NordenBladet — On Monday 4 October, Prime Minister Sanna Marin and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen met in Helsinki to discuss topical EU matters. After their bilateral meeting, Marin and von der Leyen visited the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, where they learned about a project related to the priorities of Finland’s Recovery and Resilience Plan. In connection with the visit, the Commission published a positive assessment of Finland’s plan.

In their bilateral meeting, Prime Minister Marin and President von der Leyen discussed the forest strategy published by the Commission last summer and the climate package aiming for emission reductions, along with the topics of the meetings on 5 and 6 October in Slovenia and the October European Council. In connection with President von der Leyen’s visit to Finland, the European Commission published a positive assessment of Finland’s Recovery and Resilience Plan. At the same time, the Commission issued a proposal for a Council Implementing Decision that includes milestones and targets for Finland’s plan.

“Finland’s Recovery and Resilience Plan responds to Finland’s structural challenges and promotes sustainable growth through investments in the green transition and the digital transformation. The plan still needs to be approved by the Council of the EU. After this, we will move on to the important stage of implementation, which will make the benefits of the plan available to citizens and businesses. The Recovery and Resilience Plan is part of the Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland,” said Minister of Finance Annika Saarikko.

The Council of the European Union will decide on approving Finland’s plan in about four weeks’ time. After that, Finland will receive 13 per cent of the EU funding reserved for the plan as an advance payment. All EU countries are required to present a national Recovery and Resilience Plan if they are to receive funding from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. Finland submitted its Recovery and Resilience Plan to the EU on 27 May.

Prime Minister Marin and Commission President von der Leyen visited VTT to learn about quantum computing, which is included in two investment priorities of Finland’s Recovery and Resilience Plan:digitalisation: investing in accelerating key technologies (microelectronics, 6G networks, artificial intelligence and quantum computing)employment and skills: investing in research, development and innovation activities, research infrastructure and piloting.

The calls for funding applications in these investment areas are not open yet, so it is not yet known whether VTT will receive recovery funding.

NordenBladet — Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen will make an official visit to France on 5 to 6 October 2021. During the visit, Minister Kaikkonen will meet the French Minister for the Armed Forces Florence Parly. The ministers will discuss topical issues related to bilateral and European defence cooperation, crisis management and the security situation in Europe.
On Wednesday 6 October 2021, Minister Kaikkonen will open the Finnish-French Track 1.5 event. Established in 2018, this is a form of cooperation where issues related to European security and defence are discussed. In addition to the defence administrations and foreign affairs services, invitees will include members of the parliaments of both countries and experts from think tanks, research institutes and universities.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Prime Minister Sanna Marin will attend the Informal European Council on Tuesday 5 October, followed by the EU-Western Balkans summit on Wednesday 6 October. Both meetings will be held in Slovenia, which currently holds the EU Council Presidency.According to preliminary information, the leaders’ working dinner will include a strategic discussion about the EU’s role on the international stage in light of the situation in Afghanistan, security developments in Asia and relations between the EU and China.The EU-Western Balkans summit will address a wide range of topics related to the importance of the Western Balkans for the EU and the Union’s engagement with the region.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will visit Warsaw, Poland on 4–5 October. In Warsaw, Minister Haavisto will participate in an annual panel discussion on security and the strategic situation in Eastern Europe organised by the Warsaw Security Forum.During his visit, Minister Haavisto will also meet Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Zbigniew Rau, Members of Parliament and representatives of international organisations and civil society. A particular focus in the discussions to be held during the visit will be on topical foreign and security policy themes, such as questions related to the eastern neighbourhood of Europe and Afghanistan.The bilateral relations between Poland and Finland are good, and Poland is one of Finland’s most important trading partners.“Poland is an important regional and international partner for Finland. Our common interests include the will to promote the security of the Baltic Sea and the economic development of Europe,” Minister for Foreign Affairs Haavisto says.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — On 1 October, the Ministry of the Interior sent out for comments a draft government proposal to amend the Nationality Act. The aim of the amendments is to update and clarify the Act. The intention is not to make it easier or more difficult to acquire or lose citizenship.The proposed amendments are based on a preliminary study carried out in 2020 and the comments received on it. The aim is to improve the functioning of the provisions so that they are clearer for both the subject of the provisions and the party applying them.Acquisition of citizenship for a child and definitions of the Act would be updatedThe definitions of a child and a stateless person contained in the Nationality Act would be updated to correspond to the definitions in international treaties binding on Finland. Thus, a person under 18 years of age would always be regarded as a child, and getting married as a minor would not have an effect on this. Stateless persons would no longer be divided into voluntarily stateless and involuntarily stateless.The acquisition of citizenship for a child would be reformed so that children born to a Finnish parent would always acquire Finnish citizenship directly by law. A child adopted by a Finnish citizen would also always acquire citizenship directly by law. Currently, the acquisition of citizenship for a child requires a declaration to the Finnish Immigration Service in some situations. The amendment would clarify the situation and also streamline the work of the Finnish Immigration Service.Specifications to application for citizenshipThe starting point for acquiring citizenship is that the applicant resides in Finland. The calculation of the required period of residence would be clarified, for example by laying down simpler provisions on permitted journeys abroad during the period of residence. All in all, the stay abroad could last as long as today. However, it would be easier for a person applying for citizenship to assess themselves when the residence period requirement is met.The provisions on the demonstration of language proficiency would be specified so that vocational qualifications completed in Åland would also be taken into account. Authorised translators of Finnish or Swedish and registered legal interpreters would also be considered to have the necessary language skills.In addition, more technical amendments would be made to the Act due to, for example amendments to general legislation.From time to time, it is important to assess the functioning of legislation and its relationship with the development of general legislation and case law. This will ensure high quality and up-to-date regulation and prevent problems with interpretation.The deadline for submitting comments is November 12th 2021. The government proposal is due to be submitted to Parliament during the spring session 2022.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas will meet in Helsinki on Monday 4 October.At their meeting, the prime ministers will discuss bilateral relations between Finland and Estonia, international affairs and topical EU issues.Prime Minister Marin and Prime Minister Kallas will meet at the Estonian Embassy. After the discussions, the prime ministers will attend an event celebrating the reopening of the embassy after renovations.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — On Monday 4 October 2021, Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakka will meet the French Minister Delegate for Transport Jean-Baptiste Djebbari and Minister of State for Digital Transition Cédric O in Paris.He will also have a working lunch with Ambassador Teemu Tanner and Young Tae Kim, Secretary-General of the International Transport Forum (ITF) at the OECD.The topics to be discussed with Minister Djebbari include the transport initiatives in the Fit for 55 package, reduction of emissions from transport and the objectives of the French Presidency of the EU Council that will start in January 2022.The agenda for the meeting between Minister Harakka and Minister Cédric O includes the Commission proposal for the Data Governance Act and the upcoming proposal for the Data Act, the legislative framework concerning a European identity and cyber security.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The Government has amended the decree restricting the activities of food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Based on the current epidemiological situation, restrictions for the acceleration and community transmission phases of the epidemic will be significantly eased and lifted. In addition, in the region of Uusimaa, the restrictions for the community transmission phase will continue to apply only in Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen.The amendment to the decree will enter into force on 1 October 2021.Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in the regions of Southwest Finland, South Karelia, Ostrobothnia and Satakunta, and in Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen, which are all at the community transmission phase of the epidemic, from 1 OctoberFood and beverage service businesses may serve alcoholic beverages between 7.00 and 00.00 and be open between 5.00 and 1.00.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 are restricted to 75 per cent of their normal number of customer seats in indoor premises.All customers must have their own seats at a table or similar in indoor premises. The earlier ban on karaoke and dancing and the obligation to provide customers their own seats in outdoor premises will be lifted.Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses elsewhere in the country, i.e. in areas where the epidemic is at the acceleration or baseline phase, from 1 OctoberNo 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

NordenBladet — Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä will travel to Expo 2020 Dubai with a business delegation on 4–7 October 2021. This is the first Team Finland export promotion visit by a Finnish minister since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.Lintilä’s visit aims to strengthen the relations between Finland and the United Arab Emirates and to promote Finnish business in the Persian Gulf countries.“The world is opening up after the pandemic and the world fair in Dubai offers an excellent opportunity to boost Finnish exports in growing and potential markets,” says Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä. Finland and the United Arab Emirates already enjoy good relations, especially in trade. There are currently some 70 Finnish companies operating in the United Arab Emirates and in 2020 the country was Finland’s second largest export destination in the Persian Gulf region. Before the coronavirus outbreak, the country was also a popular travel destination for Finns. “The United Arab Emirates has ambitious goals for the sustainable management and use of natural resources. Finnish companies have expertise in achieving these goals, for example in renewable energy, bioeconomy and circular economy,” Lintilä says. During the visit, the Minister will meet high-level decision-makers and authorities together with companies. 100 Finnish companies on display in Finland’s pavilionThe Lumi Pavilion highlights Finland’s expertise in clean technology, circular economy, sustainable energy, digitalisation, education and travel. About a hundred Finnish companies will participate in the exhibition. The main partners are Kone, Wärtsilä, Fiskars Group, Nokia, Konecranes, Metso Outotec, Fortum, Isku, Valmet, Finnair, Haaga-Helia, iLOQ, Granlund, Black Donuts, Collaprime, Genelec, Smart Nuclear Energy Solutions, Education Finland and Neles.The world fair, which was postponed by one year due to the coronavirus pandemic, will open on 1 October 2021. This is the first time in the fair’s 168-year history that it had to be postponed. The Expo 2020 Dubai is the first world exhibition organised by an Arab country. More than 190 countries will participate in the Expo, which will be open until the end of March 2022.The companies participating in the Team Finland business delegation are BMH Technology, GTK, Griffin Refineries, Korkia, L7 Drive, Nokia, Valmet, Valoe and Wärtsilä.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The Government proposes an experiment to assess what impact recruitment subsidy would have on a company hiring its first employee. The experiment will examine whether financial support for payroll costs would lower the threshold for recruitment. The objective is to support business growth and promote employment. The pilot is scheduled to start on 1 March 2022 and last until the end of 2023.The majority of businesses in Finland are sole entrepreneurs. According to Statistics Finland, there were about 190,000 sole entrepreneurs in Finland in 2020, which corresponds to 69% of all entrepreneurs.“There are many sole entrepreneurs in Finland who have the potential to expand their business and become employers at the same time. The experiment will give us reliable information on whether financial support for payroll costs would encourage sole entrepreneurs to hire their first employee. The aim is to create a cycle of positive growth – work for a jobseeker and business growth for entrepreneurs, which in turn would lead to hiring of new employees,” says Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen.Companies to be selected by random samplingThe experiment is aimed at sole entrepreneurs and other companies where all employees are entrepreneurs. The experiment would target companies that have not had any externally recruited workforce during the 12 months preceding the experiment, and whose turnover in 2021 is at least EUR 15,000 but not more than EUR one million. A test group and a control group would be selected from the target companies by random sampling. The experiment would be carried out in stages so that 3,500 companies would be selected to the test group in the first stage. If fewer than 900 of these companies took up the subsidy, an additional test and control group would be selected in the second phase of the experiment.The maximum amount of recruitment subsidy for a single company would total EUR 10,000. The subsidy would cover up to 50% of the employees’ salaries for a maximum period of 12 months starting from the first employee’s employment relationship but no earlier than the date the subsidy was applied for.Amendments to other acts to safeguard right of access to informationTo ensure that the TE Office of Southeast Finland and the Development and Administration Centre of the ELY Centres and TE Offices (KEHA Centre) have the necessary information to carry out the experiment, the Government also proposes temporary amendments to the Act on Public Business and Employment Service, the Act on the Income Information System and the Criminal Records Act.The Government proposal is included in the 2022 budget proposal and will be discussed in that context. A total of EUR 13 million is available for implementing the experiment.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi