The security policy situation has changed, the Government says and adds another 3,5 billion kroner (€362 million) to the budget for strengthening defense and civil preparedness. Russia’s operation in Ukraine “represents a turning point for Norwegian and European security,” Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said at a press conference inContinue Reading
In a recent interview with Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle), former Finnish President Tarja Halonen compared the Baltic countries’ accession to NATO in 2004 to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania belonging to the Soviet Union. “They were used to being part of a collective security system during the Soviet era,” Halonen toldContinue Reading
Russia’s operation in Ukraine and the resulting sanctions on Russia are impacting businesses in Finland, according to a survey by the Finland Chamber of Commerce. The majority of the companies polled—62 percent—said that the ongoing crisis has hampered their operations. However, only a fifth of respondents expect a decline inContinue Reading
In the latest of a series of interviews on possible Nato membership, the president seemed to suggest that the benefits would outweigh the downsides. President Sauli Niinistö says it is clear that possible Finnish membership in Nato would permanently increase tensions with Russia along the two countries’ border. Interviewed onContinue Reading
Just over a week ago, it remained unclear whether the Saimaa Canal would open, due to possible EU sanctions on Russia. The Saimaa Canal officially re-opens on Monday, although resumption of traffic will depend on ice and weather conditions. Canal authorities announced on Friday that the annual traffic season onContinue Reading
European leaders have agreed to tighten the existing sanctions against Russia after war in Ukraine, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda says, adding, however, that some EU member states are not yet ready to stop imports of Russian resources. “Yes, we have to admit that some countries are not yet ready toContinue Reading
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly one month ago, around 10,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Finland, according to data from the Finnish Immigration Service, Migri. On Monday, around 1,000 Ukrainians applied for temporary protection in Finland. Migri said it is believed that the actual number of new arrivals from UkraineContinue Reading
Many of the company’s competitors have announced temporary suspension of operations in Russia, including firms like Continental, Michelin and Bridgestone. Finland-based tyre manufacturer Nokian Tyres said on Tuesday that it plans to increase production levels at its domestic and US factories but will continue production of passenger vehicle tyres atContinue Reading
Retrospective: Norway’s relationship with its superpower neighbour to the east has often been tense. In this article, Salve Dahle and co-authors give an eyewitness account of the time just after the fall of the Soviet Union, when cross-border tensions began to ease. Early on the morning of 30 July 1992,Continue Reading
According to the economic affairs minister, Finns must brace themselves for wartime pricing. People in Finland must be prepared for wartime pricing of products and services, Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä (Cen) said in an Yle interview on Saturday. He warned that the price tag for a standard basketContinue Reading