Commissioner Rehn urges Finland to form government quickly

Olli Rehn

print this

Olli Rehn, the European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, is urging Finland to speed up its government formation talks.
      “It is very important from the point of view of both Finland and Europe that Finland should soon get a functioning majority government that brings the nation together”, Rehn said on Tuesday in Strasbourg.
      A functioning government is needed because the Commission is expecting Finland to enact concrete economic reforms soon.
     
“For Finland’s own sake it needs to agree on actions that close up the sustainability gap”, Rehn said in the European Parlaiament.
      The European Commission drew up lists of what it considers necessary reforms for each member country to enact. The recommendations should be implemented in the next year and a half.
      These recommendations are a guideline for member states as they draw up their budgets for next year, and they are to be approved at an EU summit in late June.
     
Finland is one of the EU countries that has weathered the economic crisis relatively well.
      Nevertheless, the Commission feels that things in Finland are far from perfect.
      “Public finances are not on a sustainable foundation in the long term”, Rehn said in Strasbourg.
      He also said that growth and employment are still vulnerable.
     
The Commission recommends that Finland take measures to raise the age at which people actually retire, and an increase in productivity of public services.
      “Also needed is a concrete list of actions to reduce youth unemployment.”
      From the point of view of the European Union, Finland needs a functional government for another reason as well.
     
Member states are expected to decide on major economic reforms, such as the establishment of the permanent European Stablity Mechanism (ESM) at the upcoming summit.
      The leaders attending the European Council meeting should also reach agreement on the strengthening of the temporary European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) and additional loans to Greece.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Greek bailout to come before Parliament possibly in July (7.6.2011)

Helsingin Sanomat