FINLAND

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry provides EUR five million in funding for research and innovation projects that promote climate change resilience in agriculture, forestry and other types of land use

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry funds five new research and innovation projects from the Catch the Carbon package of climate measures for the land use sector that is based on the Government Programme. These multidisciplinary projects will study and develop the comprehensive resilience of agriculture, forestry and other types of land use. After these funding decisions, the total number of Catch the Carbon project rises to 80, of which 15 are research and innovation projects.In addition to reducing emissions and strengthening carbon sinks and reservoirs, the new projects to be funded will also strengthen other elements of sustainable development – biodiversity, a circular economy and social and economic sustainability. The funding amounts granted for the period 2022-2024 vary from approximately EUR 860,000 to EUR 1,100,000.“Climate measures targeting agriculture, forestry and other types of land use require multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral research. The new projects to be launched soon are a fine addition to the themes of the projects already under way in our research and innovation programme,” says Marjaana Suorsa, Programme Manager of the Catch the Carbon programme at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.The new projects will promote e.g. the utilisation of biowaste streams from communities and plant production as carbon products in agriculture. A knowledge base and practical instructions will be produced through co-creation with municipalities for the implementation of carbon sinks in municipalities and carbon offsetting in land use operations. The projects will also study the carbon balance of ash-fertilised peatland forests and sphagnum moss as a growth medium that could replace peat.“Close stakeholder cooperation will ensure that information is effectively transmitted to serve as the basis for decision-making and to practical actions,” Suorsa says.Applications of a very high standardThe Catch the Carbon package, launched in spring 2020, is composed of cross-sectoral measures, development projects, an information programme and research and innovation programme that promote climate change resilience of agriculture, forestry and other types of land use. The aim of the research and innovation programme is to produce new research information that anticipates changes in the operating environment and proposals for solutions that will promote climate action in the land use sector and the sustainable use of renewable natural resources.A total of 93 applications were submitted in the supplementary call for proposals under the Catch the Carbon package that was opened in October 2021. Of these, 38 applications concerned the research and innovation projects and 55 applications concerned the development projects.The research and innovation project applications were evaluated by an external scientific panel of experts with nine members, chaired by Doctor of Agriculture and Forestry Sirpa Kurppa. The main selection criteria were the scientific quality and the potential to produce effective solutions to achieve Finland’s carbon-neutrality target. All of the projects to be funded will also employ researchers in the early stages of their research careers, in accordance with the objective set for the programme. “The project proposals that were submitted proved once again the high level of climate expertise among Finnish researchers and experts. Now it is important to make sure that the information produced in the projects will be utilised in the best possible way,” says Mikko Peltonen, Research Director at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.The funding decisions on the new development projects will be made within the next few weeks. The decisions on the projects under Finland’s Sustainable Growth Programme that support climate change resilience of forestry and forest biodiversity (RRF) should be made in early March.New research and innovation projects to be fundedOrganic side streams into sustainable products through digitalisation (BioDigi)Project leader: Satu Ojala / University of OuluMembers of the consortium: University of Oulu, Natural Resources Institute Finland, University of VaasaPossibilities of municipalities to use offsetting based on net carbon sinks in the land use sectorProject leader: Mikael Hildén / Finnish Environment InstituteMembers of the consortium: Finnish Environment Institute, Natural Resources Institute Finland, University of Helsinki, City of Turku, City of Espoo, City of Lahti, City of JoensuuCarbon balance and the factors affecting it in ash-fertilised peatland forests (SuoHiTu)Project leader: Raija Laiho / Natural Resources Institute FinlandMembers of the consortium: Natural Resources Institute Finland, University of Eastern Finland, Finnish Forest CentreSphagnum moss as a climate-smart growth medium – opportunities for comprehensively sustainable harvesting (Rahkoo)Project leader: Anna Laine-Petäjäkangas / Geological Survey of FinlandMembers of the consortium: Geological Survey of Finland, Finnish Environment Institute, Natural Resources Institute FinlandAdaptive mitigation: working together on carbon sequestration in forests (HIILIPOLKU)Project leader: Liisa Ukonmaanaho / Natural Resources Institute FinlandMembers of the consortium: Natural Resources Institute Finland, Finnish Meteorological InstituteThe aim of the Catch the Carbon package of climate measures coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is to strengthen the competence and knowledge base related to climate work in the land use sector and support agricultural producers, forest owners and other parties who make land use decisions in developing and introducing climate change resilient practices. Read more about the package and about the projects that have already been funded at mmm.fi/en/climate-plan-for-the-land-use-sector

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Restaurant restrictions eased — restrictions on use of COVID-19 passport extended

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — The Government has amended the decree that restricts the activities of food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic. This means that the opening and licensing hours of all food and beverage service businesses will be extended. In addition, the restrictions on the use of the COVID-19 passport will continue until the end of February.The amendments will enter into force on 14 February 2022. If the situation continues to develop favourably and there is no risk of exceeding the capacity of the healthcare system, restaurant restrictions could be lifted completely as of 1 March for all food and beverage service businesses.  Until 28 February 2022, COVID-19 passport cannot be used as an alternative to restrictionsThe Government has updated the decree on temporary restrictions to the use of the COVID-19 passport issued under section 58i of the Communicable Diseases Act. In practice, this means that until 28 February 2022 the COVID-19 passport cannot be used as an alternative to regional restrictions on public events and customer premises.The decree will apply to all public events and customer premises subject to existing restrictions. Regional authorities will decide what restrictions are in place in their areas. The decree will apply to the areas of the hospital districts that meet the characteristics of community transmission areas.Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in community transmission areas from 14 February at 00.00Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses that are necessary to prevent the spread of the epidemic will be in place in all community transmission areas.The restrictions for community transmission areas will apply to the regions of Uusimaa, Southwest Finland, Satakunta, Kanta-Häme, Pirkanmaa, Päijät-Häme, Kainuu, Kymenlaakso, South Karelia, North Karelia, Central Finland, Ostrobothnia, South Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, North Ostrobothnia, Lapland, South Savo, North Savo and Åland.Serving of alcoholic beverages in all food and beverage service businesses will end at 23.00. Such businesses may keep their premises open to food and beverage service customers until midnight. The restrictions on opening and licensing hours will be eased for all food and beverage service businesses.Food and beverage service businesses that primarily serve alcoholic beverages may have only half the normal number of customer seats in use in their indoor and outdoor premises. Other food and beverage service businesses may seat 75 per cent of their normal number of customers inside their establishments. The restrictions on the number of customer seats do not apply in Åland.All customers must have their own seats at a table or similar in indoor premises.Businesses cannot avoid restrictions by using COVID-19 passportUsing COVID-19 passport does not exempt food and beverage service businesses from the restrictions on the number of customer seats and on the licensing and opening hours.The restrictions on the use of the COVID-19 passport will be in force until 28 February 2022.The obligation to observe the general hygiene guidelines and to keep a safe distance applies in all regions.Even if the use of the COVID-19 passport does not exempt food and beverage service businesses from the restrictions as before, all food and beverage service businesses in Finland will still have the right to require customers to present the COVID-19 passport at all hours.Exceptions to restrictions remain unchangedThe restrictions laid down in the decree do not apply to the activities of staff restaurants or to takeaway sales of food to customers. 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.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Strategy for COVID-19 testing and contact tracing updated to prevent spread of disease particularly among risk groups

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — The national strategy for COVID-19 testing and contact tracing has been updated. The aim is to identify the causes of severe respiratory infections and to prevent the spread of infections particularly among groups of people who have a high risk of developing a more serious form of the disease.According to the updated strategy, the most important criteria for testing are people’s symptoms and their need for care and treatment, the protection of groups at risk of serious illness from the disease and the safeguarding of the healthcare system capacity. This means that tests should be performed on the following groups: patients with severe symptoms in accordance with standard medical principles, people with symptoms who belong to high-risk groups, pregnant women, and healthcare and social welfare workers. If the local testing capacity so allows, tests can also be performed on other people with a respiratory infection.Like before, the aim is for people to be able to access a test within one day, provided that the updated testing criteria are met. People should receive their results within one day of the test. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure the availability of other medical examinations.It is important everyone avoids close contacts on their own initiative — tracing resources are targeted at health and social services unitsTo manage the COVID-19 epidemic, it is essential that even mildly symptomatic people with respiratory infections avoid contact with other people for as long as symptoms persist, even if they have been vaccinated or had COVID-19.It is important to encourage people to avoid close contacts while sick and use home testing as they are ways to slow down the spread of the epidemic and to reduce the burden on the healthcare system. People with COVID-19 must continue to self-isolate and follow the national and regional guidelines.The updated strategy states that contact tracing resources should be targeted at the clients and patients of healthcare and social welfare services and people working in the health and social services units. This aims to prevent further infections particularly among groups of people who are at high risk of serious illness from COVID-19. The national testing and contact tracing strategy is intended as a recommendation. It is possible to deviate from the primary criteria provided in the recommendation and from the issued guidelines if the physician in charge of communicable diseases in the municipality or hospital district decides so. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare is responsible for issuing national guidelines on testing. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for preparing the relevant legislation.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Long-term national D visa to expedite entry of foreign labour

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — A legislative amendment, which will enter into force in June, will enable the introduction of a long-term visa. A long-term visa is related to work-based immigration and a fast track procedure for entry into the country. In the first phase, a long-term visa can be issued to senior specialists, start-up entrepreneurs and their family members.On 10 February 2022, the Government proposed that the President of the Republic approve the amendments. The President is expected to approve the amendments on Friday 11 February 2022 and they will enter into force on 1 June 2022. Finland aims to significantly increase the immigration of skilled labour. This is why the entry of those who come to Finland to work and study will be facilitated by reforming legislation. The legislative amendment will create a legal basis for the use of long-term visas in Finland.  In future, legislative amendments can be presented to expand the coverage of long-term visas to include also other groups of persons. The Ministry of the Interior is preparing a government proposal on expanding the coverage of long-term visas to include researchers, students and their family members.Long-term visas help in fulfilling the fast track pledgeThe introduction of long-term visas contributes to the implementation of the fast track plan for specialists, growth entrepreneurs and their family members. The fast track refers to an expedited residence permit procedure. The fast track will be ready in June 2022 when the long-term visa is to be taken into use.The long-term D visa supports the implementation of the 14-day fast track service pledge in that senior specialists or start-up entrepreneurs and their family members can travel to Finland immediately after they have been issued with a residence permit. In other words, in future, they do not need to wait for a residence permit card abroad. The amendment will enter into force on 1 JuneThe Ministry for Foreign Affairs has prepared legislation on long-term visas in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Finnish Immigration Service and several other authorities.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Jari Sinkari appointed Director General of the Department for the Americas and Asia

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — On Thursday, 10 February, the Government appointed a new Director General of the Department for the Americas and Asia. Jari Sinkari. Photo: Petri KrookThe Government appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Jari Sinkari as Director General of the Department for Americas and Asia at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The appointment will be for a fixed term from 1 April 2022 to 31 August 2026.Sinkari will transfer to the Ministry from Finland’s Embassy in Jakarta, where he has worked as Head of Mission in 2018–2022. From 2014 to 2018, he served as Consul General in Hong Kong. Before that, he worked at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs as Deputy Director General of the Department for Communications in 2011–2014, as Director of the Unit for Communications in 2010–2011 and as the official responsible for trade policy communications in 2007–2010. Prior to that, Sinkari worked at the Department for the Americas and Asia as Desk Officer responsible for relations with Japan, the Korean Peninsula, Australia and New Zealand. He has also served at the Consulate General of Finland in New York and Embassy of Finland in Tokyo.Sinkari joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1997. He holds a Master’s degree in Social Sciences.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Acts concerning safety and security at sports events to enter into force in March

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — New acts will improve safety and security at football matches and other sports events. The Government issued decrees providing that the acts on the Council of Europe Convention on an Integrated Safety, Security and Service Approach at Football Matches and Other Sports Events and on amendments to the Assembly Act will enter into force on 1 March. The President of the Republic confirmed the acts on 16 December 2021.The aim of the Council of Europe Convention is to create a safe and secure environment and a positive atmosphere at football matches and other sports events. The previous Convention from 1985 was denounced on 4 January 2022, and the denunciation will become effective on 1 August 2022.“Safeguarding the health and wellbeing of the participants, ensuring the smooth running of the event and creating a welcoming atmosphere must all be taken into account when organising sports events. This can be achieved, among other things, by updating the provisions on the security measures of events and on public order and security,” says Jouko Huhtamäki, Ministerial Adviser from the Ministry of the Interior.According to the Convention, different stakeholders connected with event arrangements will be involved more extensively than before in ensuring the safety and security of spectators. In addition, the Assembly Act was amended to ensure that certain provisions in the Convention concerning safety and emergency planning are taken into account in connection with the events referred to in the Convention. 

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Restrictions on external border traffic extended until 13 March

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread. To safeguard the capacity of the healthcare system, restrictions on external border traffic will continue until 13.3. Some exemptions will however be made. The Government decided on these changes at its session on 10.2. and they will enter into force on 15.2. The restrictions will be amended so that people arriving from outside the EU and the Schengen area will no longer be required to show a negative COVID-19 test result in addition to a full course of vaccination. However, a valid certificate of a full course of vaccination or proof of recovery from COVID-19 within the past six months is still required as a prerequisite for entry, apart from a few exceptions. This requirement applies to those born in 2006 or earlier.The Border Guard will not require the above-mentioned certificates as a prerequisite for entry from the following groups of persons arriving in Finland from third countries: Finnish citizens, foreign nationals residing permanently in Finland, or persons who have an essential reason for entry, such as compelling family matters or another compelling personal reason.Entry into the country will continue to be permitted without restrictions for residents of the countries and regions on the EU’s green list. Countries on the green list mean countries with a sufficiently good epidemiological situation for which the Council of the European Union has decided to allow free travel to the EU.Internal border control, which was reinstated for traffic between Finland and all Schengen countries, ended on 31 January. Entry restrictions for non-Schengen EU countries were also lifted entirely as of 1 February due to the end of internal border control.Requirements under the Communicable Diseases Act apply to all passengersHowever, all passengers arriving in Finland are required to comply with the decisions made by the Regional State Administrative Agencies on compulsory health examinations and to present the required certificates as laid down in the Communicable Diseases Act.All passengers arriving in Finland must have one of these certificates: a vaccination certificate, a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 or a negative test certificate (issued less than 72 hours prior to entry). Passengers who do not have any of the above-mentioned certificates may be directed to a COVID-19 test.With certain exceptions, the requirements apply to all those born in 2006 or earlier.Finnish travellers should note that while they are allowed to enter Finland without a test, other countries and airlines may have their own testing requirements.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

A new application round on business cost support and closure compensation

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — A new application round will be organised for business cost support and closure compensation. The Government submitted its proposal for Parliament’s consideration on 10 February 2022. The support period for closure compensation is from 21 December 2021 to 28 February 2022 and for business cost support from 1 December 2021 to 28 February 2022. Companies will apply for support at the State Treasury. With regard to closure compensation, eligible companies would include those where premises have been closed in full or in part or where public events organised by these companies have been prohibited by a provision of an act or by order of an authority to manage a pandemic. A less severe restriction or recommendation issued by an authority would not constitute a closure measure referred to in this section. The compensation would not cover events for which the use of a COVID-19 passport would be permitted. The closure compensation would cover the period from 21 December 2021 to 28 February 2022. The amount of compensation would be based on the number of closure days during the support period.Closure compensation applies to companies with fewer than 50 employees. The Government is currently preparing a separate scheme for large companies. Support for large companies requires EU notification. Business cost support is not limited to companies of a certain size.Own liability of business cost support to fall from 30% to 25%The business cost support compensates for the negative impacts of the less severe restrictions on the sectors and companies affected by such restrictions. The provisions on business cost support will be amended to meet the need for compensation caused by the new and continuing less severe restrictions. The support period and reference periods would be amended to correspond with the new situation: The support period would be from 1 December 2021 to 28 February 2022 and the reference months from 2019. For new companies the reference months would be from November 2021.  The percentage in the decrease in turnover and the company’s own liability would be reduced from 30% to 25%. Otherwise, the Act would mainly correspond to the content of the current Act. The amount and procedure of the support would largely correspond to the current provisions. Since the support and reference periods would be redefined, the amounts of support paid may differ from the earlier periods. Aligning the reference periods more closely with the support period will make companies established later (business activities must have started no later than 1 November 2021) eligible for support. The total maximum amount of compensation per group would be EUR 2.3 million.All coronavirus-related aid will be affected by the duration of the EU’s exemptions to state aid rules, which will expire on 30 June 2022. Certain operators in the administrative branch of the Ministry of Education and Culture and, for example, cultural institutions are not considered economic activities referred to in the EU’s business subsidy legislation and they therefore fall outside this support. The Ministry of Education and Culture is currently preparing a support scheme for these operators.The Act is due to enter into force on 1 March 2022.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Paula Eerola appointed president of the Academy of Finland

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — The Government has appointed Professor Paula Eerola, president of the Academy of Finland. The five-year term as president begins on 1 March 2022.Paula Eerola has served as Vice Rector at the University of Helsinki since 2018. She was appointed Professor of experimental particle physics in 2008. Eerola has also been Director of the Doctoral School in Natural Sciences, Director of the Helsinki Institute of Physics and Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Helsinki.She worked as a senior researcher of particle physics, Professor of particle physics and head of the particle physics division at the University of Lund from 1998 to 2008, and prior to that at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research. Eerola holds a doctoral degree in philosophy from the University of Helsinki completed in 1990.Eerola is a Member of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters, the Finnish Society of Science and Letters, the Academy for Technical Sciences, and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. She chaired the Research Council for Natural Sciences and Engineering of the Academy of Finland from 2013 to 2017 and has been a member of the Academy’s Finnish Research Infrastructure Committee and its working committee and a member of the Academy’s Board of Directors and General Section.The Academy of Finland is an expert organisation within the administrative branch of the Ministry of Education and Culture. The Academy funds high-quality scientific research, provides expertise in science and science policy and strengthens the position of science and research.The President of the Academy of Finland directs all activities. Altogether 16 candidates applied for the post.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Antti Riivari to continue as Director General of Finnish Patent and Registration Office

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — Antti Riivari has served as Director General of the Finnish Patent and Registration Office since March 2017. The Government decided on 10 February 2022 to continue his appointment for a five-year term starting on 1 March.Riivari has 30 years of work experience in central government. Before joining the Finnish Patent and Registration Office, he worked at the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. Riivari has also worked for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs as Counsellor at the Permanent Representation of Finland to the EU in Brussels.He holds a Master of Laws degree.Five applications were received for the position of Director General at the Finnish Patent and Registration Office. The Finnish Patent and Registration Office promotes technical and economic development and corporate activities in Finland and internationally. It operates in the administrative branch of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

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