Current affairs

The EU Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council discussed on 22 September the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen area. In practice, the accession would mean that internal border checks be lifted at the borders between Bulgaria and Romania and the other EU countries. ‘Finland considers that it is yet too early to make a decision on the accession of these two states to the Schengen area,’ said Minister of the Interior Päivi Räsänen at the JHA meeting.

Three Helsinki-based Nordic funds are financing green projects at home and abroad to address environmental problems including climate change and Baltic Sea pollution.

Almost 40 candidates have been nominated for the 2012 Millennium Technology Prize. “The level of technological achievement in the nominations received is high, with innovations from a broader range of technology sectors than in previous years,” says Ainomaija Haarla, President and CEO of Technology Academy Finland. ”Robust knowledge of both basic science and technological applications was very apparent.”

Finns’ attitudes concerning development cooperation have become more positive than before. Almost one in four would increase appropriations for development cooperation.

The new Government announced it will pursue an active, initiative-taking foreign policy, in cooperation with the President. Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen emphasised that his Government’s policy on Europe is positive but also determined and realistic.

Helsinki citizens prepare for celebrations to mark Helsinki Day by cooling off in the city’s parks and heading for the beach.

The second Millennium Youth Camp for talented young people aged 16-19 will start on 11 June and run until 17 June. MY Campers will be introduced to a number of Finnish companies and higher educational institutions. The MY Camp programme includes project work carried out in small multi-national groups and the opportunity to meet Stephen Furber, one of the 2010 Millennium Technology Prize Laureates. Millennium Youth Camp is a unique happening.

Turku, the European Capital of Culture 2011, disembarks to the centre of the European Union for about a week at the end of May. Five students of the Performing Arts Circus line at Turku Arts Academy will travel from Turku, the Capital of Culture, to Brussels to give surprise performances at the EU institutions located in different parts of the city.

How is peace built at the highest political level? Or, how does a victim of cruel human rights violations end up building a career as a hip hop artist – and a peace activist? Crisis Management Initiative, the organisation established by President Martti Ahtisaari, celebrates its 10th anniversary with a seminar to be held in Helsinki on 19 April. The seminar invitees include experts of peace mediation, from Kofi Annan and Stephen Heintz to Emmanuel Jal.

Namibia. Ireland. Kosovo. Aceh. The Finnish peace-mediators have been involved in solving serious conflicts around the world. The most renowned of them all, President Martti Ahtisaari has stated: