FINLAND

Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean wants closer cooperation

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will attend the Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) in Barcelona on Monday 29 November. A foreign ministerial meeting of the European Union and Southern Neighbourhood will be held on the same day.The purpose of the meeting is to intensify Euro-Mediterranean cooperation, to strengthen mutual trust through political dialogue between the EU and its Southern Neighbourhood countries, as well as to find ways to respond to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. A concrete objective is to speed up the adoption of so-called partnerships, which form a foundation for joint projects between the EU and countries of the Southern Neighbourhood can be launched.“It is important for Finland to adhere to the EU’s value base, strengthen the participation of women and youth, and promote environmental protection and action against climate change,” says Minister for Foreign Affairs Haavisto.In their discussions, EU ministers will focus on efforts to speed up the handling of partnership agreements and on reminding each other of the agreed partnership priorities. The priorities define the political framework for cooperation that guides individual partnership negotiations and sets the preconditions for the funding paid by the EU. Different EU countries have different interests: for the southern Member States, the new policy offers an opportunity to generate economic and social stability, including jobs, especially in North African countries.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Executive Director of United Nations Population Fund Natalia Kanem to visit Finland

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will meet Dr Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), on Friday 3 December.Executive Director of UNFPA Natalia Kanem will visit Finland on 2–3 December and have a meeting with Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari.  Skinnari and Kanem will discuss ways to achieve UNFPA’s objectives concerning ways of preventing unplanned pregnancies, ending maternal mortality and putting an end to gender-based violence and such harmful practices as female genital mutilation (FGM) and child, early  and forced marriages, by 2030.“Unfortunately, violence against women and girls has continued to increase all over the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. The position of women and girls can be improved through new technologies, and Finland has a lot to offer in this area to UNFPA’s gender equality work,” says Minister Skinnari.A key priority in Finland’s development policy and development cooperation is to strengthen the status and rights of women and girls, with an emphasis on sexual and reproductive health and rights. Of the UN specialised agencies supported by Finland, UNFPA is the largest recipient of core funding. In 2021, Finland’s core funding amounts to EUR 33 million. Additionally, funding is directed to certain country strategies, including in Myanmar, Somalia and Iraq, and to UNFPA’s humanitarian activities.  

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Finland to restrict entry from Southern Africa due to new virus variant

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — As of 15.00 on Sunday 28 November, Finland will restrict entry into the country at its external borders for travellers who have been in Botswana, Eswatini, South Africa, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia or Zimbabwe during the 14 days prior to their arrival in Finland. The Government adopted a decision on the matter on 28 November.In line with the decision, travellers who have been in one of the above-mentioned African countries will not be able to enter Finland by presenting a certificate of full vaccination against COVID-19.  A person may enter Finland from these countries only if they have an essential reason for doing so, such as compelling family matters or another compelling personal reason.The entry into force of the Government’s previous decision from 25 November 2021 has been moved up so that the decision will enter into force on 28 November at 15.00. Namibia will be removed from the list of countries appended to the previous decision.See the websites below for more information on the entry restrictions and health security requirements in place.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Finland: Salla National Park in Finland approved by government

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — A proposal to establish Sallatunturi National Park in Finnish Lapland has been approved by the country’s government, making it the 41st national park in Finland.

The idea of the park, which is along the northeastern border with Russia, came from within the municipality itself, with Parliament’s plenary session going smoothly, states MP and Environment Committee member Mari-Leena Talvitie.

The Finnish government’s 2021 supplementary budget put 4.5 million Euros towards establishing the park.

Krista Mikkonen, Minister of the Interior, explained to Parliament that the Salla National Park is expected to increase jobs in the area and earn annual tax revenues by a total of 400,000 euros over the next seven years.

Mikkonen also explained that the park would support sustainable nature tourism as it can be reached by public transport from southern Finland.

 

Avoid all travel to South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Eswatini

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — Based on the recommendations of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs recommends avoiding all travel to South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Eswatini.A new variant of COVID-19, known as B.1.1.529, which has numerous mutations to the spike protein, has been detected in South Africa and Botswana. Due to the mutations, it is feared that the variant may spread effectively.The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has updated its travel advice for individual countries.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Minister of Defence: Legislative amendments unnecessary for many measures to develop military service

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen considers the development proposals of the Parliamentary Committee on National Defence Obligation and Conscription reasonable. A significant part of the proposals can be implemented without legislative amendments.
“It is easier and quicker to influence some of the objectives and this can be carried out within the administrative branch. Several aims require more extensive assessment and preparation,” Kaikkonen says.

Even without legislative amendments, the number of those starting military service can be increased by developing the assessment of fitness for service and by introducing new service duties, for example. Voluntary service can attract more women through targeted and active communications.

In addition, the number of drop-outs can be reduced by developing the initial questionnaire and selection system for those starting the service in order to match them with the most suitable positions. It is essential that the skills acquired during military service can be utilised later in studies or work.

The position of reservists will become more important as part of the reform of local defence. At the same time, the prospect of raising the upper age limit for reservists will be examined.
Gender equality will be increased by starting the preparation of the call-up system reform and by combining the assignment-for-service events for women and men. Some of the measures to develop gender equality are already under way, such as continuing the shared quartering experiment and shortening the time during which women have the right to discontinue service upon their notification.
“I would like to emphasise that many of the development measures are cross-administrative in their nature and that other administrative branches play a significant role in them,” Kaikkonen says.
“We must ensure that any further development measures take place in close cooperation between the necessary parties. For example, the objective set by the Committee to develop call-ups must be carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.
Kaikkonen stresses that military service is an integral part of society.
“We can describe it as a national institution, for good reason. It is important that military service enjoy wide support among citizens, because without this acceptance it will not thrive.”
“It is a pleasure to note that many of the development measures launched in the Defence Forces in recent years fit well with the goals and perspectives of the Committee. One example, which has been highlighted by the media too, is the ongoing study by the Defence Forces to offer military service opportunities to persons with health limitations.
“I also consider very important the Committee’s view that non-military service be developed alongside military service to better serve the needs of Finland’s comprehensive security,” Kaikkonen adds.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Satu Santala appointed Associate Vice-President at the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — Satu Santala, Director General of the Department for Development Policy in the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, has been appointed Associate Vice-President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). IFAD is a specialised agency of the UN. In IFAD, as Associate Vice-President, Satu Santala aims to strengthen funding base in order to advance food security in developing countries.In her new role as Associate Vice-President, Satu Santala will head IFAD’s External Relations and Governance Department.  She will take up her duties at the organisation’s headquarters in Rome in early December.IFAD is an international development finance institution and one of the UN’s specialised agencies. It is one of the world’s largest providers of funding for agriculture and rural development in the poorest countries. The organisation promotes food security and nutrition and works to reduce rural poverty in developing countries.“IFAD works to improve the food security and livelihoods of the most vulnerable people, which is important to me. From the perspective of food security, climate change, biodiversity loss and the COVID-19 pandemic are all big issues. Food links everyone on the planet together,” says Satu Santala.Santala joined the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1996. In 2013–2016, she served on the World Bank’s Board of Directors in Washington DC. For the past five years, she has served as Director General of the Department for Development Policy of the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs.“My aim is to strengthen IFAD’s funding base. I will seek various partnerships to improve the livelihoods of poor farmers and, on the other hand, to advance food security in developing countries,” says Santala.Finland is a long-term supporter and partner of IFAD. In 2020, more than 23 million people benefited from IFAD’s financial services and 3.7 million people received training in income-generating activities or business management. Almost 1.7 million hectares of land was brought under climate resilient practices. 

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Tighter restrictions on food and beverage service businesses

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. The restrictions on licensing and opening hours will be tightened in areas where the epidemic is in the community transmission phase. In addition, restrictions on food and beverage service businesses will be reintroduced in the region of South Karelia.The amendment to the decree will enter into force on Sunday 28 November at 00.00.Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in the regions of Southwest Finland, Satakunta, Päijät-Häme, Ostrobothnia, South Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, North Ostrobothnia, Pirkanmaa, Uusimaa, Kymenlaakso and Kanta-Häme and South Karelia and in the Hospital District of Länsi-Pohja, which are all at the community transmission phase of the epidemic, from 28 November at 00.00Serving of alcoholic beverages in all food and beverage service businesses will end at 17.00. Such businesses may keep their premises open to customers from 05.00 to 18.00. Alcoholic beverages sold before the serving of alcohol ends may be consumed within one hour after the licensing hours have ended. Food and beverage service businesses will be allowed to serve alcoholic beverages after 17.00 only by introducing the COVID-19 passport.Businesses that do not serve serve alcoholic beverages may be open between 5.00 and 1.00. For example, fast food restaurants and cafes may remain open, just as they are now. Bars and restaurants may also be open between 5.00 and 1.00 if they do not serve alcoholic beverages.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 are restricted to 75 per cent of their normal number of customer seats indoors.All customers must have their own seats at a table or similar in indoor premises.Businesses who require all customers to present a COVID-19 passport are exempt from the above-mentioned restrictions.Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses elsewhere in Finland from 28 November at 00.00There are no separate restrictions on the number of customers or on licensing and opening hours.The obligation to observe the general hygiene guidelines and to keep a safe distance applies in all regions.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

Funding allocated to Finnish civil society organisations for reducing poverty and inequality

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — Programme-based support for Finnish civil society organisations (CSOs) is allocated for the implementation of Finland’s development policy objectives to eradicate extreme poverty, reduce inequality and promote human rights. The work is carried out in close cooperation with developing countries’ own CSOs. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has granted approximately EUR 276 million for Finnish CSO’s multiannual development cooperation in 2022–2025.The granted support is part of the budget for development cooperation undertaken by civil society organizations.  The annual amount of programme-based support is approximately EUR 69 million.“The civic space is shrinking globally. This trend threatens the realisation of human rights and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Programme support allows Finnish CSOs and their partners to engage in strengthening civil society in developing countries,” says Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari.The work of Finnish civil society organisations contributes significantly to the achievement of Finland’s development policy objectives and supports the implementation of the Guidelines for Civil Society in Development Policy. This work has specific impact on for example advancing the status and rights of women and girls, including preventing female genital mutilation, child marriages, gender-based violence, and advancing the employment of women with disabilities.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Restrictions on entry into Finland extended until 19 December

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — Restrictions on external border traffic will continue as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread. Despite the increase in vaccination coverage, there is still a risk that the carrying capacity of the healthcare system will be exceeded. For this reason, the validity of the decision made on 4 November will be extended until 19 December. However, people may still enter Finland from all countries upon presenting an approved certificate of a full course of vaccination.External border traffic refers to traffic between Finland and non-Schengen third countries.According to the Government decision of 4 November, entry into Finland is permitted for residents of 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. Singapore and Ukraine have been removed from the annex to the Council recommendation and Indonesia has been added to it. The same changes will also be made to the list of countries annexed to the Government decision as of 29 November.For other third countries, restrictions on entry will continue. If a person arriving from a country subject to the restrictions is not fully vaccinated, the accepted reasons for entry are return travel to Finland, return travel to other EU or Schengen countries, transit on regular, scheduled flights at an airport or other essential travel.See the websites below for more information on the entry restrictions and health security requirements in place.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

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