NordenBladet — In its meeting on Wednesday 20 October, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs discussed the rise in energy prices and other issues on the agenda at the October European Council.The increase in energy prices will be discussed at the European Council meeting on 21 and 22 October and at the extraordinary Energy Council on 26 October. The Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs also outlined Finland’s positions on the European Commission Communication issued on the matter on 13 October. Finland considers the effects of rising prices regrettable for consumers and believes that the measures proposed by the Commission to ease the situation are fundamentally justified and appropriate. In Finland’s view, when seeking solutions, it is important to take into account that there are several factors behind the rise in prices, the most significant of which is the increase in prices of fossil fuels. Phasing out fossil fuels and increasing the proportion of renewable and other emission-free energy are important, as this will also help to protect people from price shocks in the longer term. It is also important to refrain from creating new income distribution mechanisms within the EU based on the rising prices. As prices rise, it is important to ensure that national measures take into account the needs of the most vulnerable consumers.Other topics on the agenda for the October European Council include the EU’s COVID-19 response measures, the digital transformation, migration, trade policy and a variety of external relations issues, such as the Eastern Partnership summit, the ASEM summit and the COP26 Climate Change Conference in Glasgow.In Finland’s view, the production of COVID-19 vaccines must be further accelerated, also so that the EU can fulfil its commitment to global solidarity. Moving forward, the EU must be better and more holistically prepared for future crises.Finland considers it important that ambitious targets are being set for the digital transformation. It is crucial to ensure the realisation of fundamental rights, information security and consumer and data protection. Finland emphasises the importance of developing the single market and linking the digital transformation to the green transition, and stresses the role of data in these processes. The EU should examine its ability to safeguard distribution chains and the availability of critical components, taking into account the global nature of supply and value chains, the need for a level playing field and future needs for use. Finland supports strengthening external relations connected to the EU’s digital and cyber policy and developing the EU’s cyber capacities.In Finland’s view, migration requires comprehensive, common European solutions. The funds allocated to migration management during the current financial framework period must be used effectively. Partnerships with countries of origin and transit are crucial. The EU must seek solutions for the Common European Asylum System. The instrumentalisation of migration is unacceptable. The EU must engage in discussion on how to respond to such attempts. Control of the EU’s external borders must be effective and credible. It is integral to comply with the obligations of international law and fundamental and human rights.Finland supports the objectives of transparency, sustainability and assertiveness set by the Commission for the EU’s trade policy. The EU must remain open to international trade and investments. The EU must play a leading role in reforming the World Trade Organization. The EU must further strengthen the important role of trade policy in promoting the Sustainable Development Goals.In Finland’s view, from the perspective of the unity of the EU, it is good that the European Council is holding discussions in preparation for future summits and the COP26 and COP15 meetings.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — On 19 October, Administrator of the US Agency for International Development Samantha Power and Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari announced their dedication to robust collaboration on efforts to advance economic productivity, gender equality and human rights in developing countries through inclusive digitalisation.At the end of a meeting today in Washington DC, Administrator Samantha Power and Minister Ville Skinnari signed a Statement of Intent to work together to provide policy advice and implementation support to governments, civil society, and the private sector in interested partner countries.The objective of this cooperation is to accelerate inclusive digital transformation in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, whereby everyone can take advantage of all the benefits and opportunities of an open, secure, and inclusive digital ecosystem. “We have to put much more effort into making new technologies available to developing countries so that people and businesses can interact, learn and operate more openly and effectively. At the same time, we have to ensure that technology is a means of empowerment and does not affect people’s rights negatively. Finland is happy to put its experience and expertise to global use in partnership with our American colleagues”, Minister Skinnari says.One of the essential instruments is financing for sustainable business projects. Finnish development financier, Finnfund, has already been making investments for some time in digital infrastructure and solutions in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Finnfund investments improve affordable access to data and digital services in rural areas as well.“Personally, I am very excited about this new level of partnership we are entering into with USAID, and I commend Administrator Power for her commitment to digital empowerment of especially women in developing countries”, says Skinnari.Statement of Intent (pdf, 115, 47 Kt)

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Finland and Sweden have signed an agreement on police cooperation in the border area in Tornionlaakso. Its purpose is to step up police cooperation between the two countries. Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo and Swedish Minister for Home Affairs Mikael Damberg signed the agreement in Tornio on Tuesday 19 October.“Finland and Sweden have a long tradition of police cooperation. Now the aim is to further improve cooperation between the authorities and provide better access to urgent assistance in areas where cross-border interaction and cooperation are very close anyway,” says Minister of the Interior Ohisalo.The agreement is applied in Finland in the territories of the municipalities of Enontekiö, Kolari, Muonio, Pello, Tornio and Ylitornio. In Sweden, the agreement is applied in the territories of the municipalities of Haparanda, Kiruna, Pajala and Övertorneå.The agreement covers urgent situations related to prevention of serious crimeThe agreement is applied only in urgent situations and it contains mainly two types of cooperation: measures carried out on request and without a request. A request can be made to the neighbouring country if urgent assistance is needed to prevent a serious criminal offence involving danger to the life, health or physical integrity of an individual. Such serious offences include rape, aggravated assault and homicide. However, the parties may also deny the request.Assistance may also be provided to the neighbouring country without a separate request. In other words, police officers may cross the national border and take provisional measures in the border area to combat serious offences such as those mentioned above. This applies only if there is a risk that the danger will materialise before the host country’s police arrive.Police officers operating in the territory of another country under the agreement must act in compliance with the host country’s legislation and within the limits of their powers under national legislation. The agreement also lays down provisions on criminal and civil liability and the liability for costs.Nordic police cooperation at both strategic and operational levelThe Nordic police authorities have been engaged in practical crime prevention cooperation for decades. Cooperation is based on international agreements, EU law and the national legislation of each country, and it is carried out at both strategic and operational level. Cooperation between the Nordic police authorities is effective and regular.The border area between Finland and Sweden is an exceptional border area between the states, as the urban structure of the area does not respect national borders (the Tornio-Haparanda area) and cross-border interaction and cooperation in different areas of life is very close in general.The agreement now signed is a legally binding treaty. After the signing of the agreement, a government proposal will be prepared asking Parliament to adopt the agreement and containing a bill on bringing into force the provisions of a legislative nature in the agreement. In addition, the relevant contents of the national legislation must be brought into harmony with the agreement.  

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Defence ministers of Northern Group countries will hold a ministerial meeting on 20 October in Brussels. This fall the rotating Chair of the Northern Group is Finland. The meeting will be chaired by Minister of Defence of Finland, Mr Antti Kaikkonen.The defence ministers of Northern Group countries will discuss regional security in Northern Europe, including the Arctic region. The ministers will also share their views on common interests, such as emerging and disruptive technologies, Green Defence and military mobility.“Exchanging views on the security situation in Northern Europe is a shared interest for the Northern Group countries. There are also many future developments that challenge us, as well as many opportunities like Green Defence. Therefore, it is good to have an ongoing defence policy dialogue among this group”, says Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen.Northern Group is a defence cooperation format, which includes twelve countries around the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. The Northern Group consists of the Nordic countries and the Baltic countries, Germany, Netherlands, Poland and the United Kingdom.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Policy Guidance on AI for Children, developed by the United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF in partnership with Finland, was piloted by companies and public sector operators around the world during 2021. The second version of the guidance will be drafted on the basis of the results of the piloting and published in November 2021. Photo: Sakari PiippoUNICEF and Finland have been collaborating to create internationally applicable policy guidance for the use and development of artificial intelligence (AI) for children. The policy guidance has been piloted in different parts of the world, including in Finland, where the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS) and a Finnish start-up company, Someturva, have participated in the testing.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä will visit Estonia with a Team Finland business delegation. The aim of the visit is to discuss the recovery of tourism and the opportunities of Finnish companies in Estonia.The Minister of Economic Affairs will visit Estonia on 20 October 2021 together with representatives of business organisations. The meeting will focus, among other things, on the opportunities offered by recovery funding and major Estonian infrastructure projects for Finnish companies. The agenda also includes discussions on the recovery of tourism between Finland and Estonia as the coronavirus pandemic recedes.Estonia is an important and close partner for Finland. It is important to intensify cooperation further in order to stimulate tourism and grasp the opportunities offered by the digital and green transition,” Lintilä says.During the visit, Lintilä will meet Estonia’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure Taavi Aas and Minister of Public Administration Jaak Aab, among others. Together with the business delegation, the Minister will attend discussions on tourism, projects to reform the Eastern Virumaa region and the possibilities of EU funding for companies.The organisations participating in the Team Finland delegation are Confederation of Finnish industries, Service Sector Employers Palta, Tapahtumateollisuus, Finnish Shipowners Association and City of Helsinki.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The Ministry of Transport and Communications requests comments on a draft government proposal to amend the Postal Act and on a draft government decree on temporary support for the delivery of newspapers. The deadline for comments is 28 November 2021.The draft government proposal would replace the current five-day collection and delivery system included in the universal postal service by a three-day system.In addition, the draft proposal would introduce a temporary government grant for newspaper delivery alongside the three-day collection and delivery system. The government grant would be available to areas lacking commercial early-morning delivery of newspapers and a fully comprehensive five-day delivery system. The framework conditions for the government grant would be added to the Postal Act.According to the draft proposal, universal service providers would be obligated to notify the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency of their collection and delivery days at least six months before they start collection and delivery. The current procurement procedure for universal service providers would be removed from the Postal Act.In addition, the draft proposal would define the public administrative tasks under the Constitution that are currently entrusted on Posti Ltd and amend the related rules based on a decision by the Deputy Parliamentary Ombudsman.The proposals are based on the final report of the Working Group of State Secretaries.The Postal Act prescribes that a permanent universal postal service must be provided under equal terms throughout the country. At present, universal postal service items must be collected and delivered five days a week.The aim is to secure five-day newspaper deliveryThe Government proposes to enact a government decree on support for the delivery of newspapers. The decree would remain in force until 31 December 2027. The support would be available for early-morning delivery of newspapers on the days Posti Ltd is not obliged to provide universal postal service under the Postal Act.The objective of the draft decree is to enable five-day delivery of newspapers in areas currently lacking five-day delivery. This would ensure access to socially significant communications, support the diversity of news services and promote multifaceted quality communications.The grant recipients would be selected through competitive tendering. In exchange for the government grant, the recipients would commit themselves to five-day delivery during the support period for the price specified in the competitive tendering.The government decree on support for the delivery of newspapers is scheduled to enter into force as soon as possible after the proposed amendments to the Postal Act enter into force.What nextThe request for comments has been published at www.lausuntopalvelu.fi. Organisations and private individuals are invited to comment online or by email to [email protected]Public officials at the Ministry of Transport and Communications will continue preparing the act and the government decree following the consultation round.The government proposal for an act amending the Postal Act is scheduled to be submitted to Parliament at the end of 2021 or in early 2022 at the latest.The provisions on government grants for newspaper delivery should enter in force in early 2022 to allow the introduction of the subsidised delivery of newspapers as planned by the beginning of 2023 at the latest.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen and Under-Secretary of State Elina Pylkkänen will visit Stockholm on 18 October 2021. The programme includes a meeting with Sweden’s Minister for Employment Eva Nordmark and a visit to the Samhall company. Finland’s new state-owned company to promote employment of the most disadvantaged people with partial work ability has been modelled after Samhall.Samhall is a limited liability company wholly-owned by Sweden that offers jobs to people with partial work ability who are unable to find work in the open labour market. Finland has utilised the positive experiences gained from Samhall in preparing its new special assignment company.“Sweden’s Samhall company is a well-functioning concept that I and the Government believe in,” Haatainen says.“The new state-owned company is above all a tool for employing people with partial work ability, who are in the most difficult position and who until now have been overlooked and invisible,” she adds.The Government will submit to Parliament a proposal on a new special assignment company on 21 October 2021. The company would start operations during 2022.In addition to the employment of people with partial work ability, Haatainen will discuss immigrants’ access to the labour market, among other topics. The visit also includes a visit to the Swedish National Mediation Office (Medlingsinstitutet). 

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The EU Digital COVID Certificate will be introduced nationally. In practice, this means that in Finland the COVID-19 passport can be used in situations and premises which are subject to restrictions. In addition, the temporary provisions of the Communicable Diseases Act which help prevent COVID-19 infections of foreign origin from spreading into Finland will remain in force.On Friday 15 October 2021, the President of the Republic approved the amendment to the Communicable Diseases Act concerning the EU Digital COVID Certificate and entry into the country. The amendment will enter into force on 16 October 2021.COVID-19 passport as an alternative to restrictions on activitiesThe COVID-19 passport refers to the EU Digital COVID Certificate, which is available in the My Kanta Pages (a vaccination certificate, a test certificate or a certificate of recovery). If necessary, the Certificate is also available as a paper version from the healthcare service. As an alternative to the COVID-19 restrictions issued by the Government, the Regional State Administrative Agencies and the municipalities, operators, such as entrepreneurs, who are subject to these restrictions could require their customers to present a COVID-19 passport. The COVID-19 passport will serve as an alternative in situations where the event or premises in question are subject to restrictions. Such restrictions can include restrictions on opening hours or on the number of participants at events. The COVID-19 passport will not, however, serve as an alternative to restrictions in situations where the authorities have closed the premises or prohibited the public event altogether owing to the COVID-19 situation.The COVID-19 passport can be required in the following settings: restaurants, nightclubs and public events, gyms and other indoor facilities for sports or physical activity, swimming centres and spas, dance halls, spaces used for group leisure activities, amusement and theme parks, indoor facilities for zoos, indoor playgrounds and play centres, and museums, exhibition spaces and other similar cultural venues.People aged 16 and over can be required to present a COVID-19 passport but the testing of 16–17-year-olds for the purpose of issuing the passport should be secured in public healthcare, if the person has not received the COVID-19 vaccine doses.In accordance with the current COVID-19 restrictions, the COVID-19 passport can currently be required by restaurants in areas which are subject to COVID-19 restrictions, i.e. the Greater Helsinki area, Southwest Finland, Satakunta, Ostrobothnia and Päijät-Häme. It is possible to introduce the COVID-19 passport more widely if restrictions need to be imposed on other areas, too.A mobile app to scan the COVID-19 passportEvent organisers requiring customers to show a COVID-19 passport can scan the passport using the COVID certificate reader app approved by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, which is downloaded on a mobile device. It will be available free of charge from the app store. The COVID certificate reader will not collect or store data shown on the Certificates.Stakeholder event on the introduction of the COVID-19 passport held on 15 OctoberThe Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, together with the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland and the Regional State Administrative Agencies, held a stakeholder event on the introduction of the COVID-19 passport on Friday 15 October. The event was meant for stakeholders, such as public and private operators and event organisers, i.e. for those who could require their customers to present a COVID-19 passport. Provisions on entry into the country to remain in forceThe temporary provisions of the Communicable Diseases Act aim to protect the health of the population by preventing COVID-19 infections of foreign origin from spreading into Finland. Similar health security measures are in place in many EU countries. People arriving in Finland  who were born in 2005 or earlier will still be required to have a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 within the past six months, of a completed and approved course of COVID-19 vaccination or of a negative COVID-19 test taken before arrival in Finland. Those who have a certificate of a reliable COVID-19 test taken before arrival in Finland indicating a negative result or a certificate of their first COVID-19 vaccine dose must undergo a second test within 72-120 hours of their entry into the country. Alternatively, people must undergo a COVID-19 test after arriving in Finland and a second test within 72–120 hours of their arrival. The obligation to show proof or be tested for COVID-19 will not apply to people who have, for the last 14 days prior to their arrival in Finland, stayed only in countries or regions where the incidence of COVID-19 or the prevalence of virus variants does not pose a particular risk of spreading the epidemic. Provisions on such countries and regions are issued by government decree.In addition, a supplementary provision on executive assistance will be permanently added to the Communicable Diseases Act. The provision will include Customs as an executive assistance authority. This amendment will enable Customs to provide executive assistance in checking health certificates. 

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has adopted the updated Management Plan for the Lynx Population in Finland and confirmed the hunting quota for lynx for the period 2021–2022. The management plan is a key element of the policy on large carnivores and management of their populations.The lynx population in Finland is at a favourable conservation status. As a species, lynx is included in the category ‘Least Concern’. Under the Habitats Directive lynx is a strictly protected species, but it can be found in all parts of Finland. For the most part people’s views regarding lynx are either neutral or positive, and for hunters it is a highly valued game animal species. Lynx is being hunted every year by virtue of special permits for population management purposes. The measures of the management plan adopted today aims to respond to the needs of both the people living in or close to lynch habitats and those related to the protection of the lynx population, taking into account the social and economic requirements and the special characteristics of different areas.“In the management of the lynx population, the aim is to maintain a favourable conservation status for the population while continuing the measures that have proven effective. The measures of the management plan include the monitoring and study of the lynx population, preventing damages caused by lynx and compensating for any damage caused, and population management,” says Vesa Ruusila, Senior Ministerial Adviser at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.The management plan also supports multi-species population management, which means that interaction between large carnivores and their prey is also taken into account. In Finland, for example, lynx preys on many kinds of animals. Their range varies from region to region and, besides hares and rabbits, especially in western Finland lynx also preys on small deer. In some areas lynx may kill large numbers of small deer, but this is not necessarily enough to regulate the populations of the species it preys on.“In areas with dense white-tailed deer and roe deer populations, what is needed the most to reduce these populations is the commitment and valuable efforts of hunters. In multi-species population management – including lynx – more information from research and coordination between the different management plans of the game administration are needed,” Vesa Ruusila says.Implementation of the management planThe main responsibility for the implementation of the Management Plan for the Lynx Population in Finland rests with the Finnish Wildlife Agency, the Natural Resources Institute Finland and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. A person to be designated at the Finnish Wildlife Agency will coordinate and monitor the implementation of the management plan. The previous Management Plan for the Lynx population dates back to 2006. The process to update the management plan was led by the Finnish Wildlife Agency, and the management plan and its background material were circulated for comments at the turn of the year 2017–2018. The opinions received (14 statements) were taken into account when finalising the management plan. In September 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry organised a stakeholder event to discuss the finalised draft management plan.Lynx population is regulated by huntingThe population management measures in the management plan also include hunting of lynx for population management purposes. According to the decree adopted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the hunting quota for lynx for the hunting season 2021–2022 outside the reindeer herding area in Finland is 320 individuals. The quota is 13 individuals higher than in the previous period, and it means that the population will be reduced by about 15 %. The objective of the quota set by the decree that enters into force today is to control the population in areas with a dense lynx population, thus ensuring the social sustainability of the population. Even if quite abundant, the lynx population does not have similar negative impacts on people’s livelihoods in the rest of Finland as it does in the reindeer herding area.“The aim of lynx hunting and regulation of its population is to make sure that lynx continue to be afraid of humans. A denser lynx population in a certain area means that they may start to move and prey closer to people’s homes. Another objective of hunting is to reduce damage to reindeer caused by lynx and its predation on Finnish forest reindeer,” says Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Jari Leppä.The lynx population has been growing for the past two years. According to the latest population estimate, i.e. that for 2021, the lynx population had grown by about 4% from the previous year. Between 2019 and 2020 the population had grown by 11 %. The damages to reindeer caused by lynx every year amount to about one million euros. In 2020 they totalled about EUR 1.22 million. No specific quota for lynx is set for the reindeer herding area. The Finnish Wildlife Agency decides on the more detailed regional allocation of the special permits in other parts of Finland.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi