Difficult 2020 teaches many lessons: PM

Prime Minister Sanna Marin on Thursday said the year 2020 was certainly difficult but it taught many lessons and caused us to stop and think.

“What kind of [a] year has 2020 been? It has certainly been a difficult one, one that has taught us many lessons and caused us to stop and think,” said the prime minister in her New Year greeting to the nation.

She also urged people to be restraint, act responsibly, and follow the recommendations and guidelines put in place by the authorities, although the country is recovering.

She said, “Although we are moving towards better times, we still need to show that the pandemic is not over yet, and it will take some time to achieve sufficient vaccination coverage throughout the population.”

“When it comes to managing the health and economic effects of COVID-19, Finland has fared better than many other countries. Vaccinations have begun, and we can once again see light ahead of us,” added Marin.

She also said that the pandemic year has been a time of collective efforts and yet it has looked different for each of us. Some have lost loved ones, others have lost their jobs, and many have had to give up things that are familiar and important to them.

The prime minister said, “This year has been harder for some than for others, but it has made us all stop and take stock.”

She said restraint would also be necessary, once the pandemic is over.

“When we rebuild our societies and economies, we cannot simply go back to our old habits and ways of working. We must build our future on a more sustainable foundation and aim for a balance between humans and nature. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and unsustainable use of natural resources are the greatest challenges facing humanity,” said she.

Finland is currently drawing up its own recovery plan as part of the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility.

“Our plan, the Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland, will focus on achieving a fast-track recovery while also advancing the structural reform of the economy and the public services reform that will be necessary in the long term,” said Marin.

The programme will focus on education, research and innovation activities: a green transition, securing Finland’s international competitiveness, strengthening sustainable infrastructure, digital transformation, ensuring functioning of the labour market, services for the unemployed, development of working life, improving access to health and social services, and increasing their cost-effectiveness.

“The recovery of the European economy from the pandemic and the resulting economic crisis is a critical issue for Finland. Finland’s success alone will not be enough to get us through the pandemic – we all need to succeed together. Similarly, we need to work together to restore the European economy in addition to taking measures at the national level. We need to look beyond ourselves. The recovery of Europe is in our interest,” said the PM.