Summary:

A report by the Finnish Business and Policy Forum EVA finds that Brexit will likely take the form of a ‘hard Brexit’, which would also be the best alternative for Finland. The EU’s unity and a well-functioning internal market are very important to a small country like Finland and therefore it should not support the kind of ‘soft Brexit’ that would increase the risk of division within the EU, the report states. The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy has estimated that a hard Brexit would diminish the Finnish GDP by 0.25 percent in the early stages. Brexit would increase the influence of large EU member states, but the status of Finland and other middle-sized member states would hardly alter.

Summary:

MP and Vice President of the Foreign Affairs Committee Pertti Salolainen is extremely frustrated that parliament was not informed about the secret missile tests conducted in Finland. The tests related to the Dutch-led criminal investigation of the incident where a Malaysian jet was shot down in Ukraine in 2014. Salolainen says there have been claims that the missile tests were a sensitive matter because of Russia but states that it would have been better to openly admit that Holland had asked Finland for assistance. PM Juha Sipilä confirmed on Wednesday that the government and President Sauli Niinistö knew about the tests but did not wish to speculate on Russia’s reaction to Finland’s involvement in the matter.

Summary:

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Finns party leader Timo Soini condemns violent acts in an interview at the UN general assembly and says both legislation and social commentary are needed to reject them. Mr Soini commented earlier in a blog entry on recent events where two asylum seekers are suspected of killing a Finnish man in Otanmäki and an assault at a demonstration by far-right extremist Finnish Resistance Movement led to the death of a bystander in Helsinki. Mr Soini says the atmosphere in Finland has hardened recently and also leading politicians have received threats. In New York, Mr Soini discussed the election process for the new UN secretary general with representatives of other small countries. He says their wish is that the process is transparent and fair.

Summary:

Some Finnish scientists question the Finnish government’s bio economy policy and the aim to increase the use of bio energy. Minister for Agriculture and Environment Kimmo Tiilikainen strongly defends the policy. He thinks it is a must to increase the use of bio energy to cut back emissions. Minister Tiilikainen emphasises that the world needs to stop using fossil fuels and bio energy is the fastest way to replace them. Bio fuels and forests’ carbon sinks have been discussed since the European Commission gave Finland new, high emissions reduction goals. Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Kai Mykkänen believes Finland can meet with the new goals, and bio fuels give Finland a head start in the prevention of climate change. According to Minister Tiilikainen, also the EU has understood the importance of bio energy.

Summary:

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Kai Mykkänen suggests implementing a coal tax. According to Mr Mykkänen, the tax woul provide investments in emission-free energy production without resorting to subsidies for renewable energy. Finland should implement the tax in collaboration with other Nordic countries, especially Sweden. Mr Mykkänen says it is possible that the Finnish energy strategy will conclude that there is a need for a, preferably, Nordic system for directing energy investments through emission prices. According to the minister, it is uncertain whether the measures proposed by the EU Commission will be enough for the price of emmission allowances to rise above 20 euro which is concidered the price level that will begin to direct investments.

Summary:

Finland is not negotiating to renew the temporary border agreement with Russia. The agreement was negotiated after 1713 refugees came to the Eastern border from November to February. Professor Markku Kivinen from Helsinki University is surprised that a new deal is not negotiated. He finds that the deal has helped to keep the EU’s northernmost border well. Vice Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Pertti Salolainen finds that renewing the deal would be timely.

Media:  Helsingin Sanomat

Date: 7.9.2016

Journalist: Ossi Mansikka

Main source: Professor Markku Kivinen / Helsinki University, Vice Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Pertti Salolainen

Summary:

Minister of Finance Petteri Orpo said at the Coalition Party conference that Finns extensively support EU’s deeper security and defence policy. According to him, Finland must stay in the front line of deeper defence collaboration. Mr Orpo added that Turkey has quickly become one of the EU’s central challenges. He would hold on to the refugee agreement but also to human rights and rule of law. He also commented on the upcoming budget negotiations, saying that the government’s employment package is the most important issue. His Party is ready to consider all options that enable the creation of new private sector jobs in Finland. « The flexibility of the labour market must still be improved, and accepting employment must be made profitable even in low-paid jobs. »

Summary:

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Kimmo Tiilikainen (Centre) is concerned over the agony of Finnish agriculture. He says these are the worst times for Finnish agriculture during Finland’s EU membership. Next week, the Finnish government decides on a crisis package for agriculture, but the Minister does not want to evaluate sums yet. In addition to domestic issues, Finnish agriculture suffers from global overproduction, the imbalance of EU markets, as well as sanctions between the EU and Russia.

Media:  Aamulehti 

Date: 24.8.2016

Journalist: Mirja Niemitalo

Main source: Minister Kimmo Tiilikainen