Summary:
Professor Antti Asikainen of the Natural Resources Institute of Finland says Finland will suffer if the European Parliament sides with the proposal of the Parliament’s Environment Committee regarding forest economy. Implementing the Finnish government’s bioeconomy goals would diminish Finland’s carbon sink between 2021 and 2030 to 13 to 21 million tons which would have to compensated through emission cuts in other sectors or through buying emission rights. Mikael Ohlström of the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) says that if carbon sinks can be compensated through emissions trading, Finland may face a bill worth as much as 300 million euros per year.
Auteur/autrice : David
Macedonian foreign minister visits Helsinki
Summary:
The Macedonian Minister for Foreign Affairs Nikola Dimitrov is visiting Finland on 17 August. He will meet Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini to discuss topical themes such as Macedonia’s rapprochement with the EU and the situation in the Western Balkans.
Media: 
Kaleva
Date: 17.8.2017
Journalist: STT
Main source: –
Niinistö: World political situation increasingly alarming: « Central bank statements have more effect than North Korean missiles »
Summary:
President Sauli Niinistö says the world political situation is increasingly alarming. He notes that the economy has kept an admirably cool head in the geopolitical twists and turns and that statements from central bank chairmen have a bigger effect on the economy than e.g. North Korean missiles. During his speech at the centenary of the Finnish Chamber of Commerce, Mr Niinistö wondered whether free trade could be a new direction for diplomacy.
Media: MTV – Finland
Date: 10.8.2017
Journalist: Petteri Savolainen
Main source: President Sauli Niinistö
Mykkänen: Hopes for a marriage of convenience between the EU and Britain strengthening
Summary:
Britain is considering entering into a temporary customs union with the EU after the country leaves the Union in spring 2019. Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Kai Mykkänen estimates that this strengthens the hopes for a marriage of convenience between the two parties as it indicates that Britain wants to ensure that industrial trade to Europe continues uninterrupted. He says a customs union would definitely be a good thing for Finland.
Media: Turun Sanomat
Date: 15.8.2017
Journalist: STT / Olli Kuivaniemi
Main source: Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Kai Mykkänen
Experts: Appointment of new Russian ambassador signals Finland’s importance to its eastern neighbour
Summary:
The appointment of high-level diplomat Pavel Kuznetsov as Russia’s new ambassador to Finland signals that Finland is an important neighbour to Russia, estimate former diplomat Heikki Talvitie and Jussi Lassila, Senior Research Fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. Mr Kuznetsov has worked at the embassy in Helsinki in the 80s and 90s and also speaks Finnish. Mr Talvitie estimates that, in the current situation, it is good that he is already well known in Finland.
Media: Karjalainen
Date: 15.8.2017
Journalist: STT
Main source: Former diplomat Heikki Talvitie and Jussi Lassila, Senior Research Fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs
Finland makes it easier for top experts from outside EU to enter the country – awaited change to permit jungle
Summary:
Finland is making it easier for top experts from outside the EU and EEA to come to Finland, reports Aamulehti. The EU is also reforming the Blue Card Directive, aiming to standardise residence permit practices in the EU. Olli Sorainen of the Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment says the European Commission’s aim is that national systems would be completely removed and member states would introduce the EU system. This would be a significant blow for the EU’s attractiveness compared to the US, for example. The Commission is likely to allow the national systems to continue, says Mr Sorainen.
Tuppurainen critizes Soini for changing Finland’s EU policy
Summary:
Vice President of Parliament’s Grand Committee Tytti Tuppurainen (SDP) criticizes the sharp comments of Foreign Minister Timo Soini on the internal transfers of asylum seekers in the EU. Soini said on Monday at the Foreign Ministers’ meeting that Finland will not accept new decisions on the transfer of asylum seekers before all countries have fulfilled their old obligations. According to Tuppurainen, Soini endangers Finland’s solution-seeking EU policy. « It is undoubtedly a problem that not all member states have been involved in the burden sharing. However, the problems are not solved by the fact that the countries that have hitherto acted responsibly are now hitting a full brake », Tuppurainen tells STT.
Editorial: Presidents have numerous topics to discuss
Summary:
The editorial of Turun Sanomat discusses the meeting of the Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and the Russian President Vladimir Putin taking place in Savonlinna today. The two presidents met already in March but Ukraine was not mentioned then and it has been guessed whether the topic will be raised this time or not. The editorial thinks that it should be discussed to avoid any future incidents. Beside other topics, questions relating to the two countries’ economic relations will probably be on agenda as the counter-sanctions caused by the European Union’s sanctions set to Russia are harming Finland’s export of foods to the country. The meeting will have more meaning to President Niinistö than to President Putin who will mainly arrive to Finland to celebrate the country’s 100th anniversary. However, he will listen carefully what President Niinistö has to say about the EU’s current state as well as brexit’s effects.