Halfway through the term, Finnish EU Presidency wins cautious praise

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Halfway through the six-month term, the Finns as the current holder of the European Union Presidency have received favourable assessments from European researchers. Finland's handling of the Lebanon crisis and efforts for the further enlargement of the European Union are behind the mainly positive evaluation.
      "My assessment of the current holder of the EU Presidency is very positive, owing to its handling of the Lebanon crisis", says Carlos Buhigas Schubert from the European Policy Centre.
      Other researchers are more cautious, though optimistic about Finland's efforts.
     
"One of the greatest challenges is to keep going with the negotiations over Turkey's accession to the EU. While it is not known as yet whether or not it will succeed, Finland has a good opportunity to achieve this goal", considers Charles Grant of the London-based Centre for European Reform (CER).
      On the other hand, the researchers stress that with respect to big issues one country's six-month term is ultimately not very significant.
     
Initially the running of the EU Presidency term was estimated to cost Finland EUR 56 million. However, according to the Ministry of Finance, the actual costs will now amount to something in the region of EUR 74 million.
      Because of the dozens of new meetings that were originally scheduled to be held elsewhere, the security costs alone will take up around EUR 9 million, which is four times more than initially estimated.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finnish EU Presidency: foreign ministers meet in Lappeenranta (1.9.2006)
  EU Presidency will cost Finland more than EUR 50 million (4.8.2005)

Links:
  European Policy Centre
  Centre for European Reform
  Ministry of Defence: EU Defence Ministers meeting in Levi on 2-3 October 2006.

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