Finland

The Republic of Finland is in Northern Europe in between Russia, Sweden, and Norway. The Nordic country’s largest city is also the capital, Helsinki. A majority of the nearly 6 million residents (2017), live in Southern Finland. The country is the eighth largest in Europe and most sparsely populated in the European Union. The parliamentary republic government’s central location is in Helsinki, has 311 municipalities and 1 autonomous region, the Aland Islands.

It wasn’t until after the 1917 Russian Revolution, Finland declared itself independent. The country joined the United Nations in 1955. During the Cold War era, the Soviet Union maintained some control of Finland’s domestic politics under the  Finno-Soviet Treaty of 1948. The country joined several foreign relations groups including OECD in 1969, NATO in 1994, the EU in 1995,  Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in 1997, and Eurozone in 1999.

Finland was mostly an agrarian country through the 1950s. It wasn’t until the Soviet Union requested reparations, in ships and machinery, that the country industrialized after WWII. Today, the country is a top-performer in economic stability, education, quality of life, human rights, and civil liberties. Under the  Constitution of Finland, the country is defined as a parliamentary republic. The Prime Minister is considered the most powerful person in the country, and head of state is the President of the Republic.  Parliament is comprised of 200 members and exercises legislative authority over the country.

The legal system in the country follows the civil law system, with separate courts for criminal and civil jurisdictions. The two court systems are completely separate, and do not have jurisdiction over each other.  Finnish law is codified after Roman and Swedish laws. Administrative courts have jurisdiction over cases involving individuals and public administration agencies. The Supreme Court,  Supreme Administrative Court, and  High Court of Impeachment , are the highest courts for civil, administrative, and criminal infractions.

The country’s economy is stable, similar to powerful economies in the EU, including France, Belgium, and the UK. A majority of industries are in the service sector, with 66% of the country’s per capita GDP falling into this category. Timber, mineral, freshwater, chromium, and copper resources, are prominently found in the country as well. The greater Helsinki area is a major contributor to the nation’s GDP, contributing approximately ⅓ of total national GDP.

The National Law Review covers several industry sectors and news stories about Finland. Renewable energy and resources, administrative regulations, and international relations, are among the topics covered on the site. Visitors will find the latest news, regulations, and legislation, relating to Finland, and its ties to the EU and other regions of the World.