Catégorie : Presse Finlandaise

High Representative Mogherini visited Finland

Summary:
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini visited Finland on Wednesday and met with Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipilä, among others. According to Ms Mogherini, Finland’s presidency of the Council of the EU will be exceptionally important, as we are living in a time of change within Europe. She said that during that time, the EU will need leadership, which Finland will certainly show.

Mr Sipilä defined some of the main challenges as the European Parliament elections, forming the new European Commission and Brexit negotiations. Also the budget framework will require a great amount of work.

Finland will start as the presidency next summer. In addition to Finland’s Presidency in the European Union, they discussed hybrid threats, immigration and climate change, among other things.

Media:  Helsingin Sanomat, Ilkka
Date: 10.10.2018
Journalist:
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Trump and Putin might meet in Finland next year

Summary:
According to Helsingin Sanomat, the preparations for the Arctic Council Summit, in which Presidents Putin and Trump might also take part, are well on their way. The planners are already planning on possible dates in spring 2019.

President Sauli Niinistö commented on the summit, saying that the United States seems to have become more interested in it. He said that things have advanced towards a better direction, surprisingly. He says that if the summit participants will be from the higher level, the participants will determine the date of the summit.

According to the President, it is certain that some kind of high-level meeting will be held. At least the traditional foreign ministers’ summit is certainly held, and possibly a summit on the higher or lower level. He thinks that the IPCC report will boost the stakes of the summit.

He finds that a central point is that the summit’s agenda can be approved by the United States, Russia and other countries. Issues planned on the agenda include black carbon, sea safety and heavy fuel ban on arctic area sea transport.

President Niinistö had talked about the summit for a long time and has discussed it with Presidents Putin and Trump as well as with other state leaders. Finland is the chair of the Arctic Council until May 2019, which is the deadline for the summit.

Media:  Helsingin Sanomat
Date: 10.10.2018
Journalist: Teemu Luukka
Main source: President Sauli Niinistö

Ministry for Foreign Affairs warns about hard Brexit

Summary:
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland has warned the Finnish business life of a hard Brexit. Terhi Bunders, a Brexit contact person at the Ministry, says that they aim to raise awareness of all alternatives.

Jussi Mustonen of Confederation of Finnish Industries EK points out that the impact of soft Brexit on Finland’s gross domestic product is approximately 0.1-0.2% while in a hard Brexit, the GDP could be cut by 0.3%. According to Mr Mustonen, it would not make Finland fall, but it is awkward and harmful to Finland’s economy.

Juha Kilponen of the Bank of Finland adds that even if there were major problems with trade after Brexit, it would not be a blow to Finland, because only 5% of Finnish export goes to the UK. If uncertainty over the Brexit agreement persists, it could cause problems if it affected the financial markets. An uncontrolled Brexit would also weaken Finland’s growth outlook.

In Finland, particularly the forest industry is worried about Brexit. The industry fears that tariffs will significantly rise from the current zero. However, based on the most recent information, paper, cardboard and pulp would avoid tariffs even if there was no deal on Brexit.

The uncertainty over Brexit is however already affecting some businesses, such as the health technology sector. For example Planmeca, which has noticed a decline in demand, is following the Brexit negotiations with concern.

Media:  Ilkka , YLE Uutiset
Date: 2.10.2018
Journalist: –
Main source: Terhi Bunders, Jussi Mustonen, Juha Kilponen

President Niinistö: International agreement based system suffering

Summary:
Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö spoke at the 100th anniversary of the Finnish Supreme Court about his concern over the devaluation of international agreements in international politics. According to Mr Niinistö, it seems that in geopolitics power and strength are what counts today.

He said that by questioning international agreements, some aim to change the current world order. Ignoring common agreements has never led to anything good. According to President Niinistö, the United Nations and its member states must express their will to collaborate.

Media:  Kaleva
Date: 1.10.2018
Journalist:
Main source: President Sauli Niinistö

Sauli Niinistö: Europe is a natural partner to US

Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö said in a speech at the Brookings Institute in Washington that Finland has always taken its own defence seriously and that he is happy with the recent developments in strengthening European security.

He added that during the past 70 years, NATO has practically meant the United States, which has carried the greatest burden over European defence. This has been very important to Europe. The structures and sums planned by the European Union now in its defence might sound technocratic and small to the United states, but they are an important extension to European defence, Mr Niinistö pointed out.

According to Mr Niinistö, Europe is still a natural partner to the US. He said that if the United States becomes isolated, other countries will want to fill in the void it has left.

He pointed out that Russia and China do not want to face a strong EU, they emphasise bilateral relations. It is not an advantage to the US if the two countries gain more foothold in Europe. Both countries have aimed to increase their impact in neighbouring areas. Russia has done it aggressively, while China has worked in a more subtle way, Mr Niinistö explained.

Mr Niinistö found that the combination of insecurity and uncertainty could undermine western societies if the countries become isolated and forget the value of collaboration. He thinks such development is dangerous.

Media:  Helsingin Sanomat, Verkkouutiset.fi
Date: 27.9.2018
Journalist:
Main source: President Sauli Niinistö

Editorial: Finland follows the economy and security policy

Summary:
An editorial in Keskisuomalainen discusses the Swedish government negotiations, which are expected to be long and difficult. Security policy was not an important issue in elections. Sweden’s foreign policy vis-à-vis Finland is unlikely to change even if the parties in the bloc support Sweden’s ascension into NATO.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini (Blue Reform) believes that Finland and Sweden will continue to develop and intensify their relations because of the strategic interest they share.

Even the Sweden Democrats, who clash with other parties on many other issues, would like to deepen the defence cooperation between Sweden and Finland.

Media:  Keskisuomalainen (E-edition, PDF)
Date: 11.9.2018
Journalist:
Main source:

Opposition parties move to oust anti-abortion Foreign Minister Soini

Summary:
Yle reports that the Social Democrats, Greens, Left Alliance and Swedish People’s Party are set to propose a motion of no-confidence in Foreign Minister Timo Soini (Blue Reform) when Parliament meets to consider the government’s budget proposal. The exact timing has not been confirmed.

The SDP parliamentary group leader Antti Lindtman has said that if a majority of legislators back the no-confidence motion, Mr Soini must resign. “In a world where women’s rights are increasingly challenged, it’s not right that Finland’s Foreign Minister is at odds with Finland’s official foreign policy,” said Mr Lindtman. He hopes that women in the government parties, National Coalition in particular, will back the vote.

Iltalehti has written an analysis piece about the issue, stating that it currently seems that there will be enough support for Mr Soini from the parties in the government. Mr Soini will need the support of at least 100 MPs, if everyone turns up. The opposition would need 26 MP votes to get the smallest possible majority.

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Anne-Mari Virolainen criticized Mr Soini’s abortion statement straightforwardly and the chairman of the Coalition Party and Minister of Finance Petteri Orpo supported her comments publicly. The question that arises is how they could support Mr Soini after making these statements, writes Iltalehti.

Member of the board of the Social Democratic Youth Janne-Pekka Niemimäki and the chairwoman of Social Democratic Students in Oulu Miina-Anniina Heiskanen have penned a letter to the editor of Kaleva, criticising Mr Soini’s anti-abortion stance.

The authors argue that Finland’s work in promoting women’s rights has been indispensable, especially in developing countries, but Mr Soini’s statements on abortion distort the foreign policy line. They feel that Mr Soini’s statements are irresponsible.

Niemimäki and Heiskanen note that abortions are still performed in countries where abortion is banned or strictly regulated, but that it takes place in unhygienic conditions and without the required professional skills. According to the authors, Ms Soini does not seem to care about the consequences of illegal abortion operation.

A comment in Kansan Uutiset (KU) notes that Blue Reform has stated that the vote of no confidence reflects on the entire government’s confidence. The author states that Ministers Kai Mykkänen, Anna-Mari Virolainen and Annika Saarikko, have all condemned Mr Soini’s abortion comments.

Mr Soini defended himself in a blog and wrote that his stance on abortion had been known to everyone for a long time. The author of the comment in KU thinks that the Minister cannot publicly declare their own views if these are in conflict with Finland’s official position.

Media:  Iltalehti, Kaleva, Kansan Uutiset, Yle
Date: 11.9.2018
Journalist: Iltalehti: Marko-Oskari Lehtonen
Main source:

Development Minister: Development aid increase to be included in the next government program

Summary:
YLE reports that Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Anne-Mari Virolainen (National Coalition) hopes that the need to increase the development aid, as noted by Prime Minister Juha Sipilä and other politicians, will be included in the forthcoming government program negotiations.

Ms Virolainen, who guested in TV1’s Ykkösaamu, estimated that almost all parties were prepared to raise development aid during the next parliamentary term. « We are approaching the elections and the signal from the various parties’ leaders has been clear, we must be able to do better, » she said.

According to Ms Virolainen, the next government should build a « credible path » for gradually increasing the amount of development aid to 0.7 per cent of the GDP, which Finland is committed to. This could happen gradually, over a couple of parliamentary elections, she estimated.

Due to the cuts made by the government, the development aid now amounts to about 0.4 per cent of GDP. Ms Virolainen sees no contradiction in the fact that the government parties that have in the past cut the development aid heavily would now like to increase it.

Ms Virolainen noted that the estimates of development aid’s effectiveness are currently being made, and will be submitted to the Parliament at the turn of October-November.

Media:  YLE Uutiset
Date: 8.9.2018
Journalist: Johanna Östman
Main source: