(Lauri Myllyvirta - Greenpeace Finland - Friday, November 21, 2008) The main Finnish daily Helsingin Sanomat and state broadcaster YLE report that "Areva has suddenly started massive excavation" in Northern Finland. Areva has sought a uranium prospecting permit for the area but its application still being processed by the Ministry of Employment and the Economy. Areva accuses the ministry of slowing down the process by organizing public hearings, insisting that the public should only be heard when they apply for a permit to open an actual mine and as a part of the associated EIA process.

Legally the situation is unclear since the landowners do not object to the excavation. A new mining law is in the pipeline but not yet in effect and it will require a public hearing before prospecting permit.

The ministry has already changed its practices to comply with this new regulation. In any case this really shows that Areva thinks Finland is a French colony and a lot of people are going to be pissed of, including the ministry officials.