Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini announces that Finland strongly condemns the announcement of North Korea on its hydrogen bomb test. Finland urges North Korea to abstain from further actions that endanger safety and increase tension. The country is breaching international obligations and agreements with the alleged test. Also the Russian Foreign Ministry has condemned the test.

Media:  YLE Uutiset

Date: 6.1.2016

Journalist: Teija Santaharju

Main source: Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini

The Finnish Ministry of Employment and the Economy announced on Wednesday that the European Commission has granted 5.4 million euros for Baltic Connector Oy and Elering Gaas As to plan a gas pipe between Finland and Estonia. Minister of Economic Affairs Olli Rehn said that the Commission’s decision is a clear sign that the project is moving forward.

Media:  Talouselämä

Date: 2.12.2015

Journalist: –

Main source: Olli Rehn, Minister of Economic Affairs of Finland

The European Commission promised Turkey aid of 3 bn euro in order to aid the refugees that are in camps in Turkey. 500 million would come from the EU budget and the rest from the EU member states. Juha Sipilä, Finland’s Prime Minister said that Finland would pay its share, 35.5 million euro. However the payment scheme is up in the air and Mr Sipilä said it would not happen next year. He, like the other EU leaders reminded that the 3 billion euros was not meant for Turkey but the refugees, for example for school, work visas, hygiene and health. Mr Sipilä also attended a meeting chaired by Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel meant for countries under heavy refugee pressure.

Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö emphasised at the Paris climate summit that there is no other alternative than to create a climate agreement which prevents the worst effects of global warming. He pointed out that we have no planet B, this is the only planet we have. He appealed to the participants, calling for a new, legally binding global agreement starting from 2020. President Niinistö also said that as an arctic country Finland’s temperatures have grown twice as much as the global average. In addition, he talked about Finland’s new climate legislation and citizens’ climate commitments.

Media:  Aamulehti 

Date: 30.11.2015

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Lenita Toivakka says that Finland focuses its development aid on Syria, its neighbours and Africa in the next few years, while Finland withdraws from Zambia and Vietnam. Finland’s aid this year, EUR 25 million, in Syria is targeted at UN organisations maintaining refugee camps. According to Ms Toivakka, in Africa Finland supports stable countries that receive refugees. She laments the cuts made in development aid but says they are necessary in the current economic situation.

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

Date: 27.11.2015

Journalist: Tarja Kovanen

Main source: Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Lenita Toivakka

Foreign Affairs Minister Timo Soini hopes that Finland would receive invitations to all NATO summits, not just those dealing with crisis management. « It would be very important that Finland could participate in these meetings and receive and give information, » he said. For example, Finland would have a lot to offer in questions related to Baltic Sea safety. Minister Soini finds that Finland’s NATO partnership is in a good shape. However, he hopes that NATO will share more information with Finland on events in nearby areas.

Media:  Helsingin Sanomat

Date: 2.12.2015

Journalist: Virve Kähkönen

Main source: Foreign Affairs Minister Timo Soini

The Confederation of Finnish Industries, EK, is planning to change its rules in May next year so that it can no longer sign extensive labour market agreements. EK Board Chairman Matti Alahuhta says this does not mean an end to Finnish consensus but that consensus is transferred to Finnish work places. The current labour market negotiations will, however, be finished. The unions SAK and STTK hope that tripartite agreeing would not be abandoned entirely. Akava Chair Sture Fjäder does not reject local agreeing as long as it is not dictating.

Media:  Helsingin Sanomat

Date: 26.11.2015

Journalist: Teemu Luukka

The Ministry of Employment and the Economy reveals in a report that Finland is close to meeting EU targets for renewable energy. Renewable energy currently makes up 37% of the final energy consumption, just one percent below the 38% that Finland must reach by 2020. Reaching the target should not be a problem, since Finland is only getting started with the production of biogas, ethanol and wood-based diesel. Professor Raimo Lovio of the Aalto University noted that the total energy consumption has decreased and this helped with meeting the targets.

Media:  Turun Sanomat + liitteet (E-edition, PDF) 

Date: 26.11.2015