FINLAND

Reform of the Lotteries Act aims to combat gambling-related harm more effectively

NordenBladet — The Lotteries Act regulating gambling will be amended. The key proposals of the reform include preventing the harm caused by gambling, combating marketing that violates the Lotteries Act, and directing the demand for gambling towards services that are provided under the Lotteries Act. The Government submitted to Parliament a proposal to reform the Lotteries Act on 23 September 2021. In line with the Government Programme, the basic premise of the reform is that Finland’s gambling system will also in the future be based on the state monopoly. The proposal builds on the Programme of Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Government, which states that the Government will implement the second phase of the reform of the Lotteries Act. The key objective of the reform of the Lotteries Act is to reduce gambling-related harm. In accordance with this objective, the identification of players will be extended to cover all gambling, intervention by the National Police Board in unlawful marketing will be strengthened, and the prevention of harm must be taken into account in the placement of slot machines in the future.Compulsory identification to be extended to cover all gamblingThe requirement to identify players would be extended to all of Veikkaus Oy’s games. Compulsory identification would be introduced in stages. All gambling would require identification in 2023 at the latest. With regard to scratch cards, identification would be started later, but no later than in 2024.Comprehensive compulsory identification makes it possible to introduce restrictions and gambling blocks in all gambling offered by Veikkaus.Veikkaus introduced, on its own initiative, compulsory identification at decentralised slot machines in January 2021 and in the company’s own game rooms in July 2021.Tougher regulation on marketing of gamblingAccording to the proposed reform, the Lotteries Act would specify, among other things, the content and means of permitted marketing. The legislative proposal requires that marketing, as a whole, be moderate. The marketing of particularly harmful games of chance, such as slot machines, would be prohibited.In visual or printed advertising, the Act would oblige parties to include information about the age limit for gambling, the possibility to self-impose a gambling block and services providing help for gambling problems.The marketing of betting games, which is currently prohibited, would be allowed to direct gambling towards the range of services provided under the Lotteries Act. The amendment would also apply to such totalisator betting where marketing is currently prohibited. The marketing of these games would also be subject to the obligations under the amended regulation on marketing.Measures will also be taken to intensify the monitoring of marketing to ensure compliance with the Lotteries Act. The National Police Board could propose to the Market Court that, as a new tool, an administrative penalty payment be imposed for marketing that violates the Lotteries Act. In future, the National Police Board could also prohibit private individuals from marketing gambling activities when marketing violates the Lotteries Act.Blocking of payment transactions to prevent gambling outside the monopoly systemThe legislative proposal would introduce the blocking of payment transactions. The blocking would be targeted at gambling companies that direct their marketing to mainland Finland in violation of the Lotteries Act and whose marketing has been prohibited by the National Police Board.The National Police Board would maintain a blocking list of gambling companies whose payment transactions should be blocked by banks and other payment service providers. Blocking payment transactions is meant to influence the availability of gambling services and thus prevent harm.Prevention of harm must be taken into account in the placement of slot machinesAs a result of the legislative reform, Veikkaus would have an obligation to take the prevention of harm into account when selecting locations for slot machines. Furthermore, slot machines should be located in places where their use can be monitored without hindrance. Particular attention should be paid to protecting minors and vulnerable persons.In addition, Veikkaus and the establishments providing space for slot machines would have to draw up a plan for self-supervision to ensure monitoring and the compliance with the principles of preventing harm.Veikkaus could engage in business-to-business activitiesThe legislative reform would allow Veikkaus to establish a subsidiary for activities other than gambling. The subsidiary would focus on providing gambling products and services to other companies but it would not be allowed to provide gambling services to consumers.The amendments are scheduled to enter into force in stages. Most amendments would enter into force at the beginning of 2022. The regulation on the blocking of payment transactions is scheduled to enter into force at the beginning of 2023.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Finland to the IAEA Board of Governors

NordenBladet — At its 65th General Conference, the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA elected Finland to the IAEA Board of Governors for a two-year term from September 2021 to September 2023 with a possible extension for a third year.The International Atomic Energy Agency is an autonomous UN organisation created in 1957. It was set up to promote peaceful and safe use of nuclear energy and, in line with the principles of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), to prevent diversion of nuclear energy from peaceful uses. The IAEA plays a central role in verifying the implementation of Iran’s nuclear-related commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as well as in increasing international trust. Finland’s general objectives in the IAEA are to strengthen the international non-proliferation regime and to promote safe and peaceful use of nuclear energy and technologies. During the upcoming term in the Board of Governors, Finland’s priorities will include supporting the IAEA’s independent expert role in nuclear safeguards and in the promotion of nuclear safety and security, contributing to the use of new technologies in the development of the IAEA’s monitoring system and regulations, and strengthening and promoting Finland’s expertise in the nuclear sector.Finland’s expertise in the nuclear field and its position at the leading edge in the development of new solutions, for example the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel, attract a great deal of interest among IAEA experts and other Member States. 

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Finland to the IAEA Board of Governors

NordenBladet — At its 65th General Conference, the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA elected Finland to the IAEA Board of Governors for a two-year term from September 2021 to September 2023 with a possible extension for a third year.The International Atomic Energy Agency is an autonomous UN organisation created in 1957. It was set up to promote peaceful and safe use of nuclear energy and, in line with the principles of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), to prevent diversion of nuclear energy from peaceful uses. The IAEA plays a central role in verifying the implementation of Iran’s nuclear-related commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as well as in increasing international trust. Finland’s general objectives in the IAEA are to strengthen the international non-proliferation regime and to promote safe and peaceful use of nuclear energy and technologies. During the upcoming term in the Board of Governors, Finland’s priorities will include supporting the IAEA’s independent expert role in nuclear safeguards and in the promotion of nuclear safety and security, contributing to the use of new technologies in the development of the IAEA’s monitoring system and regulations, and strengthening and promoting Finland’s expertise in the nuclear sector.Finland’s expertise in the nuclear field and its position at the leading edge in the development of new solutions, for example the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel, attract a great deal of interest among IAEA experts and other Member States. 

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

More than 67 per cent of people aged 12 or over have been vaccinated twice

NordenBladet — In Finland, 83 per cent of the target population for COVID-19 vaccination, i.e. people who are 12 years of age or over, have received at least their first vaccine dose, and 67 per cent also their second vaccine dose. The uptake of the second vaccine dose is more than 86 per cent in the age group of over 60-year-olds. Among people aged between 50 and 59, the uptake is already nearly 82 per cent and, among people aged between 40 and 49, over 73 per cent.The vaccinations administered so far provide very good protection for older people and those at the highest risk of severe illness from the COVID-19 disease. One vaccine dose alone reduces the incidence of COVID-19 in each age group by at least half. The risk of contracting the virus, including symptomatic COVID-19, is considerably greater for unvaccinated people than for those who have been vaccinated.The incidence of new cases over the last two-week period (6–19 September) was 107 per 100,000 inhabitants. This is 27 per cent less than in the preceding two-week period when the incidence of cases was 146 per 100,000 inhabitants. The number of new cases continues to fall. A total of 2,788 were reported between 13 and 19 September, while in the previous week the number of reported cases was 3,130.The majority of those in need of hospital care are unvaccinated. On 19 September, there were 78 inpatients in specialised healthcare, and 21 of them were inpatients in intensive care. The number of inpatients in intensive care has now clearly started to decline, but otherwise the burden on hospitals has remained relatively stable over the past few weeks. During August and September, the burden has been about one third of what it was during the peak months of the epidemic in spring 2021. On 22 September 2021, the total number of COVID-19-related deaths reported to the communicable diseases register was 1,062.Although the number of infections among vaccinated people and the burden on hospitals have both decreased, the number of new cases is still high among unvaccinated and only partially-vaccinated people. Fewer restrictions and increasing contacts between people also increase contacts between those who are unvaccinated. It is important that people continue to get tested for COVID-19 in accordance with the testing and tracing strategy of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.The epidemiological situation is monitored weekly. A report on the epidemic is published on Thursdays at 10.00.The monitoring report on the epidemic published today and the previous reports are available on the website of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.The COVID-19 epidemic: regional situation, recommendations and restrictions (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare)Coronavirus in numbers (Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa)Action plan for implementing the hybrid strategy to control the COVID-19 epidemic 2021–22 (Publications of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health 2021:31)Effects of the COVID-19 epidemic on wellbeing, services and the economy (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare), in FinnishProgress with the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare), in Finnish and Swedish

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

UN Food Systems Summit: Finland as a trailblazer as provider of school meals

NordenBladet — The UN Food Systems Summit will be held virtually on 23 September during the UN General Assembly in New York. Finland’s representative at the meeting will be President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö. Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari, in his role as the World Food Programme’s School Meals Champion, will speak at the event on school meals.The meeting will discuss the importance of food systems, that is, the impact of the production, processing, trade and consumption of food and of their operating environments on the achievement of all of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In recent years, global hunger has been on the increase, and the COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated the situation. Food is not equally available and affordable. Food systems suffer from climate change but, at the same time, the current systems are accelerating it. 
The Food Systems Summit is expected to attract political attention, commitments and action plans that could provide guidelines for the global reform of food systems. The aim is to ensure food security and good nutrition for all and to guarantee work and livelihoods for operators in the sector in an environmentally sustainable manner. 

Finland places particular emphasis on school meals, which is an effective way to improve food security. At the meeting, Finland will announce a donation of EUR 5 million to the WFP’s school feeding programme.

“Finland has provided free school meals for a longer time than any other country, and this model is promoted also as part of development cooperation. School meals support health and learning and often open up opportunities for girls to go to school,” Minister Skinnari says.

As part of the preparations for the meeting, Finland has held a dialogue on food systems both nationally and, in its role as the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2021, with the Nordic countries. Finland is one of the first countries to submit a report on its national action plan to strengthen the sustainability of food systems. 
Finland has emphasised a comprehensive approach to food system issues. Food, water, forests and energy form a package that reminds us of the inseparable connection between natural resources and food security. The One Health approach, on the other hand, highlights the connection between human, animal, plant and environmental health. In the runup to the meeting, Finland has also presented its innovations, including one on soil carbon sequestration.A live webcast of the conference will be available on the United Nations website.Read more about Finnish school meals on the website of Education Finland.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Effective support for mental health at work 

NordenBladet — Nine digital tools are now available free of charge to workplaces in Finland as a result of the Government’s Mental Health at Work Programme. The mental health support toolkit provides workplaces and occupational healthcare with easy-to-use tools for preventing mental health problems among working-age people. Finnish workplaces need skilled employees with sufficient working capacity, which is why support for mental health plays an important role in the Government Programme as a measure contributing to employment growth.A new kind of programme for managing working capacity in Finnish workplaces is needed to reduce sick leave and disability retirement for mental health reasons. The Mental Health at Work Programme responds to this need by making available evidence-based digital tools developed in collaboration with workplaces, occupational healthcare providers and other relevant players in working life. The mental health support toolkit offers workplaces a range of concrete measures for use in everyday lifeThe toolkit contains easy and user-friendly everyday measures and methods for supporting mental health and preventing mental health problems in workplaces. Workplace wellbeing is the entire work community’s responsibility. To make impactful change happen, genuine cooperation and skills development across the workplace is essential.Minister of Social Affairs and Health Hanna Sarkkinen invites workplaces and occupational healthcare services to introduce the proven methods available in the toolkit, and to spread the message.– There are a number of ways in which employee mental health and working capacity can be supported in the workplace. The most important thing is to make sure that the everyday practices in the workplace support wellbeing. The law requires that workplaces carry out an assessment of the psychosocial risks at work, and have a related management system in place,” says Minister Sarkkinen.A workplace culture that supports mental health is made up of ordinary things such as interactions, solving problems together, and building better working methods. Mental health support toolkit can be used in many ways: by providing targeted support with individual tools, or by introducing the entire toolkit for everyday support in the workplace. Tools build mental health competence at workThe mental health support toolkit, which was developed by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, is available online on the “Mieli ja työ” website. The entire work community can use these tools to proactively support employees’ working capacity. The kit includes functional tools such as tests, games and calculators. It also includes coaching on topics in areas where stronger skills and competence are required from supervisors, human resources and occupational safety and health services providers.– It is more effective to target the entire work community and to provide proactive support than to reactively address the problems of individual employees in occupational health services,” says Kaisa Mikkola, Product Manager at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.The toolbox is intended for Finnish workplaces and occupational healthcare providers. Some of the tools are intended for supervisors, occupational health and safety or human resources, while others are more strongly directed at occupational healthcare, employees or management.Mental health support tools make it easier to bring up stress or other matters affecting working capacity. Bringing up mental health in everyday discussions makes timely intervention easier. Workplaces are encouraged to try the different tools and talk about them together.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Finland and Germany intensify cooperation to promote digital identification

NordenBladet — Finland and Germany have signed a joint declaration based on the countries’ joint desire to support the progress of the proposed regulation on European digital identity, and to accelerate the development of joint European solutions based on digital identity. Minister of Local Government Sirpa Paatero and Minister of State to the Federal Chancellor and Government Commissioner for Digital Affairs Dorothee Bär signed the joint declaration on Wednesday 22 September 2021.“Finland and Germany are at the forefront of the development of European digital identity. That is why it is only natural that we are working together to promote the adoption of solutions based on European values that guarantee data security for users throughout the European Union,” says Minister of Local Government Sirpa Paatero, who is responsible for digitalisation in public administration.“More and more countries in Europe are embracing our vision for user-centric, decentralised identity. We are thrilled that after the announcement of our partnership with Spain in July, we are now taking the natural next step through our partnership with Finland to show all of Europe the potential of self-sovereign digital identity,” says Minister of State Dorothee Bär.In June 2021, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a regulation on European digital identity and the related digital wallet application. The European digital identity and the digital wallet would provide EU citizens, people living in the EU, and businesses with a tool for identification and for attesting officially confirmed identity details.The purpose of the cooperation between Finland and Germany is to explore and drive the development of solutions based on self-sovereign identity (SSI) and to promote the related European legislation. SSI-based solutions, combined with digital wallets for exchanging personal data and other verified information, would make citizens better equipped to manage their own personal data and to exchange and verify various types of personal data and certificates using a smartphone or other electronic media.The two countries also intend to design and conceptualise a pilot project involving the use of a digital wallet in cross-border services. The results would help create a common European technical architecture and common standards, and make it easier to share best practices. Finland and Germany form a joint digital identity working group that coordinates measures to implement the objectives set out in the joint declaration. Other EU Member States are also invited to join the cooperation. In addition to Finland, Spain and Netherlands have signed a joint declaration with Germany. The development of digital identity in Finland centres on a project led by the Ministry of Finance that seeks to create equitable conditions and opportunities for everyone accessing public services to attest officially confirmed identity details in digital form.  The project will provide Finnish people an opportunity to use electronic identification to access services in other EU Member States. The project also takes account of ongoing joint European development work.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Finland to share education competences in the Global Learning Network

NordenBladet — Finland joins the World Economic Forum’s international Global Learning network. Minister of Education Li Andersson participates in the World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Development Impact Summit on September 21. A central theme at the meeting is to find solutions to close the education gap in education systems around the world that was created during the pandemic.As a member of the Global Learning Network Finland can serve as a mentor and share good education and learning practices with others, in particular when it comes to actions to close the learning gap. The pandemic has shown that it is more important than ever to focus on educational equality.Based on a report by UNESCO, UNICEF, World Bank and OECD, around one in three of the 142 countries that participated are not taking concrete actions to help students make up for lost learnings during the pandemic.   In Finland, government funding has been allocated to education providers to manage the education gap during 2020-2021.– In Finland, we strongly believe in constantly developing the quality of education and learning. As a part of this collaboration network, we can share our expertise and visions on how to develop learning practices, worldwide. I am very happy to get this opportunity, says Minister of Education Li AnderssonOther speakers at the virtual summit was Henrietta Fore (Executive Director, UNICEF), Matsie Angelina Motshekga (Minister of Basic Education, South Africa), Mariya Gabriel (Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, EC),  Tariq Al Gurg (CEO, Dubai Cares) and Börje Ekholm (CEO, Ericsson).Among the Nordic countries, Sweden and Iceland are already partners in the Gender Gap theme, while Denmark focuses on the Skills Gap.
 
More information:
Special Adviser Touko Sipiläinen: tel 0295 330 143
 
More about the summit and the projects:
Sustainable Development Impact Summit,  #SDIS21Closing the Skills Gap Accelerators

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Government proposes extending validity of provisions of Communicable Diseases Act concerning entry into country to ensure health security

NordenBladet — The Government has submitted to Parliament a proposal for extending the validity of the temporary provisions of the Communicable Diseases Act concerning entry into the country. The provisions aim to protect the health of the population by preventing COVID-19 infections of foreign origin from spreading into Finland. Health security measures similar to those proposed by the Government are in place in many EU countries.People arriving in Finland (those born in 2005 or earlier) would still be required to have a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 within the past six months, of a completed and approved vaccine course 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 should undergo a second test within 72-120 hours of their entry into the country. Alternatively, people should 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 would 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.The Government also proposes that a supplementary provision on executive existence be permanently added to the Communicable Diseases Act. The provision would include Customs as an executive assistance authority. This amendment would enable Customs to provide executive assistance in checking health certificates. The corresponding provisions of the Communicable Diseases Act will remain in force until 15 October 2021, and the now proposed amendments would extend their validity. The amended Act would enter into force on 16 October 2021, and the temporary provisions of the Act would remain in force until 31 December 2021.The government proposal issued to Parliament today also includes a proposal on the nationwide use of the EU Digital COVID Certificate, or the COVID-19 passport. Government proposal, in Finnish: Hallituksen esitys eduskunnalle laiksi tartuntatautilain muuttamisesta ja väliaikaisesta muuttamisesta

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

Government proposal on COVID-19 passport submitted to Parliament

NordenBladet — The Government has submitted to Parliament a proposal on the nationwide use of the EU Digital COVID Certificate, or the COVID-19 passport. It is proposed that the provisions on the EU Digital COVID Certificate be added to the Communicable Diseases Act.The proposal would also include provisions on the processing of personal data relating to the COVID-19 passport and provisions on regulatory control. These temporary provisions would remain in force until the end of this year.The intention is that the amendment to the Communicable Diseases Act concerning the nationwide use of the EU Digital COVID Certificate would enter into force as soon as possible. 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, people can also obtain a paper version of the certificate from healthcare providers. The Government proposes that – as an alternative to the COVID-19 restrictions issued by it, the Regional State Administrative Agencies and the municipalities – actors, such as entrepreneurs, who are subject to these restrictions could require their customers to present a COVID-19 passport. The COVID-19 passport would serve as an alternative in situations where the event or premises in question would be subject to restrictions. Such restrictions could include restrictions on opening hours or on the number of participants at events. The COVID-19 passport would not, however, serve as an alternative in situations where the authorities have closed the facilities or prohibited the public event altogether owing to the COVID-19 situation.The COVID-19 passport could be required in places such as 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 in zoos, indoor playgrounds and play centres, and museums, exhibition spaces and other similar cultural venues.According to the government proposal, people aged 12 or older could be required to present a COVID-19 passport, but to ensure the realisation of children’s rights, the testing of 12–17-year-olds for the purpose of issuing the passport should be secured in public healthcare, if the child has not received the COVID-19 vaccine doses.Currently, people aged 12 or older are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine in Finland.A mobile application to scan the COVID-19 passportThe Government proposes that event organisers requiring customers to show a COVID-19 passport could scan the passport using the COVID-19 passport scanner application approved by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, which can be downloaded on a mobile device. It would be available free of charge from the app store. The COVID-19 passport scanner would not collect or store data shown on certificates.Promoting the reopening of society with special consideration for health securityThe aim of introducing the COVID-19 passport is to curb the spread of COVID-19 infections at gatherings and thereby promote the reopening of society with special consideration for health security. The COVID-19 passport would make it possible to organise various events on a larger scale, even if the activities in question were otherwise subject to restrictions. By using the COVID-19 passport, customers and participants would be able to enter various premises with due regard to health security.The government proposal submitted today also includes extending the validity of the temporary provisions of the Communicable Diseases Act concerning entry into the country.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi