European Commissioner for Agriculture: Finland has enjoyed 13 years of fair treatment

Finland’s aspiration to become wine producer "signals that everything’s alright"

Mariann Fischer Boel

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European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Mariann Fischer Boel does not understand Finland’s demands that the national 141-Support paid out to farmers in Southern Finland be continued.
      "Finland has been treated fairly for 13 years. Everyone can read [in Article 141 of the Finnish Treaty of Accession into the European Union] that the support was only meant as a temporary measure for the transition period", Fischer Boel told Helsingin Sanomat and the Finnish news agency STT in Luxembourg on Monday.
      According to Fischer Boel, for example Estonia has had to get on without the crutch of similar arrangements.
     
Accusations of her being partial when it comes to the negotiations over Finland’s 141-Support Fischer Boel considers ludicrous. "Hey, come on. That's plain crazy."
      Previously it has been revealed that Denmark and Sweden have tried to lobby Fischer Boel against Finland. The Commissioner herself is a Dane.
      "If you knew me, you would know that I cannot be influenced that way. I am very surprised. [In this work] one has to be independent", she said.
     
According to the Commissioner, the negotiations over the 141-Support for the farmers in Southern Finland are still very much open.
      The continuation of the national support will be decided at the turn of the year. The renewal of the article will be decided on by the Commission alone.
      Fischer Boel finds it amusing that Finland aspires to become an official wine-producing country. In her mind this signals a clear contradiction with the hopes of maintaining the 141-Support.
      "I had to laugh under my breath. In that case things cannot be that bad in Finland. It [the ambition to become a wine producer] is a clear signal that Finland is doing pretty well", the Commissioner said.
     
Finland wishes to be classified as part of the EU viticulture zone A. The reason for this is the five or so hectares of vineyards in the Åland Islands, where farmers currently experiment with the suitability of Siberian wine varieties as Åland farm wine.
      If Finland is denied the wine-producer status, the 20 Åland farmers cannot sell their table wines.
      The contradiction between the Article 141 objectives and wine-producing country status is also recognised by Finland’s Minister of Agriculture Sirkka-Liisa Anttila (Centre Party). Anttila said on Monday that with regard to the wine project a "low profile" towards the Commission is the preferred tactic.
      Finland has primed the 141 negotiations by describing the conditions in Southern Finland as barren and cold. Applying for recognition as a producer of wines, wherever the grapes come from, paints a slightly different picture of the climate.
      Fischer Boel said she was aware that the Finnish viticulture was centred in the Åland Islands.
     
By way of reference, both Sweden and Denmark belong to the A viticulture zone.
      Apart from Finland and Latvia, all other EU countries have been classified as official wine-producers.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Pizzas, egg-butter and Article 141 support programmes (7.8.2007)

Links:
  Agriculture and Rural Development
  Mariann Fischer Boel (Wikipedia)

Helsingin Sanomat