Summary:

Helsingin Sanomat writes in an editorial that tightening the rules for uniting refugee families has become a symbol of the Sipilä government’s immigration and asylum policy. The policy was already tightened by Jyrki Katainen’s government, and now Sipilä’s government holds on to the promise that the criteria for uniting families will be redefined according to the EU directive. However, it’s not a given that the changes are made in the spirit of the EU directive. The purpose of the directive is to guarantee foreigners the right to a family life and to ensure that children are allowed to live with their parents. However, the Finnish government uses it to rationalize significant restrictions, even so that the right to a family is based on income. It is particularly alarming that the income requirements also apply to children.

Finland’s Minister of the Interior Petteri Orpo says that the flow of asylum seekers and refugees is constantly being monitored. According to the Minister, the number of asylum seekers arriving in Finland is limited by European border control, Verkkouutiset reports. Minister Orpo particularly emphasises the importance of Swedish border control for Finland. The European Commission has given Sweden, Germany, Austria, Denmark and Norway the permit to continue border control for the next six months.

Media:  Verkkouutiset

Date: 1.6.2016

Journalist: Arno Rydman

Main source: Minister of the Interior Petteri Orpo

The Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutğlu visited Finland on Wednesday, Helsingin Sanomat writes. He said that the claims that Turkey has sent refugees back to Syria are not correct. The Prime Minister praised Finland for helping to advance Turkey’s EU membership negotiations. Finland’s Prime Minister Juha Sipilä, then again, reminded that Turkey must make reforms that guarantee, for example, freedom of speech. PM Davutoğlu was convinced that Turkey will fulfill all the requirements to become an EU member state. He added that Turkey is committed to European values. The PM wants to improve the already good relations between Finland and Turkey and to multiply trade between them.

Helsingin Sanomat has ordered a poll from TNS Gallup regarding Finns’ opinions on working life measures to improve Finland’s competitiveness. Finns would be ready to give up at least one working life benefit to create new jobs. The majority think that the best way to do this would be to give up raises for a year. More than half of the respondents also support cutting holiday pay by a third and extending annual working time by 24 hours without raising salaries. The least popular way to reduce employers’ costs is cutting evening and Sunday extras, the respondents found.

Media:  Helsingin Sanomat

The Finnish Forest Industries says Finland can affect the competitiveness of domestic industry with its own decisions. The organisation maintains it is essential for the forest industry that the emissions trade compensation scribed in the government programme be fully put to use. The purpose of the compensation is that energy-intensive industries can be reimbursed for the expense increases caused by the EU emissions trade. If the compensation will be implemented only partially, Finnish industries will become less competitive in the future.

Media:  Verkkouutiset

Date: 29.3.2016

Journalist: Heikki Jantunen

Main source: Finnish Forest Industries

Verkkouutiset writes that Interior Minister Petteri Orpo visits Ukraine this week and familiarises himself with Finland’s participation in civilian crisis management operations. There are over 30 Finns who work for OSCE and EU operations in Ukraine. The goal of the EU operation is to support and assist in reforming the Ukrainian security sector, and strengthen anti-corruption work in the Ukrainian government. The EU operation is a part of the EU’s common foreign and security policy.

Media:  Verkkouutiset

Date: 29.3.2016

Journalist: Heikki Jantunen

Main source: –

Finland’s Prime Minister Juha Sipilä writes in Maaseudun Tulevaisuus about Finnish farmers’ plight. The situation is severe, for example, due to the removal of milk quotas in the EU, weak economic situation and the counter sanctions from Russia. The farmers’ message at the tractor demonstration was clear, PM Sipilä writes, and says that they will react to the situation and do everything they can to facilitate the situation. The European Union’s agriculture ministers met early this week, and solutions were expected to the difficult market situation. Some important issues for Finland progressed there, PM Sipilä says. A positive issue is that the reduction of agriculture bureaucracy was emphasised at the meeting. In this, the EU still has a lot of work to do.

Summary:

Minister of Defence Jussi Niinistö says the mutual assistance clause of the Lisbon Treaty has become clearer after the Paris terrorist attacks. According to Mr Niinistö, the clause serves as a deterrence effect, which can be used to counter hybrid threats. The EU is not a defence alliance, and Finland is not relying on the EU in its defence planning. However, the clause has enabled a new kind of interpretation of the EU’s unity and abilities. The overall effect on Finland’s security is positive.

Media:  Uusi Suomi

Date: 8.3.2016

Journalist: –

Main source: Jussi Niinistö, Minister of Defence