News

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Ilta-Sanomat article

Read a new article titled “EU-jäsenmaat pohtivat vastatoimia – näin Venäjä voi yrittää vaikuttaa Suomen linjaan” (EU-member states are thinking of counter-measures – this is how Russia can try to influence Finland’s line) by Ilta-Sanomat, featuring Professor Tynkkynen’s comments:

“We in Europe and in the rest of the world want to rely on law, justice and democratic decision-making. Such measures are poison for unity. It is necessary to have a value discussion on how to respond to this.”

You can access the full article from the newspaper’s web-page.

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New publication with Professor Tynkkynen’s comments

A group of researchers from the International Centre for Defense and Security published a new report “The Geopolitics of Power Grids: Political and Security Aspects of Baltic Synchronization”, for which Professor Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen was interviewed in June.

In the report the nature of the threat posed by Russia is considered and then it is assessed how resilient each of the two areas—and the synchronization links between them and the Baltics—would be in an environment in which there is persistent coercive and destabilizing pressure on the Baltics and their neighbors.

Read the full report here.

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Article about the research group

Read an article introducing the research team and activities on the new website of the Aleksanteri Institute.

— I’m absolutely thrilled by the expertise and energy of these scholars, says Tynkkynen. The individual projects complement each other and new insights and ideas are constantly born.

Eventhough it may prove difficult to directly influence Russian energy and environmental policies via academic research, the outputs might help us to realistically predict and prepare for what lies in the future. Tynkkynen also reminds that the choices made in Finnish politics can send strong signals to Russian energy sector and political leaders.

— Even stronger effects could be achieved via the EU, notes Tynkkynen. So far Finland has not taken up the initiatives challenging the Russian hydrocarbon culture, but maybe we can change this.

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Ilta-Sanomat article

Interview with the Professor Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen was published in Ilta-Sanomat’s article “Ex-pääministereiden Venäjä-kytkökset nousivat jälleen tapetille – ”On selvää, että Venäjällä on tahoja, jotka haluavat ostaa lobbausvoimaa Suomessa”” (Ex-prime ministers’ Russian affiliations came to light again – “It is clear that in Russia there are those who want to buy lobbying power in Finland”).

Read Professor Tynkkynen’s comments on the ties of Paavo Lipponen to Russia in relation to economic projects here.

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Article in The Ulkopolitist

Our researcher Sanna Kopra together with Liisa Kauppila published a new article “Suomi ja Kiinan arktisen vallan anatomia: pehmeää, kovaa ja terävää?” (Finland and the anatomy of China’s Arctic power: soft, hard and sharp) in The Ulkopolitist.

China’s interests now extend to every corner of the world, even more to the open Arctic. The rising Great Power tries to influence the development of the Arctic by a multifaceted range of ways, including some of which Finland should be aware.

Read the full article here.

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Aleksanteri Institute seminar on the challenges after Russian elections

Today at the Aleksanteri Institute a seminar “Haasteet Venäjän vaalien jälkeen” (Challenges after Russian elections) is held at 14:00, in Finnish.

Putin does not have a challenger in Russia. Opposition’s boycott can successfully challenge the legitimacy of power – if the turnout is too low, it would be a clear motion of no confidence. However, the biggest challenges for Putin’s current line will be non-opposition: the Russian economy, social and foreign policy issues and ever-increasing environmental problems call for a solution.

Professor Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen was one of the speakers and was talking about Russian energy and climate policy.

Read the articles about the seminar in Swedish at Hufvudstadsbladet web-page and Vasabladet web-page, in Finnish at Iltalehti.

 

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MustRead article

New article on MustRead “Professori: Suomen voimakas riippuvuus Venäjän energiasta on tabu – TEM haluaa sulkea silmänsä riskiltä”  (Professor: Finland’s strong dependence on Russian energy is a taboo – Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment wants to close its eyes to the risk).

Almost half of all Finland’s energy comes from Russia. According to Professor Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen, officials and parties do not even want to think about what kind of political leverage the situation gives to Russia. Riku Huttunen from the Ministry does not share researchers’ concern.

Read the full article here.

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Iltalehti article

Read Professor Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen’s comment in Iltalehti article “Itänaapuri vyöryttää etupiiriään energiahankkeilla, myös Suomi kohteena – ”Venäjä on Euroopassa nyt aggressori””  (The Eastern neighbor forces its front-line with energy projects, Finland is one of the targets – “Russia is now an aggressor in Europe”) . You can find the full article here.

 

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Lecture at the University of Turku

Today Professor Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen gave a guest lecture on the future of the Arctic at the University of Turku.  Together with researcher Ilona Mettiäinen from the University of Lapland they gave  lectures that are part of the international business course “Business prospects in the Arctic” at the Turku School of Economics.

Ilona Mettiäinen spoke about sustainable Arctic tourism – business, community and environmental aspects, and the title of Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen’s lecture was “Russia’s Arctic energy policies”.

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HS article

Read the new article co-authored by Sanna Kopra – “Jääsilkkitie sai Kiinan kiinnostumaan Pohjolasta” ( Ice Silk Road Attracted China’s Interest in the North) published on Helsingin Sanomat.

The importance of the North Dimension has been emphasized in China’s strategy, and its interest in the Arctic countries, including Finland, has increased.

As climate change progresses north of Siberia, the seaway that China named the Ice Silk Road is opening. The Ice Silk Road is a strategically important project as it enables the transportation of natural resources through the ice to the Chinese market. By increasing the use of natural gas from the Arctic, China seeks to reduce the pollution from coal burning, especially the smog in large cities. The Ice Silk Road can also significantly speed up the carriage of cargo between China and Europe. Read more on Helsingin Sanomat.