First Deputy Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Antti Rinne (SDP) listened as lawmakers articulated their thoughts on Finland pursuing membership in Nato in the Parliament House on Monday, 16 May 2022. (Roni Rekomaa – Lehtikuva)

FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER of the Finnish Parliament Antti Rinne (SDP) struck his gavel shortly after midnight to signal the end of a referral debate on the Finnish bid to join Nato.

The debate had dragged on for more than 14 hours as over 200 lawmakers requested the floor to deliver a statement that reflected the deliberate but often also personal and emotional justification for their opinion, described YLE.

President Sauli Niinistö reacted at a press conference organised in the Presidential Palace in Helsinki on Sunday, 15 May 2022. (Heikki Saukkomaa – Lehtikuva)

PRESIDENT Sauli Niinistö on Sunday said in the Presidential Palace he is “a bit confused” about the messages sent by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan about the expected Finnish and Swedish applications to join Nato.

Erdoğan on Friday stated that Turkey does not feel positively about Sweden and Finland joining Nato, apparently accusing the countries of supporting the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Helsinki Energy company Helen, was planning to close this coal powered plant in Hanasaari. Lehtikuva

Russia's largest electricity company RAO Nordic has suspended electricity supply to Finland from Saturday, owing to non-payment for the supplied electricity.
According to the RAO Nordic Oy, there were certain problems pertaining to receiving electricity payments, owing to which they decided on suspending the supplies, reported TASS.

Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) had the floor as lawmakers debated Finland’s bid to join Nato in the Parliament House on Monday, 16 May 2022. (Emmi Korhonen – Lehtikuva)

PRIME MINISTER Sanna Marin (SDP) has expressed her bafflement at the change of heart Turkey has had about the Finnish and Swedish bids to join Nato.

“Previously, Finland has been assured that Turkey wants to neither place any obstacles to Finland and Sweden’s possible Nato memberships nor complicate the process,” she commented on YLE A-studio on Monday.

Prime Minister Sanna Marin and President Sauli Niinistö held a press conference in the Presidential Palace in Helsinki on Sunday, 15 May 2022 to comment on what they both described was a historic decision to pursue membership in Nato. (Heikki Saukkomaa – Lehtikuva)

THE GOVERNMENT of Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) on Sunday unveiled a four-page report in which it proposes that Finland apply for membership in Nato. The much-anticipated report was finalised earlier yesterday in a joint meeting of the president and the ministerial committee on foreign and security policy.

The report is to be considered by the Finnish Parliament on Monday, 16 May.

This file photo taken on July 27, 2017 shows Finland's President Sauli Niinisto (R) and Russian President Vladimir Putin shaking hands after a press conference in Punkaharju hotel in Savonlinna, Finland. - Finnish President Sauli Niinisto spoke with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on May 14, 2022 regarding the Nordic country's application for NATO membership, which is expected to be officially announced this weekend, his office said. LEHTIKUVA / AFP

In a statement released by the office of the President of Finland today, also tweeted by President Niinistö himself, Finland’s president describes his phone conversation with the Russian President Vladimir Putin. The statement says:

Photo: Matti Porre/The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland

President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö met with US Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and Republican Senators John Barrasso, Susan Collins and John Cornyn on Monday, 16 May 2022 in Helsinki. The President and the Senators discussed Finland’s security solutions, US support for Finland’s NATO membership and Russia’s warfare in Ukraine.

President Niinistö after the NATO decision: A new era is opening – the result will be a protected Finland that is part of a stable, strong and responsible Nordic region

On Sunday, 15 May 2022, the President of the Republic of Finland and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy decided that after consulting Parliament, Finland will apply for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Finnish National Gallery from outside

The Board of the Finnish National Gallery has established a three-year Digital National Gallery programme for the creation of a functional platform for new digital and experience-oriented services online. Johanna Eiramo has been named as director of the programme as of 1 June 2022. Ms. Eiramo will transfer to the programme from her previous position as the Head of Communications at Ateneum Art Museum.

Illustration of good appreciation of Sámi culture in the future. By Sunna Kitti

Do you know the customs and must-nots of Sámi culture like the back of your hand? Test your knowledge with the new Sámi tourism quiz and watch the animation on holistic sustainability. Sámi Parliament in Finland has published Responsible Sámi Tourism Visitor Guidance with its accompanying materials that can be found here.

A Russian serviceman hugs his wife after taking part in the Victory Day military parade in Moscow on May 9, 2022. LEHTIKUVA / AFP

Here are the most eye-catching news images of this week, from all around the world.

A new call for applications for the ICLEI Action Fund is officially open. Non-profit and civil society organisations can now apply to receive up to 1 million EUR each to implement data-driven action to help cities reduce emissions and build resilience to climate change. The deadline to submit a proposal is 24 July 2022.

People walk across bridges linking terminals of Changi International Airport in Singapore on May 13, 2022. LEHTIKUVA / AFP

You are going on a trip abroad and your mind revolves around the weather at the destination and around what to pack. At this stage, few people think about the return trip. However, at the latest when you leave for home, it is good to be aware that you can’t bring back whatever you want to Finland. Before travelling, you should learn in advance about import restrictions and prohibitions to avoid unpleasant surprises when you arrive at customs.

President Joe Biden meets with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 10, 2022. LEHTIKUVA / AFP

US President Joe Biden, in a call with leaders of Sweden and Finland discussed close defense cooperation between countries and underscored his support for NATO's open-door policy.

Ministry of the Environment press conference

At its session on Thursday (12.5.2022), the Government approved the proposal for the new Nature Conservation Act, which will now be submitted to Parliament. The new legislative proposal is based on the present Nature Conservation Act, which has been updated and new provisions and entirely new chapters are also proposed to be included in the Act. These include provisions on voluntary ecological compensation, threatened habitats, management of data on the natural environment, and national biodiversity strategy and action programme.