Here is a selection of what the international press has published about Finland in the last week:

Why this former Finnish president wants a new European spy agency

Former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö’s call for a new EU intelligence service to address rising security threats, was covered in an article by Atlantic Council on November 5.

The article explores the report by Sauli Niinistö, now an advisor to the European Commission, calling for a strengthened European defence structure.

Niinistö emphasizes that this intelligence body should supplement—not replace—national intelligence services.

“As a long-term objective, the EU should have a fully-fledged intelligence cooperation service, serving all EU institutions and Member States,” he wrote in the report. However, he noted that its aim “should not be to emulate the tasks of Member States’ national foreign intelligence and domestic security services, nor to interfere with their prerogative on national security.”

Niinistö recommends enhancing the EU’s Single Intelligence Analysis Capacity to facilitate structured intelligence sharing, especially given recent challenges from Russia’s actions in Ukraine and China’s alliances. The proposed intelligence framework would focus on hybrid threats like cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns, supporting unified EU responses.

Niinistö also advocates for improved civil-military coordination, suggesting a European Civil Defence Mechanism to ensure seamless cooperation between civilian and military sectors during crises.

However, in another news report by Euractiv, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala has expressed skepticism about the feasibility of a unified EU intelligence agency. Fiala supports increased collaboration among EU member states’ intelligence services but argues that creating a joint intelligence agency would not be practical. He pointed out that while deeper intelligence sharing is valuable, establishing a centralized EU intelligence structure could face significant obstacles.

“I support the deepening of mutual cooperation between intelligence services, but I do not consider it realistic to build a truly functional joint service,” Fiala told Euractiv.

Czech EU Minister Martin Dvořák echoed Fiala’s stance, stating that an EU intelligence agency, akin to the CIA in the United States, is not currently under serious consideration. “The establishment of a common European intelligence service along the lines of the US CIA is not on the agenda, and Niinistö’s report touches on this issue only marginally,” Veronika Lukášová, a spokeswoman for Dvořák, said.

Original stories was published by Atlantic Council and Euractiv respectively on 05.11.2024.

I moved to Finland believing it was a progressive dream. It hasn’t turned out that way

The current shift in the political landscape of Finland which was once hailed for its progressive views, was covered in an article by The Guardian on November 4. The opinion piece reflects on Mike Watson’s experience, a UK-born media theorist and educator, who moved to Finland in 2018 seeking a progressive society, and now finds himself disillusioned as Finland’s welfare state, long regarded as a model of social democracy, undergoes sweeping reforms under Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s coalition government.

Since the 2023 election, Orpo’s National Coalition Party has partnered with the far-right Finns Party, the Swedish People’s Party, and the Christian Democrats. Together, they have implemented austerity measures that include welfare cuts, caps on public sector salaries, and stricter immigration policies. The author highlights how inflation and rising living costs have affected him and his partner, both teachers, while many lower-income families are experiencing even greater hardship.

A survey by Finland’s National Institute for Health and Welfare shows that a quarter of Finnish students struggle to afford food, while reduced housing benefits are forcing some to relocate or pay higher rents. The author also mentions challenges in Finland’s healthcare system, where he experienced a six-month delay for a public dental appointment, emblematic of the system’s growing strain.

He notes that anti-immigrant rhetoric has become more pronounced, especially with Finns Party leader Riikka Purra’s influence, which has led to more restrictive immigration policies. Despite these challenges, the author sees hope in left-leaning politicians like Li Andersson and Minja Koskela, who are rallying for a return to progressive policies and advocating for social equity.

The author Mike Watson is a media and art theorist and educator born in the UK and based in Finland. His latest book is Hungry Ghosts in the Machine: Digital Capitalism and the Search for Self.

Original story was published by The Guardian on 04.11.2024 and can be found here.

Finland Accuses Russia Of Jamming Navigational Signals & Causing Ships To Lose Course In The Baltic Sea

Finnish authorities’ accusations on Russia for jamming navigational signals in the Baltic Sea was covered in an article by Marine Insight on November 3. The article highlights how this interference has disoriented ships, compromising their routes and risking potential accidents like grounding, posing risks to maritime safety.

Finland’s Coast Guard has observed persistent disruptions to satellite navigation signals (GNSS) since April, with incidents escalating recently. Officials suspect the jamming is a Russian effort to safeguard oil shipments, as several tankers, mostly bound for Russian ports, have turned off their Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) or falsified location data to obscure links with Russia. The move may be an attempt to evade Western sanctions on Russian oil exports. The disruptions have also impacted Finland’s monitoring of these vessels, raising environmental and security concerns, especially as winter intensifies and rough seas increase the likelihood of accidents.

Interior Minister Lulu Ranne has stated that Russia is likely responsible, while Russian authorities deny involvement. Finnish officials remain wary of the environmental risks posed by aging tankers, nicknamed the “shadow fleet,” which could cause significant oil spills in the ecologically sensitive Baltic Sea. Finnish authorities continue monitoring these developments closely to mitigate further risks to both maritime navigation and the environment.

Original story was published by Marine Insight on 04.11.2024 and can be found here.

HT