Finnish EU policy comes under criticism in European Parliament

Elmar Brok

Toomas Ilves

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The Finnish government has come under criticism in the European Parliament for its current policy towards the EU. A number of MEPs say that Finland has become less active than before.
      The chairman of the external affairs committee of the European Parliament, German MEP Elmar Brok of the Conservative group, says that Finland is no longer as "decisive and self-confident" in EU questions as it used to be. He said that he hopes that Finland would become more active in 2006, when the country holds the EU Presidency again.
      "The situation could be the result of the fact that power has shifted from (former Prime Minister Paavo) Lipponen to the Centre Party", Brok said on Wednesday, pointing out that the Centre Party has had some difficulties with respect to EU integration.
     
Estonian MEP and former Prime Minister Toomas Ilves of the Socialist group of the European Parliament says that he has been disappointed to see that Helsinki no longer actively promotes the so-called Northern Dimension, which is aimed at advancing the interests of northern EU countries.
      "I wouldn’t want all of this work to go to waste. It is vitally important for me", Ilves says.
      According to Ilves, Finland used to have a role in the EU that exceeded the country's own size. However, he admits that he does not know much about the internal situation in Finland, and therefore he sees himself as an "outside observer" in this respect.
      One MEP who wanted to remain anonymous noted that when Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja (SDP) recently spoke in Brussels about defence and security cooperation in the EU, he never mentioned the United States.
      "Whether we like it or not, the United States spends more on defence than all of the EU countries combined", the MEP pointed out.
     
British Liberal MEP Andrew Duff has observed that Finland has been very cautious over the issue of participation in the building of the EU’s security policy, even though the country does take a positive view of it.
      Duff also feels that Finland miscalculated in its efforts to get the European Food Authority. Italy ultimately came out ahead, even though Finland got support from other member states. As a consolation prize of sorts, Finland was offered the EU Chemical Authority, whose establishment depends on the passage of a disputed package of chemicals legislation.
      In Duff’s view, Finland exaggerated the importance of the Food Authority issue, and lost a good deal of credibility.
     
Previously, Finnish MEP Alexander Stubb (Nat. Coalition Party), and some others have criticised Finland’s handling of EU policy, saying that the focus is on opposing change and slowing down progress.
      President Tarja Halonen has responded to such criticism, saying that the problem is not that Finland lacks a policy on foreign affairs, but rather that the policy line is not what the critics would like it to be.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Vanhanen says new projects could boost Northern Dimension programme (1.12.2004)
  Finns approve of EU combat forces - sharp differences between men and women (29.11.2004)
  President Halonen responds to critics of Finland's foreign policy line (26.11.2004)

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