NordenBladet — On 19 November 2021, the Ministry of the Interior set up a project to prepare a proposal for legislation to address the dissemination of terrorist content online. The aim of the project is to make the national legislation comply with the EU Regulation.The EU Regulation aims to improve detection and removal of online content that incites to terrorist acts. The Regulation obliges internet service providers to actively protect their services against dissemination of terrorist content. An internet service provider means, for example social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, but also smaller service providers.
NordenBladet — On 18 November 2021, the Government submitted to Parliament a proposal to amend the Accounting Act. The amendment aims to make it easier for Finnish authorities to determine whether foreign companies have business activities in Finland and whether they are liable to pay taxes in Finland.The purpose of the Government’s proposed amendment to the Accounting Act is to give the Finnish tax and customs authorities the right to access the accounting records of foreign companies. The proposal, which is based on the Government Programme, is an important tool in combating the grey economy as regards the activities of foreign companies. In practice, the legislative reform puts foreign companies in the same position as Finnish companies in terms of the authorities’ access to information.”It is important that Finnish and foreign companies are treated equally with regard to the accounting obligation and taxation. This reform is an essential measure in combating the grey economy,” says Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen.As per the proposed amendment, a foreign company is obliged to keep accounts if it carries out business activities in Finland or its business activities abroad are in fact managed from Finland. In such a situation, the accounting information can be used as a basis for the company’s taxation in Finland. Various stakeholders and experts have been consulted during the legislative drafting. The reform is considered good and necessary and it is expected to enter into force as soon as possible.
NordenBladet — The Money Collection Act will be amended so that voluntary carbon offsetting services can be provided without a money collection licence in future. These services will be excluded from the scope of the Money Collection Act. The Government submitted the bill amending the Act for approval on Thursday 18 November. The President of the Republic is to approve the bill on 19 November. The Act will enter into force on 22 November 2021.Voluntary carbon offsetting provides a mechanism for offsetting greenhouse gas emissions, for example from travel or products to be purchased by means of a payment.“Carbon offsetting is an integral part of climate action and it complements effective emissions reduction measures. It is important that the Money Collection Act does not prevent the provision of these services. In future, the focus should be on developing the qualitative criteria for carbon offsetting services,” says Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo.The amendment to the Money Collection Act contributes to the Government Programme’s objective of making Finland carbon neutral by 2035.Amendment enables development of the carbon offsetting marketThe amendment to the Money Collection Act clarifies the relationship between voluntary carbon offsetting services and the Money Collection Act. Companies and organisations that provide carbon offsetting services seem to find the current legislation unclear.With the legislative amendment, voluntary carbon offsetting services will be excluded from the scope of the Money Collection Act, and the services can be provided without a money collection licence in future. Activities that are excluded from the scope of the Money Collection Act can be carried out by different service providers, regardless of the legal form of the service provider, that is, whether it is a company, foundation or organisation. The amendment enables the development of a functioning market for national voluntary carbon offsetting services, thereby encouraging companies and other operators in the sector to develop new voluntary carbon offsetting services and innovations.Money Collection Act mainly regulates money collection for non-profit purposesThe Money Collection Act lays down provisions on organising the collection of money and supervising the appropriateness of the collection. Money collection means activities in which funds are collected without compensation by appealing to the public. Money collection requires either a money collection licence that is granted by the National Police Board or, in the case of a small-scale money collection, submission of a notification to the local police department. Companies may not be granted a money collection licence and they cannot organise small-scale money collections.
NordenBladet — Unfounded restraint of trade agreements restrict employee mobility, causing inflexibility in the labour market. Parliament has approved statutory amendments proposed by the Government seeking to reduce the use of unfounded restraint of trade agreements. Employers will also have to compensate employees for restraint of trade agreements lasting for less than six months.A restraint of trade agreement requires a particularly compelling reason related to the employer’s operations or to the employment relationship. A restraint of trade agreement limits the right of an employee to:enter into an employment contract with another employer engaged in a competing operation for work that commences after the employment relationship ends, orengage in competing operations on a self-employed basis.“I am pleased that restraint of trade agreements will be directed more effectively in future. Restraint of trade agreements have been routinely used for almost all categories of employee, regardless of whether they are key staff members for a business. This is contrary to the Employment Contracts Act,” observes Minister of Labour Tuula Haatainen.“The reform will also promote labour mobility when unnecessary restraint of trade agreements no longer restrict job changes,” Minister Haatainen adds.The formal reply of Parliament to the Government Bill for an Act that would provide for a broader obligation to pay compensation, the time of payment of compensation and the employer’s right to terminate the contract was considered at a Government session on 18 November 2021. The amendments are intended to take effect on 1 January 2022.Subject to certain exceptions and following a transition period of one year, the new regulation will also govern restraint of trade agreements that were made before the entry into force of the Act. The new regulation will not govern old restraint of trade agreements if the employer has already paid reasonable compensation under current legislation, either in whole or in part, for a restraint of trade agreement lasting for longer than six months. The employer may terminate an old restraint of trade agreement during the transition period, thereby avoiding the duty to pay compensation under the new Act.Duration of a restraint of trade obligation affects the compensation payableA restraint of trade may continue to be imposed for no longer than one year. Compensation for this must be paid in an amount depending on the salary of the employee and on the agreed duration of the restraint of trade obligation (the restraint period).If the restraint period is no longer than six months, then the employer must pay 40 per cent of the employee’s salary for the corresponding period.If the restraint period is longer than six months, then the employer must pay 60 per cent of the salary for the entire restraint period.The Act does not currently stipulate the time when the compensation must be paid. Compensation must in future generally be paid in accordance with the salary payment practice applied during the restraint period and the employment relationship.Another reform entitles the employer to terminate a restraint of trade agreement during the employment relationship if the circumstances change. A period of notice must then be observed amounting to one third of the restraint period stipulated in the restraint of trade agreement and not less than two months. An employer may nevertheless no longer terminate a restraint of trade agreement after the employee has terminated the employment.
NordenBladet — Finland will provide assistance to Estonia in fighting the COVID-19 epidemic. On 9 November, Estonia made a request for assistance to the other EU countries concerning vaccines to help it fight the COVID-19 epidemic.The COVID-19 situation has worsened rapidly in Estonia. Because of this, Finland will lend Estonia approximately 130,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. The vaccine doses will be delivered before the end of November. Estonia has promised to give Finland back the same number of vaccine doses in February 2022.Finland lending Estonia vaccine doses will not slow down the vaccination of people living in Finland.The Government made the decision to lend Estonia vaccines in its session on Thursday 18 November 2021.
NordenBladet — Trafficking in human beings is a global phenomenon, and even individual human trafficking offences often extend to more than one state. The ministers speaking at an anti-trafficking seminar in Helsinki on Thursday consider cross-border measures against human trafficking to be of utmost importance.Nordic anti-trafficking authorities and civil society actors gathered in a seminar in Helsinki today to share their best practices in anti-trafficking work.In her opening address, Minister of Justice Anna-Maja Henriksson pointed out that trafficking in human beings is a problem that affects society as a whole, seriously violates the victims’ fundamental rights, and weakens the ability of law-abiding companies to be competitive. – Effective prevention of human trafficking requires political will and determined work. Human trafficking offences take a variety of forms, and the general tendencies of these offences and even individual cases often extend to more than one state. That is why Nordic and international cooperation is of utmost importance here. Anti-trafficking work is most effective when the entire society is committed to it, Henriksson stressed.The ministers thanked the experts present at the seminar, coming from different countries and representing various international organisations engaged in anti-trafficking work, as well as the European Commission. The ministers considered it important that experts working at different stages of the relevant processes get to share their expertise with other professionals in the field. – If we develop our expertise together, we will be stronger and better prepared to respond to the needs of the victims, bring the perpetrators to justice, and protect society as a whole from trafficking in human beings,” Henriksson said.Human trafficking is often hidden crimeTrafficking in human beings is often hidden crime, which is why more active detection of these offences is required in addition to investigative measures.– It is important that criminal liability is realised throughout the chain of exploitation, particularly sexual exploitation, said Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo.Trafficking in human beings has also been identified as one of the European priority crime areas.– Finland is actively involved in planning and implementing measures under this priority, Ohisalo continued.The seminar will continue with afternoon workshops and an evening event hosted by Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto.The seminar is organised by the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Government Anti-Trafficking Coordinator as part of Finland’s Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers.
NordenBladet — Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will represent Finland at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting of EU development ministers on 19 November in Brussels.The topics on the agenda will include EU water diplomacy and water in the EU’s external action, especially in the relations with Central Asian countries. Additionally, the Ministers will discuss the relationship between the EU and the United States in development cooperation with Administrator Samantha Power from the United States Agency for International Development USAID.Water diplomacy promotes peace, stability and security and prevents disputes related to transboundary water management between countries. Water is a highly topical issue in the EU’s external action as the United Nations Water Conference is approaching in 2023.“The EU must move towards responsible and just water security. Finland has much to offer in this area. Effective transboundary water cooperation and agreements can improve people’s access to water and reduce tensions between countries,” says Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari.In a meeting with Administrator of USAID Samantha Power, EU development ministers will discuss development cooperation in the EU–US relationship. It is important to strengthen cooperation with the US administration to be able to respond to questions related to democracy and to the challenges posed by climate change.“It is natural for the EU and the United States to be partners especially when addressing climate questions and promoting digital solutions. In its cooperation with the United States, Finland also emphasises gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights,” Minister Skinnari says.
NordenBladet — In the supplementary budget proposal for 2022, a total increase of EUR 20.4 million is proposed for the administrative branch of the Ministry of the Interior. Appropriations are proposed for the development of the national security authorities’ KEJO common information system (EUR 6.85 million), for the Emergency Response Centre Administration’s information system fees (EUR 1.3 million) and for the EU Home Affairs Fund item (EUR 8 million) A total of EUR 1.95 million is proposed for strengthening rescue training and an additional EUR 0.3 million for EXIT activities. An appropriation of EUR 1.1 million is proposed for increasing the refugee quota.Swedish-language rescue course and more rescue trainees to meet growing need for rescuersImproving the operational preparedness of rescue services and changes related to standby provision will create an additional need for around 1,000 rescue personnel during 2020–2030. A total of EUR 1.95 million is proposed to strengthen rescue training. The number of starting places for rescue trainees will be increased on a one-off basis by 24 students. To secure the number of Swedish-speaking rescue personnel, a Swedish-language rescue course with 30 study places will be established, starting in 2022. The Swedish-language course will be implemented as a regional course organised by the Emergency Services Academy Finland in Kuopio in cooperation with a regional rescue department. The increase in rescue training will ensure equal access and quality of services throughout the country.It is proposed that the level of appropriations for rescue services’ special expenditure be raised by approximately EUR 1 million to EUR 3 million.Refugee quota to increase to 1,500Due to the situation in Afghanistan, it is proposed that Finland’s refugee quota for 2022 be increased to 1,500. In accordance with an earlier decision, Finland had prepared to receive 1,050 quota refugees in 2022. An appropriation of EUR 1.1 million is proposed for increasing the refugee quota.Increase for EXIT activities and their developmentEXIT activities provide individually tailored support services to people who are already radicalised or are at risk of radicalisation. The activities has been developed since 2015, when the EU adopted a recommendation that, in addition to criminal justice measures, Member States should have services to help people break away from violent extremist activities and extremism. The goal of EXIT activities and their development is a permanent service organised by both public authorities and organisations.An increase of EUR 0.3 million is proposed for EXIT activities and their development in cooperation with the public sector and organisations.
NordenBladet — On 17 November, 86.2 per cent of the target population for COVID-19 vaccination in Finland, i.e. people who are 12 years of age or over, had received at least their first vaccine dose and 80.6 per cent also their second vaccine dose.Between 11 and 17 November, the uptake of the first vaccine dose grew by 0.2 percentage points and the uptake of the second dose by 0.6 percentage points. Altogether 154,629 people had received their third vaccine dose.Between 8 and 14 November, a total of 137 new COVID-19 patients were admitted to specialised healthcare, while in the preceding five-week period, the number varied between 110 and 135. Last week, 31 new COVID-19 patients were admitted to intensive care, while in the preceding week, the figure was 20. At the end of last week, the total number of patients in specialised healthcare was 147, of whom 110 were in inpatient care and 37 in intensive care. Between August and October, unvaccinated people were 19 times more likely to be admitted to specialised healthcare and 33 times more likely to be admitted to intensive care than vaccinated people. On 17 November 2021, the total number of COVID-19-related deaths reported to the communicable diseases register was 1,236.The incidence of new COVID-19 cases between 1 and 14 November was 199 per 100,000 inhabitants, while in the preceding two-week period (18–31 October), the figure was 142 per 100,000 inhabitants. Last week, about 5,900 new cases were reported in Finland, while in the preceding week, there were approximately 5,200 new cases.About 95,200 COVID-19 tests were taken last week. The proportion of positive cases of all these samples was 6.2 per cent. In mid-October, the weekly number of tests carried out was around 77,600, after which the number of tests has grown steadily. The proportion of positive cases of all samples taken in mid-October was 4.8 per cent, and even this figure has grown steadily since then. The following 12 areas meet the epidemiological characteristics for areas in the community transmission phase: the Hospital Districts of South Ostrobothnia, Helsinki and Uusimaa, Kanta-Häme, Central Ostrobothnia, Kymenlaakso, Länsi-Pohja, Pirkanmaa, North Ostrobothnia, Päijät-Häme, Satakunta, Vaasa and Southwest Finland.The epidemiological situation is monitored weekly. The situational picture is updated weekly on the website of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare under ‘Situation update on coronavirus’. An extensive monitoring report is published on the Institute’s webpage ‘Monitoring reports on the hybrid strategy’ every other week on Thursday afternoons.
NordenBladet — Minister for Nordic Cooperation Thomas Blomqvist will speak in a forum on the state and future of cross-border regional cooperation (Gränsregionalt Forum) in Oulu on 18 November. He will also meet local actors, including representatives of the Bothnian Arc collaboration and the City of Oulu, BusinessOulu and the University of Oulu.Minister Blomqvist will speak about the state and future of border cooperation at the Gränsregionalt Forum on 18 November. The restrictions on border traffic due to COVID-19 have posed a particular challenge to cooperation in the border regions.According to Minister Blomqvist, cross-border regional cooperation is an important part of Nordic cooperation: “The work supports in a concrete way our common goal of becoming a more sustainable and integrated region in the world. Nordic cooperation has traditionally aimed at facilitating everyday life across borders. Cross-border cooperation and the border regions can be considered frontrunners. Cross-border cooperation promotes integration in the Nordic region, which is a cornerstone of the Nordic Prime Ministers’ common vision.”The Minister will also meet representatives of the Bothnian Arc. Oulu is currently chairing the Bothnian Arc collaboration with Luleå as vice-chair. As its name suggests, the Bothnian Arc includes the coastal areas of the Bay of Bothnia in Finland and Sweden. The Bothnian Arc is one of the thirteen Nordic cross-border cooperation organisations whose activities are funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers.The Minister will also meet representatives of the City of Oulu, BusinessOulu and the University of Oulu and discuss the future prospects of the region and the promotion of exports in the northern regions.