Lobby groups and NGOs stress economy and workers’ rights in upcoming EU elections

WWF Finland: EU must get international climate agreement ratified

print this

Finnish interest groups and NGOs regard the EU elections as important, more so than the apparent public apathy toward voting would indicate.
      “A considerable portion of Finnish legislation is EU-led”, the Association for Finnish Work points out.
      “The EU elections are important, because in the European Parliament matters concerning wage earners will be decided on”, states the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK.
      The Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities adds that the EU legislation has a great influence on the municipalities in Finland, as in Finland the local authorities rule over an extensive sphere of activities. ”The European Union’s influence extends to social affairs and healthcare as well as education.”
      According to various organisations, the European Parliament - the only EU organ elected through a direct vote - is continuously strengthening its position in the EU legislative work.
     
Helsingin Sanomat asked a selection of lobby groups and NGOs to name the subjects that they considered important regarding the EU elections and European decision-making.
      In the answers, on the one hand economic interests such as Europe's and Finland’s competitiveness were stressed, while on the other hand Europe’s social development was regarded as important.
      In the Association for Finnish Work’s opinion “the social and economical dimensions are equally significant”.
      Climate questions were regarded as important by everybody.
     
The Confederation of Finnish Industries EK says competitiveness has to be the point of departure for all of the EU activities.
      “Only healthy economic growth achieved through competitiveness can ensure positive and sustainable development with regard to the economy, social security, health, and the environment.”
      The Federation of Finnish Enterprises feels that the productivity of work has to be improved by increasing flexibility in the labour market and in the administration.
      “The companies’ bureaucracy jungle should be disposed of”, the Federation says.
      The Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK), in turn, says that the competitiveness and income development of Finnish farmers, who compared with many other European nations work in disadvantaged conditions, should be taken into consideration better than is currently the case.
      In the view of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), it is important that the environmental support granted to agriculture is not used as income support. In this way agricultural politics are tied to the protection of the Baltic Sea.
     
Organisations of the wage-earners observe the EU Parliament from the wage-earners’ angle and not that of the markets.
      According to SAK, the European Parliament has a huge role to play in securing workplace rights. The working hours directive, for one, was used to control the maximum length of working time.
      “It is the most important directive in years related to working life”, agrees the Finnish Confederation of Professionals STTK. The directive was overthrown in April, but the organisation is calling for the restart of work towards a new such directive.
      The Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff, AKAVA, hopes that the EU will show some backbone when it comes to questions pertaining to working life, but also research and education work. “The Union’s most important asset with regard to success in the global competition is knowhow.”
     
In the WWF’s view, the EU’s most important task is climate change prevention.
      EK, in turn, feels that the climate-related measures should create new business activities and new jobs, instead of merely restricting competitiveness.
      WWF offers the development of sustainable climate technologies as a panacea for to the problem.
      The Central Chamber of Commerce wishes for a plan for a legislation project, with which the prevention of climate change could be tied to the demands of Europe’s economic competitiveness.
     
The organisations are taking part in the EU elections campaigning by disseminating information and organising election functions.
      MTK has announced it will provide financial support to 11 candidates from three different parties. MTK also takes part in seminars where attendance fees go to raise funds for candidates, as does STTK.
     
     
Advance voting continues today and tomorrow, and the actual election day is Sunday June 7th. By Saturday evening, some 380,000 Finns and others eligible to take part here had voted in advance, showing a substantial increase from five years ago, when the overall voter turnout for EU Parliament elections was 41.1%, some way below the average for the then 25 member-states (45.6%).


Previously in HS International Edition:
  European Parliament elections: Advance voting begins (27.5.2009)
  Poll suggests lower turnout in prospect for European Parliament elections than in 2004 (25.5.2009)

See also:
  Is voter apathy becoming hereditary? (30.9.2008)
  HS poll suggests just 32 % of Finns will vote in European Parliament elections (11.5.2009)

Links:
  European Parliament - Elections 2009
  Ministry of Justice Elections Portal

Helsingin Sanomat