Kiviniemi and Merkel discuss EU financial discipline in Berlin

Host impressed by language skills of guest

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“We have similar ways of thinking”, said German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a joint press conference with Finnish Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi (Centre Party) at the office of the Chancellor in Berlin on Wednesday.
      Kiviniemi was met with military honours during her first visit to Berlin as Prime minister.
     
The two heads of government discussed economic issues affecting EU member states. Finland and Germany are willing to demand amendments to EU’s constitution to allow the punishment of member states who deviate from financial discipline.
      “It is important to move forward in such a way that no amendments are needed, but we do not want to rule out the option”, said Prime Minister Kiviniemi in Berlin.
     
The issue of financial discipline arose in the spring when Greece plunged into a financial crisis after poor management of its state finances.
      Finland and Germany want to be able to punish countries that deviate from financial discipline by cancelling EU subsidies, for instance.
      Kiviniemi is hoping for results already at the next EU summit on September 16th.
      “The sanctions have moved forward in such a way that nearly the entire EU is behind them”, she noted.
     
Chancellor Merkel was visibly pleased with her guest’s fluent command of German.
      “I am happy that I can speak my mother tongue with Prime Minister Kiviniemi.”
      The two emphasised that Kiviniemi’s language skills were “only” a pleasant extra in the relations between the countries, which have traditionally been good and close.
      “We agree with each other on even the finer details to an almost embarrassing degree”, Kiviniemi laughed when meeting with Finnish journalists.
     
The main purpose of the meeting was for the two leaders to get to know each other. Kiviniemi had met Merkel once before, in 2004, when she was on a Parliamentary visit to Berlin.
      “At the time Merkel was the leader of the opposition. She made an impression on me already then”, Kiviniemi said on Thursday.
      According to Kiviniemi, she and Merkel share a directness in their way of thinking.
      “I like her style. I like to speak about matters directly. It fits my Ostrobothnian manner.”
      Kiviniemi has long had warm feelings for Germany - ever since she spent a year as an exchange student in Lower Saxony.


Links:
  Finnish government portal

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