Lipponen wants a job with a mission

Finnish Commission President hopeful does not want cliques inside European Commission

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Finland’s Speaker of Parliament Paavo Lipponen (SDP), who is in the running to become the next President of the European Commission, feels that the most important task of the Commission is to enforce the rules that govern the European Union.
      In an interview with Helsingin Sanomat, Lipponen says that as Commission President, he would oppose the formation of cliques within the Commission.
      Lipponen also feels that the EU should now work to solidify what it has achieved so far, rather than working for a new large expansion of operations.
     
Lipponen emphasises that he is primarily seeking the job of Commission President, although he has not closed the door on other positions.
      "It is largely a question of motivation. After being Prime Minister for eight years, and holding an interesting job now [as Speaker of Parliament], I am interested in tasks which have a so-called mission, where it is possible to carry out something that has some significance".
     
Lipponen has three great challenges in his "to do in the EU" box: the full implementation of EU enlargement, speeding up the EU’s economic development, and turning the EU into a credible global player.
      "We mustn’t go straight into planning a new expansion beyond what is coming. Now we should avoid the kind of rhetoric practised before, of promising membership to more and more countries", Lipponen says.
      Current candidates for EU membership include Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey. In 1999, when Finland held the EU Presidency, the EU decided to launch a process which might end in EU membership with Turkey. As Prime Minister of the holder of the EU Presidency, Lipponen chaired the summit in question.
      "The same principle applies both then and now: if Turkey itself wants to be a member of the European Union, implements the necessary reforms, and wants to be a European country and society, then we must take a positive view of this. The Union must have an understanding that we cannot back out of this promise."
     
Second on Lipponen’s list is the improvement of the EU’s economic competitiveness, as was mapped out at the EU’s Lisbon summit.
      "The dispute over the Stability Pact must be cleared from the table; we must either change it, or not. This has to be cleared up", Lipponen insisted.
      Germany and France have not adhered to the limits placed on budget deficits, and Lipponen observes that it is difficult to expect fiscal responsibility from the new member states if the old members do not follow the rules.
     
"The third great mission is for the union to be able to work together in its external relations. Otherwise it will permanently be in a supporting role, and in the worst case, will find itself the target of unilateral action, as has been seen."
      In this connection, "as has been seen" refers to the war in Iraq, and to the way that the United States detached itself from the international front and launched military action without a UN mandate.
      Lipponen wants the EU and the USA to be strong partners.
      "Unilateral action does not yield results, even for the United States. However, in Europe there is a prevailing feeling that it is necessary to set up a counterbalance to the power of the United States. There can be no results if we are constantly in an opposing position. Europe cannot influence the situation in Iraq, for example, by pulling its toys out of the game. On the contrary, we need to set up an arrangement in which the UN is powerfully present, which would also make it possible for Finland to make its own contribution."
     
Lipponen emphasises that in a Commission under his leadership, the focus should be on the interest of the EU as a whole, and not the national interests of a single country or directorate.
      Lipponen also sees a need to reorganise the work of the Commission, now that the EU has 25 new members.
      "Coordinating commissioners are needed - perhaps they could be called vice presidents - who would lead groups that could be called committees, for instance. This is necessary, because many Commissioners will inevitably have a relatively narrow area of responsibility, and therefore it could be more motivating and more sensible to be involved in a team in which tasks could be rotated."


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Race for European Commission President intensifies; Lipponen’s chances decline (4.5.2004)
  Commission President Romano Prodi wants more efficient EU in HS interview (3.5.2004)
  Lipponen still interested in post of EU Commission President (22.3.2004)

Helsingin Sanomat