Experts: New administration tentative with regard to EU policy

Key ministers on EU affairs praised for their experience

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Judging by the new government programme, no great changes are to be expected in Finland’s EU policy.
      "Mainly, things are expressed more clearly in the new programme compared with that of the previous government", points out special researcher Hanna Ojanen from the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (UPI).
      EU expert Peter Ekholm, in turn, congratulates those responsible for working out the programme: "The language used could hardly be more non-committal."
     
According to the government programme, Finland aspires to be "an active member... showing great spirit of initiative and acting in the core of the Union's reform process".
      In Ojanen’s view the formulation of the text is consistent with Finland’s EU image policy: "The aim is to portray Finland as a constructive and forward-thinking nation."
      "In reality, introduction of new ideas within the EU is more difficult than ever before, now that the Union has expanded and there are difficult issues to be addressed, such as the future of the EU's constitution", Ojanen speculates.
      In its programme the new government promises that Finland will be in the core of the Union, albeit only "the core of the Union's reform process".
      In Ekholm’s view the concept of "the core of reform or renewal" is ingenious in its lack of concreteness. "It allows for just about everything, and yet it can disclaim anything."
     
Of the ministers, Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) represents continuity in matters pertaining to the EU. He has nearly four years of experience as an EU leader, and, according to Ekholm, he has clearly matured in the role.
      The Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Paavo Väyrynen (Centre), and the Minister of European Affairs and Immigration,Astrid Thors (Swedish People’s Party), in turn, both have plenty of experience of the European Parliament. "They are aware of how various issues are processed in other member states, and this is extremely beneficial", Ojanen comments.
      Väyrynen is regarded as a firm EU sceptic. "Yet he has demonstrated great interest towards EU issues, and has proved capable of taking initiatives", Ojanen adds.
     
The EU thinking of the new Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ilkka Kanerva (Nat. Coalition), on the other hand, is still a mystery. "Still, the experience that comes with age, as well as his social skills, will aid Kanerva in creating contacts", Ojanen reckons.
      Nordic cooperation will also be intensified. Recently Finland and Sweden agreed on a common policy with regard to taking part in the NATO Response Force operations. To some extent this is another possible knock-on effect of having the likes of Kanerva and Väyrynen in the cabinet: both belong to a generation to whom Nordic cooperation was a natural part of the political round, before Finland and Sweden joined the EU in 1995.


Links:
  Foreign, security and defence policy in the Government Programme (.pdf file)

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