Summary:
TVO informed that regular electricity production of the OL3 will be delayed once again. The equipment supplier, nuclear power company Areva informed TVO about an timetable update, and electricity production should commence in May 2019. Jouni Silvennoinen, Director, OL3 project, TVO, said that TVO is very disappointed with the delay and said that all necessary resources must be directed towards the project, adding that any French reorganizing of nuclear power must not endanger this. TVO has filed a complaint with the European Court over the European Commission decision that approved French government subsidies for Areva.
Auteur/autrice : David
Export of goods grew 18% in August
Summary:
The export of goods grew in Finland in August. The growth in car export was strong, while in machines and devices, forest industry products and metals the growth was slower. The value of goods export was slightly over EUR 4.7 billion in August, up 18% from a year earlier. Import was valued at EUR 4.9 billion, rising 9% from 2016. Still, there was EUR 150 million deficit in trade balance in August, and EUR 1.4 billion in January-August.
Media: Helsingin Sanomat
Date: 9.10.2017
Journalist: Heikki Arola
Main source: –
Soini comments on Finnish journalist’s arrest in Turkey
Summary:
Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini is concerned over the freedom of journalists’ work and freedom of expression in Turkey. According to Minister Soini, Finland has conveyed a message about journalism’s problematic situation in Turkey to the country’s leaders and it must be reiterated. He adds that the Ministry is taking the convicted Finnish journalist’s situation in Turkey seriously, and that the Embassy in Ankara is handling the issue.
Media: MTV – Finland
Date: 11.10.2017
Journalist: STT
Main source: Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini
Minister Soini congratulates ICAN but Finland does not sign the Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty
Summary:
Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini congratulated the Nobel Peace Prize winner ICAN (Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons), but said that Finland would not sign the Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty. One of the reasons for this is that the current nuclear weapon states will not ratify the treaty. « It is problematic that these states are not part of the agreement. Without their participation, it is difficult to proceed, » Minister Soini said. Finland has therefore decided to emphasise the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which aims to stop the spreading of nuclear weapons.
Media: Helsingin Sanomat
Date: 6.10.2017
Journalist: Elina Kervinen
Main source: Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini
Soini encouraged Serbia to seek EU membership
Summary:
Ilta-Sanomat writes that the Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini and his Swedish counterpart Margot Wallström are visiting Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo on 9–11 October. They have met the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic. Mr Soini wants to encourage Serbia towards a possible EU membership. « If the criteria are fulfilled, you are welcome to the European Union, » said Soini. Serbia’s possible EU membership would be a complicated issue for Russia. Ministers Soini and Wallström also offered Macedonia the hope of EU ascension.
Media: Ilta-Sanomat
Date: 11.10.2017
Journalist: Hanna Vesala
Main source: Timo Soini, Margot Wallström
A hundred years next to Russia – Nato praised Finland for this experience
Summary:
Ilta-Sanomat writes that the Secretary General of Nato Jens Stoltenberg underlined the importance of Finland in developing Nato’s relations with Russia. Mr Stoltenberg attended the opening ceremony of European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats in Helsinki with EU Foreign Affairs High Representative Federica Mogherini and Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö. Both Ms Mogherini and Mr Stoltenberg considered the Centre as an example of the cooperation between EU and Nato. President Niinistö said that the presence of Ms Mogherini and Mr Stoltenberg showed that EU and Nato are committed to countering common threats.
Media: 
Ilta-Sanomat
Date: 3.10.2017
Journalist: Hanna Vesala
Main source: –
Mykkänen: Threat of trade war biggest risk to recovery of Finland’s economy
Summary:
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Kai Mykkänen believes that the biggest risk from the viewpoint of Finland’s economic recovery is the threat of a trade war. « We cannot afford to get stuck in protectionism, » he adds. Particularly a trade war between the US and China could paralyse world economy. Regardless of the hard talk between the US and China, Mr Mykkänen believes that the countries are able to settle their disputes. Protectionism also poses a risk to the world economic growth.
Media: Turun Sanomat
Date: 4.10.2017
Journalist: STT, Olli Kuivaniemi
Main source: Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Kai Mykkänen
President Niinistö: Catalonia’s situation seems severe
Summary:
President Sauli Niinistö said in a comment to Ilta-Sanomat that the situation in Catalonia seems severe and it calls for negotiations between Spain and Catalonia. He finds that this could be a beginning to a very difficult situation, and adds that the harmful development should be ended here. Also Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini said in a comment to STT that such issues cannot be solved with violence.
Media: Turun Sanomat
Date: 1.10.2017
Journalist: STT
Main source: President Sauli Niinistö