Here is a selection of what the international press has published about Finland in the last week:
Small changes, big consequences: Stricter migration policies make job seeking harder in Finland
The challenges and hardships faced by migrants in Finland under new, stricter immigration policies, were covered in an article by Infomigrants on October 25.
The article explores how the new policies have tightened family reunification, restricted financial aid, increased deportations, and established indefinite land border closures with Russia, creating significant obstacles for migrants and asylum seekers.
One key challenge for migrants is the high Finnish language proficiency required for employment, even for entry-level positions. Lamine Messaoudi, a job-seeking Moroccan migrant in Oulu, highlights how language barriers limit job opportunities. This is especially difficult given the limited language resources and job opportunities for migrants. “You need to speak Finnish more or less fluently, otherwise you cannot understand your boss or teammate. So you need to push yourself more and more to learn Finnish,” Messaoudi said.
Additionally, the hiring process for international talent is complicated by bureaucratic delays and new regulations. The prolonged process for work permits and restrictive requirements discourage companies from hiring foreign talent, potentially compromising Finland’s competitiveness. The government also proposes a policy requiring laid-off foreign workers to find new employment within three to six months—a timeframe experts argue is unfeasible, even for native Finnish jobseekers.
Migrants also face discrimination and, in some cases, violence. The article highlights rising xenophobic attitudes, with recent attacks in Oulu’s Valkea shopping center instilling fear among migrants.
Original story was published by Infomigrants on 25.10.2024 and can be found here.
Here’s What Finland Wants You To Know About Being Green
Finland’s deep commitment to sustainability was covered in an article by Forbes on October 19. The article emphasizes Finland’s environmental respect, rooted in centuries of resilience, also reflective in Finland’s tourism narrative, particularly in the Saaristo (archipelago) area.
Kristiina Kukkohovi, CEO of Visit Turku Archipelago, is about to launch a new campaign to introduce the world to the Saaristo. In Turku, the city has set ambitious goals to be carbon-negative by 2029, employing eco-friendly initiatives like a climate-neutral district heating system and a Digital Climate Situation Room to track emissions. This strategy extends to tourism, where free bus passes are offered with event tickets to reduce car use, and restaurants like Kakolanruusu source ingredients locally to cut transportation emissions.
“We have a huge respect for nature. We have had to survive here for hundreds of years. It’s that respect that has allowed us to build our sustainability programs,” Kukkohovi said.
In Tampere, sustainability is embedded even in cultural venues. Tampere Hall, the largest congress center in the Nordic region, transformed its operations to achieve carbon neutrality in 2019. Its eco-friendly practices include solar panels, greenhouses, and bee colonies on the roof.
Original story was published by Forbes on 19.10.2024 and can be found here.
Finland warns of hostile activities by Russia
The article about Finland reporting an increase in suspicious activities attributed to Russia, including cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns, was published in Reuters on October 23. The article delves into the range of sabotage, disruptions and hostile actions in Finland, which officials believe are part of an intensified influence campaign by Russia.
“We are experiencing disruptions, acts of sabotage, various types of damage, and instrumentalised migration, among other things. This creates a general sense of uncertainty and vagueness about what is true and what is not,” Interior Minister Lulu Ranne said.
Notable incidents include GPS interference in air and maritime navigation, ongoing denial-of-service attacks on financial institutions, and drone sightings around critical sites. Although Russia denies involvement, Finnish authorities suggest state-sponsored influence operations, with a particular focus on Finland since it joined NATO.
Nordic utility Fortum has reported regular cyberattacks, and Nordea Bank recently experienced a record-breaking wave of DDoS attacks, impacting online services. Additionally, water facilities have seen thefts of technical equipment without clear financial motivation, raising suspicions of state actors’ involvement.
While the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service (Supo) stresses that Russia’s capabilities are not all-powerful and there may be limitations to what they can execute, Finland is treating these threats as serious risks to national and regional security.
Original story was published by Reuters on 23.10.2024 and can be found here.
Finland and Sweden Disclose Plans to for 2025 NATO MARCOM Participation
The announcement by Finland and Sweden to participate in 2025 in the Standing NATO Maritime Command (MARCOM) forces, was covered in an article by Naval News on October 16. The article gives details of the exercise, that will be seen as their integration into regular rotations.
Finland has already initiated participation in 2024 with the mine countermeasure vessel MHC Vahterpää, which operated as part of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasure Group 1 (SNMCMG1). This vessel worked in the Baltic, North Sea, and Norwegian Sea, conducting mine disposal exercises, like Open Spirit 2024, and will deploy again in 2025.
Finland will send another Katanpää-class minehunter next year to the Baltic, North Sea, and North Atlantic for operations and exercises in mine countermeasures and maritime surveillance. Sweden plans a similar deployment with a Koster-class coastal minehunter for up to six months. These vessels, familiar with SNMCMG1 through previous joint exercises, are known for advanced capabilities in coastal mine hunting.
In an unexpected move, Finland will also deploy a Hamina-class fast attack craft (FAC) with the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) for a month in the Baltic, North Sea, and North Atlantic. Given its shorter endurance, this craft, smaller than typical SNMG1 frigate-sized vessels, may focus on specific exercises rather than prolonged sea operations.
Original story was published by Naval News on 16.10.2024 and can be found here.
HT