Differences emerging among new crop of Finnish MEPs
Haglund the busiest, Repo has least to show for himself
The Finnish Members of the European Parliament is beginning to distinguish themselves from each other nine months after the new parliament began its work.
Carl Haglund (Swed. People’s Party) has risen as the new star among MEPs, who has had no trouble influencing decisions.
“The motivation is strong. As the only representative of my party, I am under pressure”, Haglund says.
Of the entire 736-member European Parliament, Haglund is the most active in making initiatives for change.
“It is evidence of activity in legislative work. You really have to know what is going on - otherwise you make a fool of yourself”, says Doru Frantescu, project head of the VoteWatch organisation which monitors the activities of Members of the European Parliament.
Another active new Finnish MEP is Sari Essayah (Christ. Dem.). Among those who have served in the Parliament previously, Heidi Hautala (Green) and Eija-Riitta Korhola (Nat. Coalition Party) also do well in the statistics.
Timo Soini (True Finn), Liisa Jaakonsaari (SDP), and especially Mitro Repo (SDP) are among the least busy Finnish MEPs.
“Relatively lazy”, Frantescu says, describing the achievements of Soini, an outspoken Eurosceptic.
“I lead the executive committee of my own group, and there is plenty of work there”, Soini answers.
In terms of wielding influence, Repo puts himself on a par with Carl Haglund. “Naturally, I am not as good”, he concedes.
Soini has the best attendance record in plenary sessions of the European Parliament. He has no recorded absences.
However, experts say that not too much weight should be placed on attendance at sessions, which is the easiest part of the work of an MEP.
This is actually a good thing because attendance by Finnish MEPs at plenary sessions of the European Parliament has plummeted.
In the previous term, 2004-2009, Finnish MEPs were the most conscientious in attendance, right after the Austrians and the Estonians. During the present term, Finland is 20th out of 27.
Perhaps the fact that the last in the Finnish figures, the Centre Party’s Riikka Manner, has been on maternity leave, has affected the curve.
“Is Manner on Maternity Leave? Well, she should inform us that she has a good reason to be absent”, Frantescu says, and praises Manner’s activism as relatively good.
However, Manner is not the only reason why the attendance figures of the Finnish MEPs is lower than before.
Also having many absences is Anneli Jäätteenmäki (Centre), Sirpa Pietikäinen (Nat. Coalition Party) and Mitro Repo.
However, experts warn against relying too much on mere numbers in the evaluation of an MEP’s work.
One MEP can be very vocal, holding many speeches and asking many questions, but talk complete nonsense, while another works hard on a single large memorandum for months, not having time for anything else.
“The Finnish Green women are diligent, and so is Pietikäinen”, Haglund says, evaluating his colleagues.
Not a single Finnish MEP has completed a legislative report of his or her own during the present term.
The legislative work of the European Parliament has stalled, because the formation of the new Commission was delayed.
“In the budget committee, I can’t even get my name on a memo even though I follow research issues in all memos”, Haglund says.
Usually at an advantage in the distribution of memos are the MEPs of large political groups from large member states.
Helsingin Sanomat
|
| 6.4.2010 - TODAY |
 Differences emerging among new crop of Finnish MEPs |
|
