President Sauli Niinistö is concerned over Russian media information that Russia is collecting fees from asylum seekers travelling to Finland. President Niinistö wonders if there are paid permits or escorts required from the asylum seekers. The President and the government’s foreign and security policy committee met on Tuesday to discuss asylum seekers. Their focus is now on the eastern border. President Niinistö says that people arriving from Russia have represented 30 different nationalities.

Media:  Helsingin Sanomat (E-edition) 

Date: 20.1.2016

Journalist: Marko Junkkari

Main source: President Sauli Niinistö

Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini is happy with the nuclear agreement signed with Iran and the lifting of economic sanctions. He thinks the decisions will boost foreign trade and collaboration, which promotes peace. Minister Soini adds that it is important to supervise whether Iran follows the agreement. He hopes that Saudi Arabia and Iran would find a way to improve their relations and thus solve the Syrian crisis.

Media:  YLE Uutiset

Date: 17.1.2016

Journalist: Ville Laakso

Main source: Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini

The Financial Supervisory Authority announced in December that it would start preparations to increase mortgage risk weights. The risk weight determines how much a bank needs its own capital in relation to credit, so that it is able to cover the related credit loss risk. Currently major Finnish banks’ average mortgage credit risk weights are at approx. 6-8 per cent. The IRB system, which the biggest banks use, allow for a bank to use its own credit loss parameters when calculating risk weights. In Finland, four creditors: OP Group, Nordea, Ålandsbanken and Aktia are authorized by The Financial Supervisory Authority to use the IRB model.

Finland’s Minister of the Interior Petteri Orpo says that the country’s security environment has radically changed. Finland is affected by new risks due to terrorism, cyber crime and extensive immigration. However, Finland is still a safe country. Miinster Orpo is particularly worried over police resources. He would increase the number of police students.

Media:  MTV – Finland

Date: 12.1.2016

Journalist: Ville Eklund

Main source: Minister of the Interior Petteri Orpo

Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini has commented on road patrols that have appeared on the streets in some cities amid the refugee crisis. « The police are responsible for Finland’s safety, and the police should be granted more money to take care of its tasks, » he pointed out in A-Studio. Minister Soini added that there is no reason to get hysterical about the issue.

Media:  Ilta-Sanomat

Date: 13.1.2016

Journalist: Mika Lehto

Main source: Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini

Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini comments on the European Union’s decision to start using the rule-of-law mechanism in terms of the Polish government’s politics. According to Minister Soini, an EU official, who has not been elected in an election, cannot « walk over » a decision maker who has been voted to the position. He points out that the election in Poland was free. Minister Soini thinks the EU should stay put.

Media:  Turun Sanomat

Date: 14.1.2016

Journalist: STT

Main source: Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini

According to trade union SAK, nearly 12,000 Finnish employees were laid off last year. The amount decreased 5% compared to previous year, but still layoffs are on a high level. Microsoft laid off the biggest number of employees, closing the Salo unit and sacking 2,300 employees. It was followed by Tieto, from which 435 people had to leave. Layoffs in the ICT sector and industry grew to 3,700-3,800 last year. Codetermination negotiations concerned a total of 114,000 employees in Finland in 2015.

Media:  Talouselämä

Date: 7.1.2016

Journalist: –

Main source: SAK