Kallas’ criticism picked up by Finnish media | news

Yle writes that the Finnish government’s decision to extend the entry restrictions has sparked a wave of protests in Estonia. Prime Minister Kallas therefore called Ambassador Kantola for a meeting.

While Finland will allow Estonian workers to travel to Finland by air from June 7, this is little consolation for most Estonians as the lion’s share of passenger traffic between Estonia and Finland is by ferries, the Yle- Items.

Kantola told Yle that meeting Kallas had a positive atmosphere. The ambassador said he had stressed during the meeting that it was not just about commuting between Helsinki and Tallinn for Finland and that the country was in the process of changing public health and immigration laws. The Finnish government will present its new model on Wednesday.

Helsingin Sanomat writes that the European Commission criticized Finland’s strict travel restrictions back in February, which did not go unnoticed in Estonia.

The newspaper also reprinted Kallas’ reasons why Estonia finds Finland’s restrictions neither proportionate nor justified, adding that details of travel and restrictions after Midsummer’s Day depend on the Finnish government’s Wednesday model.

Helsingin Sanomat also writes that the European Commission plans to continue negotiations with the Finnish government on restrictions.

Quoting an article by Suomen Kuvalehti, which also includes Kallas’ position, Ilta-Sanomat states that the restrictions put Finnish-Estonian relations at risk. The restrictions that clash with the Schengen Agreement have also been noted.

Suomen Kuvalehti also writes that Finnish travel restrictions are increasingly being criticized in the Estonian media, including their impact on the families of Estonians commuting to work in Finland, as well as the tourism and Baltic shippers, Tallink.

Expectations in Estonia were high on Thursday when Finland decided to extend restrictions as the epidemiological situation in Estonia has improved rapidly and the Estonian government lifted most of the restrictions, the publication writes.

Travel restrictions have hit non-residents hardest in Finland, writes Suomen Kuvalehti.

Iltalehti finds that Kallas’ criticism was broadside aimed at Finnish restrictions. “Completely incomprehensible” is how the paper sums up the Estonian Prime Minister’s position on the restrictions.

Iltalehti writes that both the Estonian press and Riigikogu have called for Finland to ease restrictions. The paper also refers to an article by ERR radio news chief Indrek Kiisler, “On Summoning Finland’s Ambassador to the Carpet,” in which Kiisler links the ongoing restrictions to the upcoming local elections in Finland, which are currently the number one issue for Finnish politicians are.

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