Heinäluoma: more euro nations seeking loan collateral
Parliamentary Speaker Eero Heinäluona says Finland is not the only nation seeking collateral from Spain as a condition for bank bailout support. His comments came in an interview given to the provincial daily Aamulehti on Saturday. Meanwhile talks between Finland and Spain on the provision of collateral guarantees continue over the weekend.
An advisor to Heinäluoma, however, told Yle that more precisely interest existed among other eurozone nations on the issue of collateral.
“The Netherlands has publicly declared in its interest in the same procedure. Three or four countries have not publicly announced their intentions,” Heinäluoma told the paper.
The Parliamentary Speaker believed demands for responsible collateral guarantees had so far shed good light on Finland’s reputation abroad.
Heinäluoma’s sentiments were supported by fellow Social Democratic politician Miapetra Kumpula-Nätri, Chair of the Parliamentary Grand Committee that oversees EU matters.
However, speaking to Yle she did not speculate as to how many other eurozone nations might be seeking loan bailout collateral.
Finland is continuing negotiations with Spain over the weekend for the provision of collateral guarantees as a prerequisite for bailout loan support.
The Ministry of Finance issued a short statement on Saturday saying any deal reached would be published as soon as possible.
During earlier talks with Greece over guarantees, the Ministry was accused of keeping their outcome confidential.
Latest in: News
Starbucks to open in landmark Aalto building?
The world’s largest coffeeshop chain plans to open its first non-airport café in Finland at Helsinki’s Academic Bookshop, Yle has learned.
Valio recalls salad mix over datura fears
A second food product has been withdrawn in Finland because of a risk that it could contain poisonous seeds.
Five-vehicle crash near Kotka kills two
Part of Highway 7 remained closed for more than five hours after the collision.
Swine flu shots boosted adult risk of narcolepsy, too
The national health agency has confirmed that kids weren't the only ones with an elevated risk following the H1N1 jab a few years ago.
Nine people now affected by datura poisoning
Nine people have now been affected by datura contamination from frozen vegetables sold by a Finnish supermarket. Most symptoms are mild, with dry mouth, a quickening pulse and weakened vision the main effects, but some people have required hospital treatment.
Finland criticised again in Amnesty report
The human rights organisation’s annual report is highly critical of Finland’s treatment of asylum seekers. Finland was condemned for deporting asylum seekers without in-country appeals, and the practice of incarcerating children seeking refugee status in police facilities.
FFE: One in four businesses made a loss in 2012
A quarter of all Finnish firms lost money last year, according to the in-house magazine published by the Federation of Finnish Enterprises (FFE).
Baby boomers' alcohol "timebomb" set to hit Finland
Experts fear that retiring baby boomers may over indulge to such an extent that Finland could soon be forced to deal with a large cohort with unusually high levels of alcohol dependence. Incorporating messages about alcohol into basic healthcare will be key to fighting the problem.
Finnish income gap lower than European average
Income differences in Finland are below the average in Europe, according to Statistics Finland. The gap between richest and poorest is largest in Latvia and Bulgaria and smallest in Norway and Iceland.
Two tumble from Töölö balcony
One man died and another was seriously injured on Wednesday morning when they fell from a fifth-floor balcony in the Töölö district of Helsinki.
