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The European Council has stated that the EU will work to get rid of its dependence on Russian energy as soon as possible. Decisions on sanctions and trade diversion are topical. Long-term investments will be guided by, among other things, the EU's Fit for 55 package. In the coming weeks, there will be many far-reaching decisions on European energy policy.

Euroopan komission 8.3.2022 julkaisema toimintasuunnitelma asettaa tavoitteeksi riippumattomuuden venäläisestä energiasta vuosikymmenen loppuun mennessä. Välittömästi voimme vaihtaa monien polttoaineiden toimittajaa. Pidempiaikainen muutos edellyttää kuitenkin suuria investointeja energia- ja teollisuuslaitoksiin sekä siirtoyhteyksiin. Samalla on hyväksyttävä muutoksen vaikutukset energiahintoihin, kirjoittaa ylijohtaja Riku Huttunen kolumnissa.

Employment and economic development services (TE services) are set to be transferred to municipalities during 2024. The Government’s decision is related to its aim to raise the employment rate and to increase municipal responsibility for employment services. The reform will have a broad impact on the employees and duties of both TE Offices and municipalities.

The European Commission wants to increase opportunities for a successful social economy in Europe. The Commission’s interest in the matter is based on the benefits that the social economy can bring for employment and the economy as a whole. The Commission published its action plan for the social economy on 9 December 2021.

In the future more advanced solutions will be needed to enable more detailed data collection from jobseekers and to update the data on the number and specific descriptions of open vacancies in real time. Digital platforms and artificial intelligence could propose to us in a cost-effective way where to target our efforts.