Summary:
Chairman Juha Marttila of MTK, says that EU needs more information on Nordic forestry. Common EU forest policy could contribute to this, or increase regulations. Until now, MTK and Finland have not wanted EU to have a common forest policy, but now EU seems to bring regulations to forestry through climate policy, Mr Marttila says. The problem is that decisions, which also affect forests, are prepared without forest experts. EU’s institutions do not know the sustainable forestry of Nordic countries. Mr Marttila particularly hopes that the EU would understand the significance of sustainable logging, Maaseudun Tulevaisuus reports.
Catégorie : Presse Finlandaise
Ilkka Kanerva would change decision-making: Security Council to Finland
Summary:
Chair of the Finnish Parliament’s Defence Committee, MP Ilkka Kanerva (Coalition) proposes that Finland establish a security council, writes Verkkouutiset. The Council would deal with EU foreign affairs and Finnish internal security issues. The council would solve the problem of the President being officially outside decision-making regarding EU foreign, security, and defence affairs while being responsible for the management of these issues together with the government. As an example, Mr Kanerva mentions situations where the EU is defining its relationship with Russia. Moreover, the President as the Commander-in-chief of the Defence Forces should be more included in EU defence policy.
Minister Mykkänen comments on climate funding
Summary:
Kepa has studied Finland’s climate funding: in its new report is says that the funding has crashed. Usually the funding for climate work comes from development aid. The same applies to Finland, and the cut in development aid made a few years ago also affected climate funding. Minister for Development Kai Mykkänen says that the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has found that climate issues are decisive in development work and therefore they invest in it. « As we don’t have more money, we get more done, for example, through investments in renewable energy. » The money has increasingly been directed towards the poorest countries, where the need for energy is growing.
Soini on Catalonia: Unilateral independence declarations are not fruitful
Summary:
Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini commented on Catalonia’s independence declaration to YLE. He said that it does not meet with the principles of the democratic process as opposition parties were not present. Spain should now proceed legally and through negotiations, Minister Soini said and pointed out that the Spanish constitution must be obeyed. Furthermore, EU should support Spain.
Media: 
YLE Uutiset
Date: 27.10.2017
Journalist: Annette Blencowe
Main source: Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini
EU proposes 2.5 million euros to aid former Anttila and Stockmann workers
Summary:
The European Commission has proposed 2.5 million euros in funding to help former staff of the retail chains Anttila and Stockmann find new work. The funding is meant for about 1,500 people. It is provided by the European globalisation fund and can be used to get professional education and re-training, as well as to set up businesses. The proposal still requires approval from the European Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers.
Media: Keskisuomalainen 
Date: 23.10.2017
Journalist: –
Main source: –
Apple Pay arrives, banks respond with their Siirto service
Summary:
According to rumours, Apple Pay, a mobile payment and digital wallet service by US-based technology company Apple, will be introduced in Finland on 24 October 2017. Apple Pay is expected to take market shares from traditional financing companies, when the Payment Services Directive will come into effect in Finland at the beginning of 2018. ATM network operator Automatia offers its real-time Siirto multi-banking platform in Finland with OP Financial Group, Nordea and S Group’s S-Bank. In addition, the service functions in online shopping. A total of 400,000 clients use the service in Finland. New banks and service providers will participate in the service in the future. It will be an important step that the Siirto service will become available for payment terminals at stores too.
Finland and France in negotiations
Summary:
The European Commission has proposed that EU would investigate acquisitions in so called fragile sectors such as infrastructure and energy. France supports the idea, Finland does not. The issue was discussed by Ministers for Foreign Trade, Kai Mykkänen and Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne in Paris. Mr Mykkänen says they agreed on many issues but not on the acquisitions. He finds it most important that no additional bureaucracy is included in acquisitions. Mr Mykkänen emphasises that the success of Finnish companies often requires a foreign investor’s contribution.
Media: YLE Uutiset
Date: 25.10.2017
Journalist: Anna Karismo
Main source: Minister Kai Mykkänen
Kaidi and UPM were not enlightened over EU’s biomass position
Summary:
STT reports that biocompanies UPM and Kaidi are not drawing any conclusions on the European Parliament Environment Committee’s statement on bioenergy. The Committee’s statement on the sustainability criteria for biomass and the allowed raw materials for biofuels reminds how dependent Finnish bioprojects are on EU regulation. In the Committee’s opinion, pine oil should not be on the list of raw material for developed biofuels. Companies investing in bioenergy are criticising EU decisions for being inconsistent.
Media: Turun Sanomat
Date: 24.10.2017
Journalist: STT
Main source: –