Committee on Budgets Policy department for Budgetary Affairs European Parliament Committee on Budgets Delegation to Finland 20 - 23 July 2008 GENERAL INFORMATION LIST OF PARTICIPANTS BUDG Delegation to FINLAND 20-23 July 2008 Members of the European Parliament: Mr Reimer Böge (EPP-ED) - Chairman Mr Kyösti Virrankoski (ALDE) - Vice-Chairman, hors quota Mr László Surján (EPP-ED) Mr Vicente Miguel Garcés Ramón (PSE) Mr Gary Titley (PSE) Mr Daniel Dăianu (ALDE) (joining on Tuesday) Mr Jan Mulder (ALDE) Mr Wiesław Stefan Kuc (UEN) Mr Esko Seppänen (GUE) (joining on Monday noon) - hors quota accompanying the delegation in Joensuu region: Mrs Riita Myller (PSE), local MEP, hors quota Secretariat of the Committee on Budgets: Anne Vitrey Païvi Ohman Information Office in Helsinki: Minna Ollikainen Political advisers: Julia Feldmann (PSE) Sanna Lepola (GUE) Members´ assistants: Armi Liinamaa Interpretation: J. Vega Mendoza (ES) J. Camacho Cordon (ES) A. Mikkonen (FI) M. Sunnari (FI) K. Twidle (EN) A. Lightfoot (EN) Fact-finding mission on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund and it use in Finland Programme of the visit Sunday, 20 July 2008 18h45-19h50 Flight FC 275 Helsinki-Joensuu Transportation by bus and accommodation Sokos Hotel Kimmel Itäranta 1, 80100 Joensuu tel. +35820 1234 663, Fax +358 13 277 2112 email: [email protected], http://www.sokoshotels.fi 21h00 Departure from the hotel to the castle "Pielisjoen linna" (by foot) 21h15 Dinner hosted by Regional Council of North Karelia Welcoming speech by Mr. Pentti Hyttinen, executive director Monday, 21 July 2008 08h30 Check-out and departure from the hotel by bus Transportation by bus to Joensuu Science Park Tiedepuisto Oy Joensuu Science Park Ltd. Länsikatu 15, FIN-80110 Joensuu phone +358 (0)13 263 710, fax +358 (0)13 263 7111 www.carelian.fi 09h00 Meeting with officials with regard to the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund Introduction to the region of North Karelia Mr. Pentti Hyttinen, executive director of Regional Council of North Karelia Case Perlos and the use of Globalisation Adjustment Fund Mrs Hannele Jokiniemi, Head of unit, Employment and Economic Development Centre of North Karelia Mr. Jarmo Valtonen, Director of Employment Office of Joensuu Mr. Olavi Miettinen, Manager of Perlos Joensuu Buffet-lunch (individually, restaurant of the Science Park) Visit to Perlos Oy factory 13h00 Departure to Punkaharju by bus 5 15h00 Arrival at Punkaharju Transportation (by boat) from the Retretti Art Centre in Punkaharju to Savonlinna with an early dinner on boat, hosted by The Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities The challenge of globalisation to municipalities and regions - Mr Pekka Nousiainen, President of the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities - Mr Matti Viialainen, Executive Director of the region of Etelä-Savo *** Free evening in Savonlinna *** Suggestion: Savonlinna Opera festival 19h30-22h15 Verdi: Aida in the castle of St. Olaf 23h30-00h20 Flight FC 166 Savonlinna-Helsinki Transport by bus to Helsinki and accommodation Hotel Crowne Plaza Helsinki Mannerheimintie 50, 00260 Helsinki tel. +358 9 2521 0000, fax +358 9 2521 3999 email: [email protected] http://www.crowneplaza-helsinki.fi/ Tuesday, 22 July 2008 09h40 Departure from the hotel to the Finnish parliament 10h00 Official meetings in the Finnish parliament Venue: auditorium of the Finnish Parliament Perspectives of Finnish economy Mr. Jyrki Katainen, Minister of Finance Finland in the framework of EU budget Mr Markus Sovala (tbc), EU budget unit, Ministry of Finance 11h30 Departure from the parliament 12h00 Lunch hosted by Confederation of Finnish Industries restaurant Töölönranta Helsinginkatu 56. Contemporary EU issues from the viewpoint of Finnish Industries Mr Jukka Ahtela, Director for Legal Affairs and Trade Policy 6 Views of Finnish Industries related to economical developments in Finland and in world Mr Penna Urrila, Senior Economist 14h00 Departure by bus for the Nokia Headquarters Nokia House Keilalahdentie 4, 02150 Espoo 14h30 Visit to the Nokia House Current EU developments from Nokia perspective (EGAF, Bochum case, other) Mr Serge Ferre, Vice President, EU Representative Office Mr Esa Kaunistola, Director, Trade Policy 16h00 Departure from Nokia by bus to the hotel 18h45 Departure from the hotel by bus 19h00 Dinner hosted by Bank of Finland Bank of Finland Snellmaninaukio PO Box 160, 00101 Helsinki Presentation of Finland's economy Mr. Pentti Hakkarainen, Deputy Governor of Bank of Finland Wednesday, 23 July 2008 08h40 Check-out and departure from the hotel 09h00-12h00 Official meetings continue in Finnish parliament Venue: auditorium of the Finnish parliament Finnish expectations on EU budget Mr. Hannes Manninen, Chairman of the Finance Committee, Finnish Parliament Finnish experience of European Globalisation Adjustment Fund Ms Marja Rantakaulio, Ministry for Employment and Economy 10h30-11h00 Guided tour in the Finnish parliament 11h15 Press conference Venue: auditorium of the Finnish parliament 12h00 Lunch, restaurant of the parliament (paid individually) 13h00 Departure for the airport by bus 7 Useful contacts and addresses: Hotels: in Joensuu: Sokos Hotel Kimmel Itäranta 1, 80100 Joensuu tel. +35820 1234 663, Fax +358 13 277 2112 email: [email protected], http://www.sokoshotels.fi in Helsinki: Hotel Crowne Plaza Helsinki Mannerheimintie 50, 00260 Helsinki tel. +358 9 2521 0000, fax +358 9 2521 3999 email: [email protected], http://www.crowneplaza-helsinki.fi/ Parliament of Finland: Eduskunta, Parliament of Finland Mannerheimintie 30 00102 Helsinki EP Information Office in Helsinki: Pohjoisesplanadi 31 - Norra esplanaden 31 FIN-00100 Helsinki tel. +358 / (0)9 622 04 50 fax. +358 / (0)9 622 26 10 Mrs Anne Vitrey (COBU Secretariat) assisting delegation: tel. (32) 498.98.33.62 8 FACTS ON FINLAND 9 Fact sheet on Finland This part aims at providing background information to the delegation to Finland taking place on the 20-23 July. The factual information below deals with various subjects such as the country's political structure, macroeconomic situation, basic country information and information on the capital Helsinki. Political structure: Finland is ruled by a four-party coalition government under the leadership of the Centre Party Prime Minister, Matti Vanhanen (elections held in March 18th 2007). The Vanhanen government holds 51 of the parliament's 200 seats. The main opposition party is the Social Democratic Party. The Left Alliance and Green Party are also significant. The next general election is scheduled for March 2011. The Head of State is the President elected for six-year term. During last elections held in January 29th 2006 Tarja Halonen was re-elected for her second term. Form of Parliamentary republic state: Legal system: Based on the constitution of 1919 (updated in 2000) Unicameral Eduskunta (parliament) of 200 members directly elected for a four-year National term; the president is empowered to dissolve the Eduskunta at the prime minister's legislature: request Electoral Universal direct suffrage over the age of 18; the d'Hondt system of proportional system: representation is used in 15 multimember constituencies National March 2007 (legislative) and January 2006 (presidential); next elections due in March elections: 2011(legislative) and February 2012 (presidential) President, who is declared elected if he or she receives an absolute majority of votes Head of cast in the first round; failing this, a second round is held between the two leading state: candidates. Tarja Halonen was re-elected on January 29th 2006 for a second six-year term Council of State (Valtioneuvosto), which consists of the prime minister and up to 17 National ministers. The government (which assumed office on April 21st 2007) is a coalition of government: the Centre Party (KESK), the National Coalition Party (KOK), the Green Party (VIHR) and the Swedish People's Party (RKP) Centre Party (KESK; 51 seats); National Coalition Party (Conservatives or KOK; 50 Main seats); Social Democratic Party (SDP; 45 seats); Left Alliance (VAS; 17 seats); Green political Party (VIHR; 15 seats); Swedish People's Party (RKP; 9 seats); Christian Democrats of parties: Finland (KD; 7 seats); True Finns (PS; 5 seats) Council of Prime minister Matti Vanhanen (KESK) Ministers: Deputy prime minister & finance minister Jyrki Katainen (KOK) 10 Agriculture & forestry Sirkka-Liisa Anttila (KESK) Communications Suvi Linden (KOK) Culture & sport Stefan Wallin (RKP) Defence Jyri Hakamies (KOK) Economic affairs Mauri Pekkarinen (KESK) Education Sari Sarkomaa (KOK) Employment Tarja Cronberg (VIHR) Environment Paula Lehtomaki (KESK) Key Foreign affairs Alexander Stubb (KOK) ministers: Foreign trade & development Paavo Vayrynen (KESK) Health & social services Paula Risikko (KOK) Housing Jan Vapaavuori (KOK) Interior Anne Holmlund (KOK) Justice Tuija Brax (VIHR) Migration & European affairs Astrid Thors (RKP) Public administration & local government Mari Kiviniemi (KESK) Social affairs & health Liisa Hyssala (KESK) Transport Anu Vehvilainen (KESK) Important recent political events: March 2000 The Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Tarja Halonen, backed by the Greens and the Left Alliance, becomes the first female president in Finnish history. January 2002 Euro notes and coins are introduced in Finland. May 2002 The Green Party withdraws from the second Lipponen government following parliament's decision to build a fifth nuclear power station in Finland. March 2003 The Centre