Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Lenita Toivakka says Finland foremost needs more export companies. Last year, the overall value of Finland’s exports was approximately EUR 10 billion smaller than in 2008. She is particularly concerned that the SME sector’s share of exports is clearly smaller than the EU average. Ms Toivakka thinks the TTIP it is crucial for small export dependent countries like Finland. She emphasises that the EU is trying to negotiate a new kind of investment protection with the US. Moreover, Ms Toivakka expresses concern over the Schengen area’s future.

Media:  Uusi Suomi

Date: 21.11.2015

Finland is preparing changes to its immigration policy. Interior Minister Petteri Orpo said the Ministry would publish the changes next week. According to Minister Orpo, Finland is planning to change rules on uniting families and shorten residence permits for asylum seekers. Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini said the Nordic Foreign Ministers would meet to discuss the harmonisation of immigration policy. He expects border control to increase within the EU. Minister Soini believes that the Schengen Treaty will not be cancelled but the EU will stop following it, temporarily and suddenly realise that the change has become permanent.

Media:  Ilta-Sanomat

Helsingin Sanomat reports that Finnish and Swedish Foreign Ministers Timo Soini and Margot Wallström would like to see Nordic foreign ministers in a joint meeting discussing the situation with asylum seekers and immigration policy. Mr Soini said that the ministers could meet during an EU-meeting, for example. There is a great need for coordination. Both Ministers found the incident between Turkey and Russia very serious. After Paris, the French Ambassadors in Finland and Sweden have contacted the Foreign Ministries, Mr Soini said.

Media:  Helsingin Sanomat

Date: 24.11.2015

Journalist: Anna-Liina Kauhanen

Main source: Timo Soini, Finland’s Foreign Minister & Margot Wallström, Sweden’s Foreign Minister

The European Commission said in its assessment that Finland currently adheres to the EU Growth and Stability Pact. The EC expects Finland’s public deficit in relation to the GDP to fall below three percent next year. However the EC urges Finland to pass structural changes quickly.

• Media:  Taloussanomat
• Date: 17.11.2015
• Journalist: –
• Main source: European Commission

Finnish Minister of Defence Jussi Niinistö is unhappy with Finland’s ability to give military assistance to France in the fight against terrorism. Mr Niinistö thinks that the Finnish reserve troops, which will join the EU Battle Group next year, will be used to merely support professional soldiers after real work is done. There is also uncertainty over who is responsible for the costs of operations. Mr Niinistö says that Finland does not have laws about the surveillance of civilians who are potential security threats, and that such laws could be in conflict with the constitution, making the legislative process slower. The terrorist attacks in France show that Finland also needs these laws.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini gave Ilta-Sanomat an interview at the EU meeting in Brussels. He finds that IS is a pan-European problem and that the terrorist group also has cells in Finland. The IS could exploit the free movement of people in Europe. According to Mr Soini, the risk of terror attacks is real in Europe, but the biggest in countries which have participated in measures against IS. The EU plans to intensify collaboration and surveillance, and if the outer borders cannot be controlled, border inspections will be introduced. Mr Soini believes the EU is not far from this.

President Sauli Niinistö estimated in an interview with YLE’s A-studio that the events in Paris have brought Russia and the West closer. « It is clear that we are building a new kind of bridge, » he said. President Niinistö believes that the chances for collaboration between the EU, US and Russia are now better than before. He believes that France’s request for military assistance could strengthen European defence collaboration, but it will be a long process. The President added that Finns have no reason to fear terrorism.

• Media:  Aamulehti 
• Date: 18.11.2015
• Journalist: STT
• Main source: President Sauli Niinistö

Sauli Niinistö, Finland’s President considers France’s plea for military assistance by utilising the EU Security Guarantees a considerable initiative. All EU member states approved the plea, including Finland. According to Mr Niinistö, Finland will help France in all possible ways. However Finland cannot by law send armed military personnel, but police assistance is possible. Mr Niinistö believes that EU’s joint security and defence will proceed, but he does not believe that things will change quickly and the idea of an EU army is still very distant.

• Media:  Helsingin Sanomat
• Date: 17.11.2015
• Journalist: Heidi Lämsä
• Main source: President Sauli Niinistö