FINLAND

Finland: All three types of EU Digital COVID Certificate now available in My Kanta Pages

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet — The EU Digital COVID Certificate, which is available in the My Kanta Pages, will also include a test certificate and a certificate of recovery as of 14 July. The EU COVID-19 vaccination certificate has been available in the My Kanta Pages since 22 June.

Save certificate on your mobile device or print it out
How to get your certificate from the My Kanta Pages:
Log on to your My Kanta Pages at kanta.fi using the identification token of your choice, such as online banking codes or mobile certificate.

Select ‘Koronatodistus’ (COVID-19 certificate) from the left-hand menu. There is also a direct link to the certificate section on the front page of the My Kanta Pages.Click on the pdf link to open the COVID-19 certificate. If you have a certificate, it will open in a new tab.

Save the pdf file on your mobile phone or other device. You can also print it out on paper.

All three types of the EU Digital COVID Certificate can be used when crossing borders within the EU. The aim is to facilitate safe and free movement. Each EU Member State can decide for itself on other uses of the certificate.

The information in the EU Digital COVID Certificates issued by Finland is in three languages, Finnish, Swedish and English. The certificate contains a QR code which can be used to verify the content and authenticity of the certificate. All EU certificates are free of charge.

Paper certificates also available from healthcare providers if necessary
Travellers must download the certificate from the My Kanta Pages before travelling. Efforts continue to be made to avoid a burden on the healthcare system. For this reason, people are advised to use primarily the My Kanta Pages. The My Kanta Pages customer service provides general advice on the COVID-19 certificates and helps with technical problems, but they cannot correct the information included in the certificate.

If a person is unable to get the certificate from the My Kanta Pages, they must contact their healthcare provider and request a certificate in printed form. Persons who do not have access to their My Kanta Pages or cannot for some reason authorise another person to use it on their behalf may obtain a paper version of the certificate from their healthcare provider.

A paper version of the EU Digital COVID Certificate will be available from some healthcare providers from 15 July onwards. The aim is for all public healthcare providers to be able to issue a paper version of the EU Digital COVID Certificate by mid-August. If a person is not yet able to get a paper version of the EU Digital COVID Certificate from their healthcare provider, they will be issued with a similar certificate that contains the corresponding information.

At the end of August, people who have been either vaccinated against or tested for COVID-19 in Finland but who do not have a Finnish personal identity code can get a certificate from their healthcare providers that meets the EU requirements. Until then, healthcare providers can issue people with a similar certificate that contains the corresponding information.

Travellers must check requirements of their destination country
Before travelling, it is important to find out which EU Digital COVID Certificate is needed to cross the border of your destination country. An EU COVID-19 vaccination certificate may be sufficient. Before travelling, you should also check the COVID-19 situation in your destination and, before returning home, you should check the situation in Finland and take care to follow the latest recommendations. The Re-open EU website (reopen.europa.eu) compiles information on travel instructions and restrictions in place in the EU Member States.COVID-19 tests carried out for the purpose of travelling abroad are administered by private healthcare providers. These COVID-19 tests are subject to a fee. The EU COVID-19 test certificate will appear in the My Kanta Pages regardless of whether your test was carried out by a private or public healthcare provider. Tests undergone upon return to Finland are administered by public healthcare services and are therefore free of charge. Please book your return test in advance using the FINENTRY service, for example.Exercise special caution when travelling in general. The COVID-19 situation in different countries and regions may change abruptly.

Vaccines administered and tests conducted abroad
The EU Digital COVID Certificate is issued by the country where the vaccine was administered. EU Member States must also issue the certificate retrospectively. In Finland, a certificate of COVID-19 vaccination can be issued only if the vaccine products were administered in Finland and they are in use in Finland.

Negative test results are valid for a short period of time. Because of this, it is not worth asking for these results from abroad but to take a new test in Finland if necessary. If a person had the COVID-19 disease abroad, a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 must be requested from the country where the test indicating a positive result was taken.

Finland: Ministers on tour – “We are Europe” discussion events to begin this autumn

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet — This autumn and winter, Finnish ministers will tour the country to listen to Finns’ ideas and hopes for the future of Europe. The citizens’ messages will be passed on as part of an EU-level reflection on what kind of Europe we want to build.

“The EU has to respond to the needs and expectations of its citizens. We want to encourage Finns to make their thoughts heard. As ministers, we are committed to passing on their messages,” says Minister for European Affairs Tytti Tuppurainen.

The details of the tour are still being finalised, but several ministers have already arranged at least one discussion with citizens. The events will take place in various parts of the country, and one of Finland’s goals is to organise the northernmost event in the EU.

“Our ministers’ tour is part of the Conference on the Future of Europe. The idea behind the conference is to engage in lively and open discussions about the EU with citizens in all Member States and to build a future for Europe based on the issues raised by citizens. Finland has a strong tradition of discussion. With this in mind, we should now be active in making our voices heard in the EU,” says Minister Tuppurainen, challenging Finns to get involved. The themes raised at citizens’ events throughout the EU will be presented to the conference plenaries for discussion. The Finnish Government will be represented at the plenaries by Minister for European Affairs Tuppurainen and the minister whose mandate covers the topic in question. Each country has also appointed a citizens’ representative. Finland’s representative is Ninni Norra, who was selected by the Finnish National Youth Council Allianssi.

Anyone can comment at any time
An important component of the Conference on the Future of Europe is its multilingual digital platform, which is open to all and where everyone is free to share their thoughts. Citizens are encouraged to discuss topics such as values, climate change, the economy, health and education. Event organisers can use the platform to announce their events beforehand and to report on the discussions afterwards. Anyone who wants to organise an event is free to do so.

The dates and venues of the “We are Europe” tour will be announced on the platform well in advance. The events will also be announced in advance in the ministries’ press releases and newspaper advertisements and on their social media channels. After each event, members of the public can go to the digital platform to read about the challenges and opportunities that emerged in the discussion. Summaries of the discussions will also be delivered to the ministers for use at the conference plenaries.

 

Finland: Fees charged for identity cards to change from 2 August 2021

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet — The Ministry of the Interior has issued a decree amending the cost of an identity card. The cost will rise by EUR 5 from 2 August 2021. The fees for a minor’s identity card and temporary identity card will increase by EUR 1.

The cost of an identity card applied for in person will rise from EUR 55 to EUR 60. The cost of an identity card applied for online will also rise by EUR 5 to EUR 54. However, the cost of an identity card will continue to be EUR 8 less if it is purchased at the same time as the passport. The fees for a minor’s identity card and temporary identity card will increase by EUR 1.

EU Regulation on identity cards leads to changes
The fee increases for identity cards are the result of supplementary amendments made to the Identity Card Act to be in line with the EU Regulation on identity cards. In future, the applicant’s facial image and fingerprints will be stored on the chip of the identity card. As a result of the amendments to the Identity Card Act, the identity card will include, in addition to the current Citizen Certificate, a new biometric certificate issued by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. Apart from the biometric certificate, additional costs will be incurred from renewing the design of the card and from the extra work needed for taking fingerprints.The applicant for an identity card pays the police for the identity card. The police will distribute the fees for the certificates to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. The Decree of the Ministry of the Interior on Chargeable Services of the Police is reviewed annually. Under the law, the amount of the fee to be charged must correspond to the total costs incurred by the State in providing the service.

 

Finland: Foreign Ministry at SuomiAreena

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet — SuomiAreena 2021 will be held in hybrid format on 12–16 July. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will host two events. The theme of discussion on Tuesday 13 July will be the climate leap and the responsibility for climate change mitigation. On Wednesday 14 July, a panel discussion organised in collaboration with the Nordic Council of Ministers will address the current state of Nordic cooperation.

A red SuomiAreena balloon against a dark wall with graffities.

This year at the Foreign Ministry’s program at the SuomiAreena the focus is on climate change and Nordic cooperation.Is climate leap still possible?Despite the period of temporary calm worldwide, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere continues to rise and climate change is still the most serious challenge for our generation.

 

Finland: Minister for Foreign Affairs Haavisto to attend meeting of EU foreign ministers

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet — Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will attend the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday 12 July. The main topics of discussion will be Ethiopia, the Strategic Compass, and the geopolitics of new digital technologies. In addition, the meeting will approve conclusions on a Globally Connected Europe.

The foreign ministers will meet Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs at a working lunch and Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs at a working breakfast. Minister Haavisto will also attend a meeting of the Nordic and Baltic counties in NB6 format and a meeting of Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany in the N3+1 format.

The foreign ministers will have an exchange of views on the current situation in Ethiopia and on the alternative courses of actions available for the EU, which are based on three pillars: the humanitarian situation; human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law; and the political track. In his capacity as an Envoy of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell in the region, Minister Haavisto visited Ethiopia and its neighbouring region on 22 February and 19 April 2021.

Finland: Marja Liivala appointed Director General of the Department for Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet — On Thursday 8 July, the Government decided to appoint a new Director General.

The Government appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Marja Liivala to serve as Director General of the Department for Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs for a fixed term from 1 September 2021 to 31 August 2025.

Liivala will transfer to the post of Director General from the position of Roving Ambassador for Central Asia, which she has held since 2018. Liivala’s career has focused on various tasks and responsibilities related to Russia in both the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Moscow. In 2017–2018, she worked as Senior Adviser in the Unit for North America of the Department for the Americas and Asia. In 2013–2016, she was Director in the Department for Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The bilateral relations between Finland and Russia have featured prominently among her responsibilities. In 2008–2012, Liivala worked as Head of the Economy and Trade Section at the Embassy of Finland in Moscow.

Liivala joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1997. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Sciences.

 

Finland: Turkey’s Foreign Minister visits Finland, follow the live webcast of the press conference

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet — Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will meet Turkey’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on 8 July in Helsinki.

Follow the live webcast of the press conference at 3pm.

 

Finland: Minister of the Interior Ohisalo participates in European Commission’s quota refugee forum – Finland’s good practices on agenda

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet — On Friday 9 July, the European Commission will hold a High-Level Forum on Resettlement & Refugee Protection to discuss the reception of quota refugees and ways to promote it. Finland will be represented by Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo.The European Commission’s objective is to increase the number of Member States where the resettlement of refugees, i.e. the reception of quota refugees, is an established practice. The United Nations Refugee Agency UNHCR estimates that next year altogether 1.47 million refugees will be in need of resettlement.

Finland has received quota refugees since the 1970s, and has continued to do so even during the coronavirus pandemic. Globally, however, the pandemic has reduced the reception of quota refugees. Finland has been invited to report on its own best practices at the event.

“Despite COVID-19, we have been able to raise the refugee quota in accordance with the Government Programme. This is really important because the root causes of migration have not disappeared with coronavirus. Conflicts and the impacts of climate change, for example, are still forcing people to move away from the areas where they live. The quota refugee system has an important role in how we can do our part to help the world’s most vulnerable people,” Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo says.

“The pandemic has also had enormous socio-economic impacts. In practice, growing numbers of the world’s refugees are now in a more vulnerable position than before, as many people have lost their livelihoods and other sources of income,” she continues.

Finland has selected quota refugees through remote interviews
Under its refugee quota, Finland admits persons recognised as refugees by the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR. Quota refugees admitted to Finland are usually selected on missions attended not only by experts from the Finnish Immigration Service but also by employees of the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service and Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment or local governments. During the pandemic, quota refugees have been selected on the basis of interviews conducted remotely. Selection has also been based on UNHCR documents.

“Selection missions will start again when the situation allows this. However, I hope that Finland’s experiences will serve as an encouraging example to other countries, indicating that quota refugees can be received flexibly and in alternative ways even in exceptional circumstances,” Minister Ohisalo says.

This year, Finland has also carried out a study on community sponsored integration of quota refugees where each quota refugee would be supported by a group of around five sponsors. According to a report published at the end of May, the community sponsorship model could complement the integration work carried out by the authorities and prevent exclusion. The European Commission and UNHCR encourage countries to engage in community sponsored integration.

Reception of quota refugees is an effective way to help The participants of the high-level discussion will include European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson and High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi from the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR. In addition to the EU Member States, participating countries will also include the United States and Canada, which are among the key countries in the reception of quota refugees.

The reception of quota refugees is one of the main priorities of Finland’s immigration policy. The resettlement of quota refugees is an efficient and effective way of helping the most vulnerable refugees because their need for protection and other conditions for residence are assessed before they arrive in Finland. It is also a concrete way of showing international solidarity with countries hosting large refugee communities.

This year, Finland will receive 1,050 quota refugees, which is a record high number for our country. Together with the European Commission, Finland is also striving to root the practice of receiving quota refugees in as many Member States as possible.

 

Finland: Next application round of EU Innovation Fund in autumn – advice available for project preparation

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet — The European Commission has informed the Member States about the next application rounds of the EU Innovation Fund and the situation with respect to last year’s applications. In addition, the European Investment Bank (EIB) has created an advisory service that will provide immediate assistance for the preparation of energy investments.

The European Commission is preparing the next application rounds of the Innovation Fund. The application, targeted to funding larger projects, should open on 26 October 2021 and will continue until spring 2022. The planned amount to be offered in total will be about EUR 1.3 to 1.5 billion. The next application round for smaller projects will open in March 2022. The planned amount available will be about EUR 100 million. The application rounds concerning larger projects have aroused particular interest, which is why the Commission’s resources will now be specifically targeted to these. The Commission also wishes to speed up the decision-making process so that the application starting in the autumn will be a one-stage process and the decisions will be made already in July 2022. The application requirements should be about the same as before. Decisions on applications opened last autumn expected soon The decisions on the first application rounds concerning larger and smaller projects opened in autumn 2020 should be ready within the next few weeks. The selected applicants will be invited to negotiate on the support decisions with the EU. The authorities of the Member States will also be informed about the projects prepared within their territories that will proceed to the negotiation phase.

Advisory service to assist in planning energy investments
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has created a new advisory service that will help plan energy investments so that they will be eligible for the funding. Customers are invited to seek the advisory service immediately. Using the service does not require that an application has been or will be submitted to the Innovation Fund. The number of companies to be selected should be about 60, and the advice to be provided to them will be free of charge. The contact person for the advisory service at the EIB is Catherine Bender (c.bender(at)eib.org). More information on the EU Innovation Fund and applications for large and small projects can be found on the Commission’s Innovation Fund website. For more information on fall application processes, visit the site later.

 

Finland: Heikki Kanninen and Tuula Pynnä nominated as Finland’s candidates for judges at the EU General Court

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet — Today, on 8 June 2021, the Finnish Government nominated Licentiate in Laws, Bachelor of Economics, Heikki Kanninen and Master of Laws Tuula Pynnä (trained on the bench) as Finland’s candidates to serve as judges at the General Court of the European Union for a six-year term beginning 1 September 2022. Both are being nominated for a renewed term. Once Finland has nominated its candidates, the judges will be appointed by common accord of the governments of the Member States after consulting an EU-level panel responsible for issuing opinions on candidates’ suitability to perform their duties.

Both Kanninen and Pynnä have in-depth knowledge of EU law and national judicial systems. They have also served in significant positions of trust on various occasions and their expertise has been widely utilised.

Kanninen has served as a judge at the General Court of the European Union since 2009 and held the position of Vice President from 2013 to 2016. He has previously served as a judge at the European Union Civil Service Tribunal. In Finland, Kanninen has served as a member of the Supreme Administrative Court and as Senior Ministerial Adviser in Legislative Affairs at the Ministry of Justice.

Pynnä has served as a judge at the General Court of the European Union since 2019. She has previously served as Agent of the Finnish Government at the Court of Justice of the European Union. Pynnä has also served as a member of the Supreme Court and the Supreme Administrative Court, and as a district judge. She has completed two international postgraduate degrees in the field of law.

Along with the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission, the Court of Justice is one of the key institutions of the European Union. The Court has its seat in Luxembourg and it consists of two courts: the Court of Justice and the General Court. The General Court has jurisdiction to hear and determine actions brought by individuals and businesses against acts of EU institutions, among others. The cases may relate to matters such as competition law, state aid, intellectual property rights or EU staff regulations. The General Court is made up of two judges from each Member State. The judges perform their duties in a fully impartial and independent manner.
 

1...888990...183Page 89 of 183