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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/finland/finland-tightens-residence-permit-rules/

Finland

Finland tightens residence permit rules

Published 6 March 2024
– By Editorial Staff
The prime minister's palace in Helsinki.
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Finland has started to tighten the rules for residence permits in the country. Language requirements will be introduced and the aim is to ‘encourage’ immigrants to respect the laws and regulations of society.

Last autumn, the Finnish government announced plans to tighten the rules governing residence permits in the country. The Ministry of the Interior has now initiated a government proposal on the issue.

The aim is to encourage newcomers to respect the rules of society, work and learn the language. In addition, the length of residence, i.e. the time a person has lived in Finland, should be extended from four to six years as a requirement for a permanent residence permit.

Knowledge of Finnish or Swedish would also be introduced, to be proven by a language test. In addition, the person must not have a criminal record and must have worked continuously for two years. Furthermore, the applicant’s identity must be verifiable, which also means that the applicant must actively contribute to the investigation of his or her own identity.

“Successful integration”

“A prerequisite for a permanent residence permit is successful integration”, writes the Finnish Ministry of the Interior.

In some cases, the six-year residence requirement can be waived in favour of the old four-year requirement if the applicant has an annual income of at least €40,000 or a university degree obtained or recognised in Finland and has worked for two years.

The six-year residence requirement may also be waived if the applicant has a particularly good knowledge of Finnish or Swedish, as demonstrated by a language test, and has worked continuously for three years.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/finland/finlands-president-militarize-ukraine-to-its-teeth/

Finland

Finland’s President: “Militarize Ukraine to its teeth”

The war in Ukraine

Published 22 March 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Alexander Stubb and NATO chief Mark Rutte.
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Finnish President Alexander Stubb has called on Ukraine’s Western backers to provide the country with even more arms and financial aid, claiming this will deter Russia.

The statement was made shortly after a meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyj in Helsinki. Meanwhile, negotiations are underway within the EU to double its arms budget.

The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, had earlier presented a plan to increase EU funding for Ukraine from €20 billion in 2024 to €40 billion this year. However, in a comment to the Italian newspaper La Stampa, she admitted that she had faced opposition from Italy, France, Spain and Portugal. According to the newspaper, an upper limit of €5 billion has been set for the donations instead.

Speaking to the politically-oriented Politico newspaper on Wednesday, Stubb argued that “deterrence – which is based on militarizing Ukraine to its teeth” would be the most effective way to end the war.

The Finnish president regretted that Kallas had failed to rally support for his plan and hoped that EU leaders could save the aid package.

– It’s very important now to get a message from Europe that the military, political and economic support continues, he said. He also stressed that sanctions against Russia must be tightened and that the country’s frozen assets should be seized to increase pressure on the country.

A ceasefire is being negotiated

Stubb also stressed that he supports Ukraine’s possible membership of both the EU and the NATO military pact. However, the Trump administration has ruled out the latter.

Moscow has consistently denounced NATO’s eastward expansion and considers the alliance a threat to Russia’s national security. President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials have repeatedly claimed that the ambition to include Ukraine in NATO was one of the main drivers behind the 2022 war.

Stubb’s remarks come amid negotiations on a 30-day ceasefire, proposed by US President Donald Trump, aimed at stopping long-range attacks on energy infrastructure from both sides. A new round of talks between Russian and US delegations is scheduled for March 24 in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/finland/finland-withdraws-sugar-tax/

Finland

Finland withdraws sugar tax

Published 5 March 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Candy makers like Fazer applaud the government's decision.
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The Finnish government is now backing away from plans to raise the sugar tax. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare criticizes the politicians’ decision and believes that the tax is needed to improve public health.

Last year, the Finnish government decided to introduce a health tax on foods high in trans fats, sugar and salt. The tax would help reduce a €12 billion budget deficit, but was also justified on the grounds that unhealthy diets cause health problems that are costly to society.

The tax on sweets and chocolate was planned to be raised from 14% to the general tax rate of 25.5%.

Now the government has decided to back down on the tax increases on sweets, reports Finnish state broadcaster Yle. According to Minister of Finance Riikka Purra, the proposal was criticized during the consultation round, and its compatibility with EU regulations was deemed uncertain.

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) is critical of the government’s decision. The sugar tax was part of a larger initiative where it would be combined with reduced taxes on healthy foods.

– We wanted to convey that THL supports the health and well-being of citizens first and foremost by controlling consumption, says Heli Kuusipalo, Senior Specialist at THL.

Candy manufacturers satisfied

The candy company Fazer, which previously criticized the tax increase and called it a “Fazer tax”, welcomes the government’s decision. The company thanks the government for listening to the industry’s objections.

“I am very pleased with the government’s decision to withdraw its proposal to increase VAT on sweets and chocolate. In cooperation with other food industry stakeholders, we have been dialoguing on the topic with the government parties and key stakeholder groups since last spring”, commented CEO Christoph Vitzthum in a press release.

The tax increase threw a wrench into Fazer’s new chocolate factory in Lahti, but now the company announces that development can continue.

Instead of the health tax, the government will raise taxes on wine and also remove tax breaks for electricity use in mines and data centers.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/finland/more-young-finns-are-joining-the-church/

Finland

More young Finns are joining the church

Published 26 February 2025
– By Editorial Staff
In Finland, it is mainly young men aged 20-39 who join the church.
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

More and more young people in Finland are joining the church. The trend is particularly evident among young men joining the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Interest in religion and the church has increased in both Sweden and Finland in recent years. In Finland, it is mainly young men aged 20-39 who are joining, a trend that is clearly visible in Helsinki. In general, young men show a greater interest in Christianity than young women. A survey last year showed that 42% of men aged 18-24 believe that the Church’s values are in line with their own, compared to 26% of women in the same age group.

Sweden is also seeing a similar trend, with people born in 1997 or later increasingly joining the church, as reported by the taxpayer-funded SVT. Last year, the number of people actively joining the Church of Sweden was the highest since statistics began to be kept in the 1970s.

Although fewer children are being baptized in Finland, more young adults are choosing to be baptized, often in connection with confirmation.

– Those who are now of age to be confirmed belong to the cohorts whose parents have not had their children baptized. To be confirmed, you have to be baptized, so among those who are confirmed, there are several who must be baptized and thus join the church, says Heidi Jäntti, parish priest at Porvoo Swedish Cathedral Parish, to the Finnish state channel Yle.

Jäntti believes that the unrest of recent years has contributed to young people’s increased interest in the church.

– I am sure that the world situation has affected people’s need for security and also the need to have a human community around them. I believe that the church offers not only an opportunity to find security and comfort, but also strength, hope and faith in goodness, she says.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/finland/more-finns-than-ever-seek-support-for-violence-and-sexual-crimes/

Finland

More Finns than ever seek support for violence and sexual crimes

Published 20 February 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

A record number of Finns turned to Victim Support Finland for help with sexual offenses and domestic violence last year. It remained by far the most common reason for seeking help.

Victim Support Finland (RIKU) provides counseling and support to victims of crime, their families and witnesses via phone, chat and face-to-face meetings. In 2024, 30 800 people turned to RIKU for help. Sexual offenses and domestic violence were again the most common reasons for seeking help.

– Victims of domestic violence need information about the legal process and their rights, and the opportunity to talk about their experiences. We help them make safety plans and apply for restraining orders. It is also important to consider in each case whether the client needs guidance to a specialized support service, says Leena-Kaisa Åberg, Executive Director of RIKU.

In 2024, 6 700 people sought support for domestic violence, up from 6 400 the year before. At the same time, 4 700 sought help for sexual offenses, the same figure as the previous year. Both figures are the highest ever recorded.

In addition, 3 800 people sought help for property crime and 3 100 for bullying. Of those who turned to Victim Support in 2024, 77% were women and 23% men.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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