 1,000 m (3,281 ft) in the country. Besides Haltitunturi, probably the best known and scenically most distinctive mountain is the Saana with a height of 1,029 metres (3,376 ft), which rises above the village of Kilpisjärvi. The southern part of the municipality is less mountainous, but some single fjells (tunturi, which means hills towering above the timber line) rise above the otherwise rather flat surrounding area. Below, a part of the Pallastunturi–Ounastunturi-massif extends into Enontekiö’s territory.

A little more than 5% of the municipality’s area consists of water. Several large rivers originate in Enontekiö: The Muonionjoki, Ounasjoki, Ivalojoki, and one of the headstreams of the Tenojoki have their sources in the municipality. Enontekiö owes its name to them: Eno is an old Finnish word for “major river” and tekiö is derived from the verb tehdä (“to make”). All of the 825 lakes in the area are rather small. The largest lakes are the Pöyrisjärvi, the Kilpisjärvi near the village with the same name, and the Ounasjärvi near Hetta.

Saana (Northern Sami: Sána) is a fell in Enontekiö, Finland. Saana’s summit lies 1,029 metres (3,376 ft) above sea level and 556 m (1,824 ft) above the adjacent Kilpisjärvi lake. Geologically it is part of the Scandinavian Mountains, and is made of the same kinds of schist and gneiss rock. The mountain was historically considered sacred to the Sami people. The peak is a popular destination for hikers and backpackers because of the sweeping views offered at the summit.




3x Stairway to Saana (NordenBladet/Helena-Reet Ennet)

Flora and fauna
The vegetation of Enontekiö is very meagre, due to the extreme northern latitude. The northern border of the natural geographic range of the spruce approx. matches the southern border of the municipality; the range of the pine ends only 20 km (12 mi) north of Hetta, too. North of that, only birches grow. The timber line is approximately 600 m (2,000 ft); above that, a tundra-like vegetation predominates. The largest part of the municipal area consists of these plateaus or bogs, which mainly predominate at the rivers. Only 19% of Enontekiö’s area is afforested. About 70% of the total area is conservation area of various grades. Enontekiö contains parts of the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, as well as the wilderness areas of Käsivarsi, Pulju, Pöyrisjärvi and Tarvantovaara.

Due to the harsh climatic conditions, there are not especially many species among Enontekiö’s fauna; however, there are Arctic species that are unknown to southern Finland, e.g. Norway lemming, Arctic fox, snowy owl, Eurasian dotterel, ptarmigan, and ring ouzel. Besides the semi-domesticated reindeer, there are a lot of small mammals and bird species.

Climate
Enontekiö’s climate is characterised by the extreme northern location, the high altitude compared to the rest of Finland and the closeness of the Arctic Ocean. Due to the moderating influence of the Gulf Stream, the winters are not quite as harsh as in central Lapland, which is characterised by the continental climate, but the summers are shorter and cooler.

The annual average temperatures of Enontekiö are the lowest of Finland. In Kilpisjärvi, in the north of the municipal area, the long-term average is −2.3 °C (compared to Helsinki: approx. +5 °C; Berlin approx. +9 °C). July is the warmest month, with an average temperature of +10.9 °C, the coldest is January with −13.6 °C. Due to these extreme climatic conditions, the growing season only lasts a little over 100 days. Thus, the winter, with its 200 days, is very long. The annual average precipitation is 459 millimetres (18.1 in). In the cold season, enormous amounts of snow can fall: The highest snow depth ever recorded in Finland was measured on April 19, 1997, in Kilpisjärvi: 190 centimetres (75 in). Normally, a permanent snow cover is generally formed in October and does not melt again until the end of May. In sheltered places, snow can remain even longer; thus a ski race is traditionally held for Midsummer’s night in Kilpisjärvi.

Enontekiö’s municipal area is located between 200 and 300 km north of the Arctic Circle. Accordingly, there are extreme seasonal differences in the length of daylight. In Kilpisjärvi, the Midnight Sun shines between May 22 and July 23. Accordingly, Polar night (kaamos) prevails between December 2 and January 11. Enontekiö has the highest rate of occurrence of Polar lights in Finland: In the region around Kilpisjärvi, this natural spectacle can be observed on average three out of four nights during the dark season in clear weather.

Population development and structure
Enontekiö currently has nearly 2,000 inhabitants. In the beginning 1990s, there were still 2,500 inhabitants. Because the structurally weak Lapland was hit harder by the Finnish economic crisis than the south, a wave of migration to expansion centers in the south started in the middle of the decade. Initially, the number of inhabitants also rapidly decreased in Enontekiö, but it now has consolidated at a lower level. Enontekiö’s population consists of 12.4% under the age of 15, 69.2% between 15 and 64, and 18.3% older than 64. The excess of men is conspicuous. They account for 53.2% of the population

Sami
Enontekiö is part of the native settlement area of the indigenous Sami people. Nineteen percent of the municipality’s population are ethnic Sami, but only 9.2% speak Sami as their native language. The municipality is part of the Sami “homeland” (kotiseutualue), which is defined by law and where Sami have special minority rights. Thus Northern Sami, the particular Sami language used in Enontekiö, has official status in the municipality besides the Finnish language, and therefore is allowed to be used in contact with the authorities. Well-known Sami from Enontekiö are the artist, Nils-Aslak Valkeapää and the Joik-singer Wimme.

Economy
Enontekiö’s economic structure has a large percentage involved in the service sector: 76% of the gainfully employed population work in the tertiary sector, 45% of these work in civil service. Agriculture and forestry employ 13% of Enontekiö’s inhabitants, the manufacturing sector 6%. As is usual in the structurally weak Lapland, the unemployment in Enontekiö is a big problem: In January 2007 with 24.7%, the municipality had the second highest unemployment rate of all Finnish municipalities. In 1996 at the peak of the Finnish economic crisis, the unemployment rate was near 40%.

Reindeer husbandry was the dominant branch of business in Enontekiö for a long time. In the northwest of Lapland, reindeer husbandry has already been done for centuries, in contrast to the other regions of the Finnish reindeer husbandry area, where it was only introduced on a large scale in the 19th century after the eradication of the wild Finnish forest reindeer (Rangifer tarandus fennicus). Reindeer husbandry plays an important role even today. The herders are organised in the cooperatives (paliskunta) of Näkkälä and Käsivarsi and have a total of 20,000 semi-domesticated reindeer. Due to the climatic conditions, agriculture is scarcely possible, but dairy farming is operated on a small scale. Due to the sparse vegetation, forestry plays only a minor role.

Tourism is a major branch of business in Enontekiö, even if there are fewer visitors than in those municipalities of Lapland which have big skiing centres. Enontekiö mostly attracts nature tourists, who travel to Lapland for hiking, fishing, canooing, skiing or snowmobiling, as well as automobile tourists, such as those on their way to the North Cape. Annually, more than 100,000 overnight stays are registered. Twenty percent of the tourists are from abroad. The largest group are the Norwegians, followed by the Germans, Swedes, Dutch, and British. The Norwegians visit Enontekiö mainly for its low prices. The Norwegian shopping tourism made up 40% of the retail business volume in all of Enontekiö, and even 60–70% in Kilpisjärvi, near the border.

Transportation
Enontekiö’s most important traffic connection is highway 21 (E8). Along its entire route, starting in Tornio at the Gulf of Bothnia, it follows the line of the Finnish–Swedish border and ends in Kilpisjärvi at the Norwegian border. The main road 93 branches off highway 21 at Palojoensuu and at first leads in an eastward direction to the municipal centre of Hetta and then further in a northward direction to the Norwegian border. The villages of the southern part of the municipality are connected to each other by small roads. But in the northern part of Enontekiö, highway 21 is the only road, taking a course next to the banks of the Muonionjoki and Könkämäeno; the uninhabited area between the river valley and the Norwegian border has no roads at all. There are three border crossings in Enontekiö: The village of Karesuvanto is connected by a bridge with the Swedish bank and there are border crossings to Norway in Kilpisjärvi and Kivilompolo.

The municipality has its own airport, (Enontekiö Airport), west of Hetta. It is mainly approached by charter flights, whose passengers account for 95% of the airport’s passenger volume. Regular flights to Enontekiö are established only in the spring. The company Finncomm Airlines provides direct flights to Enontekiö from Helsinki-Vantaa between March and May. The passenger volume of 13,700 passengers per year is relatively low.

Enontekiö is not connected to the railroad network. The next railroad station is in Kolari, approximately 150 kilometres (93 mi) to the south.

Education and social affairs
There are five primary schools in Enontekiö: In the Kilpisjärvi primary school, pupils are taught from preschool to 9th grade, in the schools of Karesuvanto, Hetta, and Peltojärvi, from preschool to 6th grade. Enontekiö’s upper school is attended by pupils of the 7th to 9th grade. The higher education entrance qualification can be obtained after graduating from the upper school at the secondary school of Enontekiö. The primary schools of Kilpisjärvi and Karesuvanto and the upper school of Enontekiö offer native language education to Sami pupils. Adult education takes place at an adult education centre. The municipality’s library is located in the main village of Hetta, more remote regions are supplied by a mobile library. The University of Helsinki runs a biological research station in Kilpisjärvi. The University of Oulu runs the KAIRA radio telescope facility at Kilpisjärvi as well.

Healthcare is organised together with the neighbouring municipality of Muonio. In Enontekiö, there are two health centres for inpatient treatment, one in Hetta and one in Karesuvanto. Beds are available in Muonio’s health centre.

Useful links:
Enontekiö´s official website: https://enontekio.fi/
Enontekiö Airport: https://www.finavia.fi/en/airports/enontekio (Finnish: Enontekiön lentoasema) (IATA: ENF, ICAO: EFET) is an airport located in Enontekiö, Finnish Lapland, 5 NM (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) west southwest of Hetta, the municipal centre of Enontekiö.

Featured image: Kilpisjärvi (NordenBladet)

The Arctic Centre at the University of Lapland

NordenBladet – The Arctic Centre is an international hub of Arctic information and the centre of excellence that conducts multidisciplinary research in the Arctic region. The Arctic Centre combines Arctic research, Arktikum Science Centre exhibitions and science communications in a way that makes them unique in their field.

The Arctic Centre (arcticcentre.org) is expert on sustainable development, global change, as well as minority and environmental law. Their research concentrates on the interaction between people and the environment from the viewpoints of the biological and physical sciences, social sciences, anthropology and law. The Arctic Centre is qualified in social and environmental impact assessment in Lapland and the Barents Region. Together with the science communication unit, their research produces information that is highly relevant for local and national authorities, politicians and the general public.

The Arctic Centre is located in the Arktikum House together with the Provincial Museum of Lapland. Nearly 100 000 people visit the Arktikum House yearly, over half of them tourists from abroad. Arktikum Science Centre exhibitions display the results of Arctic research interactively and inform about the changing Arctic.

Sustainable investment possibilities in the Arctic interest responsible operators, as Timo Koivurova, the director of Arctic Centre tells in his interview to Lapland.fi.

If you are interested in learning more about the Arctic region, you are welcome to visit the exhibitions in Arktikum. You will find the opening hours from the website of Arktikum (arktikum.fi). If you are interested in scientific cooperation, you can contact their researchers. You will find the contact information from the Arctic Centre’s website.

Featured image: NordenBladet

Lapland Chamber of Commerce – Promoting Arctic business

NordenBladet – Lapland Chamber of Commerce is the Northernmost Chamber of Commerce in the European Union. Its mission is to create success and growth for business in Lapland and Finland by promoting local businesses, entrepreneurship, economic freedom, fair competition and international trade.

The Chamber was established in 1939 and it operates both regionally and nationwide, offering business related support services and comprehensive networking possibilities for companies looking to expand or export their business. Members of the Chamber include a variety of companies from different industries and branches of business, from big industrial companies to SME’s, as well as municipalities and other industry stakeholders.

Lapland Chamber of Commerce offers its members high quality events, trainings and workshops as well as various counseling services designed to support local companies and their growth. As the Northernmost Chamber of Commerce in Europe, arctic issues are the expertise of the Lapland Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is also a member of the Arctic Economic Council and the Northern Forum.

SOLUTIONS
1. Promoting Arctic Know-How
Lapland Chamber of Commerce actively promotes the internationalization of local businesses. The Chamber provides its members with business export counseling in Lapland, helps companies grow their networks and provides the latest information of changes in the business operation environment of Northern Europe.

Companies looking to expand their area of operation abroad can also benefit from the events arranged by the Lapland Chamber of Commerce, as well as enjoy the extensive networks and a comprehensive list of international business contacts the Chamber holds.

In addition to the events and counseling supporting the internationalisation of companies, the Chamber also confirms and issues foreign trade documents such as ATA Carnet customs documents and European export certificates.

2. Northern networks and partnerships
International Arctic business cooperation and networking play an active role in the Chamber activities. The Lapland Chamber of Commerce is an active member of various business networks and communities in the Arctic and can offer valuable contacts to businesses willing to expand their network.

Through the extensive network Lapland Chamber of Commerce has, companies can find new potential customers, business partners and key business contacts in their operation area. The Chamber also organizes events and actively participates in forums focusing on various topics of business growth, competitiveness and innovation, economic fluctuations and business exports. These events are an excellent way to learn more about business development and export possibilities in Lapland and network with the key stakeholders in the area.

3. Arctic business forum
The annual Arctic Business Forum introduces the latest business development of the Arctic, investigates global and local trends and future prospects, and offers companies and organizations the chance to present their own business at the forum.

The Arctic Europe has been calculated to hold investment potential worth of at least 197 billion euro. The forum offers valuable information about the possibilities and future investment potential of the Arctic region both for the local business representatives and international investors. The aim of the forum is to build networks and relationships among the region’s various business representatives.

The speakers of the Arctic Business Forum are all key representatives and stakeholders from various fields of Arctic industry. The themes addressed cover topics such as business investment potential in the Arctic, business policies and risks, innovation and Arctic cooperation.

Featured image: Lapland (NordenBladet)

Look also:
Arctic Business Forum Yearbook 2018

The annual Arctic Business Forum introduces the latest business development of the Arctic + PROGRAM!

Arctic Business Forum Yearbook 2018

NordenBladet – The 9th Arctic Business Forum Yearbook is an overview of the European High North investments and business development published in association with the Arctic Business Forum.

The Yearbook 2018 by Lapland Chamber of Commerce addresses Arctic cooperation, policies and business, as well as an estimation of European High North investment potential for the same time frame. Regionally the Yearbook covers the Northern parts of Finland, Sweden and Norway as well as Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions in Russia.

You can download the book from here: ABF_2018_yearbook

Look also:
The annual Arctic Business Forum introduces the latest business development of the Arctic + PROGRAM!

 

Klaukkala and Nurmijärvi in Finland + PHOTOS!

NordenBladet – Klaukkala (Swedish: Klövskog) is a village in the southern part of the Nurmijärvi municipality of Finland, near the Valkjärvi lake. Klaukkala is the largest of the villages in Nurmijärvi and is often mistakenly thought of as a separate city. Lepsämä, an area belonging to Klaukkala, is the place where the former Prime Minister of Finland Matti Vanhanen currently resides.

Klaukkala has a population of about 20,000 and is the fastest-growing area of Nurmijärvi. Klaukkala has significant migration mainly from the Helsinki conurbation, because as a rural village a half hour’s drive away from the Helsinki center, it especially attracts families with children. The distance from Klaukkala to the border of Espoo and also the border of Vantaa is about 5 km and the distance to Helsinki is less than 30 km. The increased traffic, resulting from the increase in population causes problems. Because of this, a highway bypassing the village is being planned, and possibly also a rail traffic connection to Helsinki, probably as a continuation of the Vantaankoski rail.

Klaukkala includes many primary schools, of which the largest is Isoniitun koulu, which includes all 9 grades of the Finnish primary school system. In 2017 a new multipurpose building called “Monikko” was built, to the Klaukkala sports area. Klaukkala also has one of the three gymnasiums of Nurmijärvi, Arkadian yhteislyseo. A possible tourism sight is the Klaukkala church, built in 2004. The village also has a wooden Orthodox church.


















Nurmijärvi
is Finland’s largest rural municipality in terms of population and one of the fastest growing in the Greater Helsinki area. Nurmijärvi’s current population of 41,000 is expected to approach 45,000 over the next decade.

Neighboured by Espoo, Vantaa, Tuusula, Hyvinkää and Vihti, Nurmijärvi is only 30 minutes away from Helsinki, and 25 minutes from Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport, by motorway.

The municipality was named after Lake Nurmijärvi, although this was partially drained for farmland in the 1920s and fully dried in the early 1950s.

Finland’s national author Aleksis Kivi was born into a tailor’s family in the province of Uusimaa in Finland, at a village named Palojoki which is in the parish of Nurmijärvi, on October 10th, 1834.

Open the brochure HERE

Aleksis Kivi ( born Alexis Stenvall, (10 October 1834 – 31 December 1872) was a Finnish author who wrote the first significant novel in the Finnish language, Seven Brothers (Seitsemän veljestä). Although Kivi was among the very earliest authors of prose and lyrics in Finnish, he is still considered one of the greatest.

Life
Aleksis Kivi was born in Nurmijärvi, Grand Duchy of Finland, into a tailor’s family. In 1846 he left for school in Helsinki, and in 1859 he was accepted into the University of Helsinki, where he studied literature and developed an interest in the theatre. His first play was Kullervo, based on a tragic tale from the Kalevala. He also met the famous journalist and statesman Johan Vilhelm Snellman who became his supporter.

During his time at school Kivi read world literature from the library of his landlord, and during his University studies, he saw plays by Molière and Schiller at the Swedish Theatre in Helsinki. Kivi also has friends such as Fredrik Cygnaeus and Elias Lönnrot.

From 1863 onwards, Kivi devoted his time to writing. He wrote 12 plays and a collection of poetry. The novel Seven Brothers or The Brothers Seven). took him ten years to write. Literary critics, especially the prominent August Ahlqvist, disapproved of the book, at least nominally because of its “rudeness” – Romanticism was at its height at the time. Ahlqvist wrote “It is a ridiculous work and a blot on the name of Finnish literature” The Fennomans also disapproved of its depiction of not-so-virtuous rural life that was far from their idealized point of view, and Kivi’s excessive drinking may have alienated some.

In 1865 Kivi won the State Prize for his still often performed comedy Nummisuutarit (‘The Cobblers on the Heath’, translated as Heath Cobblers by Douglas Robinson). However, the less than enthusiastic reception of his books was taking its toll and he was already drinking heavily. His main benefactor Charlotta Lönnqvist could not help him after the 1860s.

Kivi’s health had failed completely in 1870. The collapse was accelerated by typhoid and attacks of delirium and in 1871 he was admitted to the New Clinic, from where he was transferred to the Lapinlahti psychiatric hospital. The doctor treating him, A. T. Saelan, diagnosed him as suffering from melancholia resulting from “injured dignity as a writer”. On the basis of the available documents, Kalle Achté concludes that it was a classic case of schizophrenia, triggered by severe states of anxiety. It has also been suggested, however, that Kivi’s mental illness may have been caused by advanced borreliosis). Kivi died in poverty at the age of 38.

Legacy
In the early 20th century young writers Volter Kilpi and Eino Leino raised Kivi to the status of national icon. Eino Leino – and later Väinö Linna and Veijo Meri – also identified with Kivi’s fate as an author.

In 1939 the Aleksis Kivi Memorial, a bronze statue of Kivi by Wäinö Aaltonen, was erected in front of the Finnish National Theatre.

In 1995 to 1996, Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara wrote an opera about Kivi’s life and works. In 2002, director Jari Halonen’s film The Life of Aleksis Kivi (Finnish title: Aleksis Kiven elämä) premiered in Finnish cinemas.





Finnish and Swedish Ministers for Foreign Affairs discuss foreign and security policy cooperation

NordenBladet —  Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini will meet Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström in Stockholm on 2 May.

The Ministers will discuss ways to intensify the foreign and security policy cooperation between Finland and Sweden, the development of the Baltic Sea Region, Russia, and other topical questions. In addition, the Foreign Ministers will speak at a seminar organised in honour of the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Finland and Sweden.

Find us also on Twitter: @NordenBladet

 

Crisis management now – resolving conflicts and building peace together (seminar in Kalasatama, Helsinki, on 17 May 2018)

NordenBladet — The 100-year-old Ministry for Foreign Affairs with its partners are organising a Crisis management now seminar in Kalasatama, Helsinki, on 17 May 2018. The event will present Finnish actors’ participation in the resolution of international crises and peacebuilding. The main theme of the seminar will be comprehensive cooperation between different actors in crisis areas in order to achieve sustainable peace.

Central government actors involved in crisis management (Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Justice) together with civil society and private sector representatives will present their cooperation in crisis management and peacebuilding in diverse and participatory ways.

Visitors to the event can, for example, try on Teatime Research’s virtual reality glasses and get an idea of what it would feel like if Helsinki was a conflict area similar to the one in Aleppo, Syria.

The Crisis Management Centre (CMC Finland) and other actors will tell about job opportunities in the field.

The Finnish CSOs attending the seminar are the Finnish Red Cross, Finn Church Aid, and the Wider Security Network (WISE). International organisations will be represented by the World Bank, which will present the Pathways for Peace report prepared in cooperation with the United Nations.

Finland is a pioneer in comprehensive crisis management and peacebuilding. In addition to military and civilian crisis management, crisis areas are supported by means of development cooperation, humanitarian assistance, mediation, and human rights and arms control policies. It is important that the various actors’ complement each other, because a number of different organisations and crisis management operations may be simultaneously active in the same crisis area. Coordination and cooperation enhance the effectiveness of crisis management activities and contribute to the building of sustainable peace.

You are welcome to the Crisis management now -event to see and experience how crisis management functions and how sustainable peace is built through cooperation – stabilising conflict areas calls for everybody’s contribution.

The event is open to all and free of charge. It will be organised in Kellohalli at the Abattoir complex in Kalasatama, Helsinki.

On Twitter #kriisinhallintanyt.

Find us also on Twitter: @NordenBladet

 

Finland used EUR 935 million on official development assistance in 2017

NordenBladet —  Finland used EUR 935 million on official development assistance (ODA) in 2017. This represented 0.41 per cent of Finland’s gross national income. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) today published preliminary data on official development assistance for 2017.

Finland’s expenditure counted as ODA and its share of gross national income decreased in 2017 compared with the previous year. The total expenditure in 2017 was EUR 21 million less than in 2016. The share of ODA of gross national income decreased from 0.44 per cent to 0.41 per cent. Measured with the percentage of ODA of gross national income, Finland ranked ninth among the EU countries.

Expenditure and its percentage of gross national income decreased in Finland because of a lower amount of appropriations available. In addition, expenditure on the reception of refugees counted as ODA decreased: in 2017 it amounted to EUR 69 million, a decrease of EUR 49 million (42 per cent) from the previous year. On the other hand, financial investments counted as ODA increased the total payments by EUR 68 million compared with the previous year.

A significant proportion of Finland’s ODA funding went through the EU and other multilateral organisations, such as the UN and the World Bank Group. For example, Finland’s share of the EU’s ODA budget was EUR 130 million, and EUR 60 million of the European Development Fund.  A total of EUR 94 million was allocated to humanitarian aid in 2017, of which EUR 39 million was bilateral aid. Finland’s main bilateral partners in 2017 were (EUR million) Afghanistan (18), Nepal (17), Ethiopia (17) and Mozambique (14).

The EU’s official development assistance remained unchanged
According to the OECD statistics, foreign aid provided by official donors totalled EUR 130 billion in 2017. ODA from members of the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) equalled 0.31% of their combined gross national income, a slight fall from 0.32% in 2016.

Public ODA payments of the EU member states totalled EUR 73.4 billion in 2016. In the EU countries, payments were roughly on a par with the previous year.

The major ODA funders were the United States, Germany, the UK, Japan and France. Of the members of the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC), countries achieving the UN’s target to raise the level of ODA to at least 0.7 per cent of gross national income included, as usual, Sweden, Norway, Luxembourg and the UK. Of the other funders, Turkey (0.95 per cent) and United Arab Emirates (1.31 per cent) achieved the target.

ODA payments increased in 11 OECD countries. France, Italy, Japan and Sweden increased their payments the most. The amount of assistance, on the other hand, decreased in 18 member countries compared with the previous year. This is mainly explained by the decreased number of refugees coming to Europe and, consequently, a decreased amount of refugee-related expenditure.

Published originally in Finnish on 9 April 2018

Source: Finland.ee
Find us also on Twitter: @NordenBladet

 

Finland´s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Anne-Mari Virolainen: EU and Mexico reach agreement on modernising their trade relationship

NordenBladet — On 21 April 2018, the European Union and Mexico reached a political agreement on modernising their existing Free Trade Agreement.

“The future agreement is welcome, because it brings partly outdated trade rules up to date to correspond companies’ needs, removes customs duties, and improves Finnish companies market opportunities in Mexico,” says Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Anne-Mari Virolainen. “The agreement is of a particular significance at this time when the openness of trade and related cooperation has been challenged in many fronts.”

The new agreement will replace the previous Free Trade Agreement, which is one pillar of the wider EU-Mexico Global Agreement that has been in force since 2000. The content of the agreement is mainly ready but negotiations on some technical details will be continued. The agreement is expected to be finalised by the end of 2018.

The modernised trade agreement will cover a large part of trade in goods, related regulation and barriers to trade, as well as trade in services and investments. The agreement will eliminate the majority of the remaining customs duties.  Additionally, service providers’ market access will be facilitated in many areas. This is the first EU trade agreement to include provisions to fight corruption.

In 2017, the value of goods exports from Finland to Mexico was over EUR 309 million while the value of goods imports amounted to EUR 218 million. In 2016, Finland’s exports in services to Mexico totalled approximately EUR 129 million and the value of imports was EUR 91 million.

Source: Finland.ee
Find us also on Twitter: @NordenBladet

 

Agreement about transfer of Foreign Ministry’s 24/7 services to the Emergency Response Centre Agency

NordenBladet — The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Emergency Response Centre Agency (ERCA) have agreed that the Foreign Ministry’s 24/7 services will be handled by ERCA in Kerava from August 2018 onwards. Initially, the agreement will be in force for two years.

The transferred round-the-clock services will be auxiliary consular assistance tasks related to situations where a Finnish citizen or a foreign national with a permanent residence in Finland is in distress abroad due to an illness, accident or disaster or because of falling a victim of crime or for some other comparable reason.

On an annual basis, the Ministry’s 24/7 Service Centre receives approximately 7,000 to 8,000 calls related to various emergency and problem situation that have occurred abroad. Consular assistance to the eligible persons is mainly advice and guidance. In some cases, information about what has happened is communicated to the Finnish mission in the area, which then takes care of the matter.

According to Finland´s Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini, the aim of the cooperation between the Minister for Foreign Affairs and ERCA is to develop the provision of out-of-hours services to Finnish citizens. “The transfer does not show to the citizens in any way.  Their calls will be replied in their familiar languages and assistance will be provided as before.”

“In ERCA, we consider that the agreement will lead to synergies because we intend to pool other services related to international contacts under our Command and Control Centre, too. This will strengthen our role in security-related matters in society,” Martti Kunnasvuori, Director General of ERCA, notes with satisfaction.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and ERCA have longstanding experience of good cooperation in helping Finnish citizens in distress abroad. After the establishment of the Command and Control Centre in ERCA in December 2017, opportunities have been identified for new kinds of organisational solutions and synergies.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and ERCA will provide more detailed information about the changes in the summer.

Source: Finland.ee
Find us also on Twitter: @NordenBladet