Several Finnish media report on the Bloomberg news, according to which Terex, which is to merge with the Finnish materials handling company Konecranes, has received a competing offer from Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science and Technology. Later Terex confirmed the offer.

Media:  Arvopaperi  , Kauppalehti  , Kauppalehti  , Kauppalehti  , Kauppalehti (E-edition, PDF)  , Talouselämä, Taloussanomat, Taloussanomat, Taloussanomat

Date: 27.1.2016

Journalist: –

Main source: –

The Board Chairman of Teollisuuden Voima, Lauri Virkkunen, is concerned over EDF’s plans to take responsibility over Areva’s nuclear reactor business without the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant project. EDF is to announce its plans on Wednesday. According to Virkkunen, merging EDF and Areva’s nuclear reactor business without Olkiluoto would separate the construction agreement and the funds needed for it. « If responsibilities in the project become more complicated, the completion of the project could be at risk. » Virkkunen compares the project to a marriage from which you cannot divorce. It is important that both parties understand this. Olkiluoto 3 is nine years late and it has cost billions more than planned. Teollisuuden Voima demands billions in compensation from Areva for the delay.

The European Commission points out in a report that the sustainability of eleven EU member states’ public economy will be put to a test in the long term. Finland is among these countries, Taloussanomat reports. This is based on the estimate that the debts of these countries will remain high for the next ten years. The Commission is to publish policy recommendations later. At the moment, there are no acute risks related to any member states’ financing position. Cyprus and Greece were not included in the report.

Media:  Taloussanomat

Date: 25.1.2016

Journalist: –

Main source: –

Verkkouutiset reports that Finnish Minister of the Interior Petteri Orpo met with his Russian colleague Vladimir Kolokoltsev on Tuesday to discuss decreasing illegal immigration on the Finnish-Russian border. Mr Orpo said Finland would like to make a bilateral agreement with Russia, even though Finland is an EU member state and part of the Schengen area. The issue should not be turned into a major political question. Mr Orpo noted that the EU and Russia have an agreement on readmission. The Finnish officials will now look into how the agreement is interpreted.

Media:  Verkkouutiset

Date: 27.1.2016

Journalist: Ilkka Luukkonen

Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini wants to send asylum seekers a message through social media that they should not come to Finland on false grounds. He got the idea from his Norwegian colleague. Minister Soini visited Tromsø and also met with his Slovakian colleague. He says they were both concerned by the Schengen area borders. According to Soini, also the Finnish border control on the external border must be efficient. He points out that all those who are not entitled to an asylum are returned.

Media:  Aamulehti + liitteet (E-edition, PDF) 

Date: 26.1.2016

Journalist: Mirja Niemitalo

Sonera’s mobile network suffered from severe problems this week: half of phone calls and a third of SMS messages failed. Also data connections had problems. The problem was encountered all around the country.

Media:  Ilta-Sanomat + teemalehdet (E-edition, PDF) 

Date: 20.1.2016

Journalist: –

Main source: –

Minister of the Interior Petteri Orpo finds it clear that the Dublin regulation must be changed and revamped. He does not believe that the regulation will be abolished. He finds it essential that the EU’s external border control is fixed and that refugees are registered in the country they arrive in. Firstly, he would focus on fixing the situation in Greece and then making an agreement with Turkey. Foreign Affairs Minister Timo Soini said that Finland stands behind the Dublin regulation. Päivi Nerg of the Ministry of the Interior says that Finland hopes that the EU can agree on a common, sensible migration policy.

Finnish companies try to get their share of the opening markets in Iran. The country needs international investments and knowhow. Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Lenita Toivakka, headed a group of over 70 Finnish representatives in Iran last December. She says that Iran was particularly interested in bio economy, clean tech and modern Finnish technology. Finnish companies could also provide services in healthcare technology and infrastructure projects. Ms Toivakka says that the problems with payments must be fixed in the first place.

Media:  Kaleva

Date: 17.1.2016

Journalist: STT

Main source: Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Lenita Toivakka