Scandinavia

No compulsory military service for Sweden »

Despite the reignited discussions about defence policy and the alleged threat posed by Russia nothing will change regarding the abolishment of compulsory military service in Sweden even after the elections in September, the daily Helsingin Sanomat writes: “The discussions are partly seasonal in character. Sweden’s security...

Sweden: More fathers should take parental leave »

A growing number of Swedish fathers are taking paid parental leave. Now nearly one quarter of recipients are men, but that’s not enough, writes the daily Göteborgs-Posten: “Better than a quota would be to get rid of the hindrances to equal access to parental benefits...

Denmark’s agricultural sector needs reform »

Hard hit by the economic crisis, Denmark’s farmers are demanding tax and duties exemptions. But what Danish agriculture really needs is structural reform, the daily Berlingske Tidende writes: “It is part of the solution to the crisis that the 20 percent of farmers who didn’t manage...

Hindus want Sweden to urgently improve the worsening health status of its minorities »

Hindus, expressing concern regarding the health of minority populations, have asked Sweden to urgently look into its health set-up. “Most of the national minorities have a worse health status than the population as a whole”, according to a new survey by Swedish National Institute of Public...

Finland needs a new prime minister »

Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen has announced he will not seek re-election as chairman of the Centre Party of Finland and that he will step down as leader.   The daily Lapin Kansa observes the scurrying among potential candidates for the job, including Foreign Trade Minister Paavo...