HS: Katainen says euro crisis "very dangerous"
Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen says the current euro crisis is just as serious as that in 2010 when the Greek economy came close to collapse. In an interview given to the newspaper Helsingin Sanomat Wednesday, the premier noted the current strained relationship between southern and northern euro states was unprecedented.
Katainen told the paper the euro crisis was going through some very critical moments. In his view, the mood was akin to that when euro ministers set up the EFSF bailout mechanism at the time of the Greek crisis in 2010.
”Then we faced the danger of total catastrophe. A similar situation now exists,” observed Katainen.
The Prime Minister added that fear concerning the present situation had strained relations between European decision makers.
”Arguments arise for the simple reason that decision makers are genuinely scared,” noted Katainen.
In his view, such a bad squabble between northern and southern Europe had never before been experienced during the life of the common currency.
Katainen’s comments on the euro crisis were given on Tuesday in a telephone interview to Helsingin Sanomat.
Latest in: News
April unemployment at 8.8%
The unemployment rate in Finland declined slightly in April to 8.8%, down from March, but still higher than a year previously.
Company exploiting foreign workers up for Helsinki contract
Work-safety inspections this year at about 20 small and medium-sized cleaning companies that employ immigrant workers have discovered problems at every firm checked. Yle has found that the City of Helsinki is considering contracting services from a company that was determined to have employment rules violations.
Spanish nurses leaving Vaasa
Five of eight Spanish nurses recruited to work in Vaasa's city hospital have decided to quit the jobs they took up in October and leave the country. The reasons they cite include the high cost of living, the cold climate, and the difficulty of the Finnish language.
Toxic spill in Helsinki's Mätäjoki River
A chemical discharge into Helsinki's Mätäjoki River has killed fish and possibly wiped out years of efforts to revive spawning grounds for endangered species.
Sikh bus driver fights for right to wear turban
Managing diversity in Finnish workplaces is raising new issues for employers, unions and workers themselves. One Sikh bus driver in Vantaa is currently fighting to set a precedent allowing him to wear a turban.
Veolia drivers to return to work
Bus drivers working for the Veolia company will return to work on Tuesday, bringing their week-long work stoppage to an end.
Finnish traffic cops set to miss out on Gumball speeding fine jackpot
Several contestants in the Gumball rally were stopped for speeding on Monday, on the Turku-Helsinki leg of their unorthodox race. Police say that despite their concerns, the drivers are likely to escape Finland’s hefty income-based fines.
Yle News building its freelance database
Yle News is building up a database of freelance journalists for occasional work in radio, television and online news production.
Jolla to sell new phone this year
A mobile firm founded by former Nokia employees is set to put a new smartphone on sale by the end of the year. The company, Jolla, was set up to continue working on an open source Linux-based smartphone when Nokia announced it was switching to the Windows Phone operating system.
Decline in church membership will cost jobs
In order to cope with decreasing membership, the Evangelical Lutheran Church will be forced to reduce its staff significantly in coming years. Many congregations are facing dire financial circumstances due to the reduction in the tax revenue that flows as a result of membership.
