PM Vanhanen rejects comparisons with previous Finnish EU Presidency

Pro-EU Vanhanen does not admit to being "closet federalist"

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Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) does not feel that it is appropriate to compare the current six-month Finnish Presidency of the European Union, which is soon coming to an end, with the previous time that Finland held the rotating Presidency - the second half of 1999.
      "In 1999 the EU was in a stage of development in which it was possible to take new initiatives", Vanhanen told Helsingin Sanomat in Brussels on Monday.
      At that time, Paavo Lipponen (SDP) was Prime Minister. Lipponen has been seen as more of a visionary than Vanhanen.
      "It is much more difficult to implement ideas in the 21st century", Vanhanen said.
      As one example he mentioned Turkey, which was taken as a membership applicant in 1999.
      "Now we are living the stage in which it should be put into practice."
     
Vanhanen’s task at the helm of the EU Presidency concluded for all practical purposes in Brussels on Monday when he briefed the European Parliament on the results of last week’s EU summit.
      However, the Finnish EU Presidency officially continues until the end of the year, and if tensions in the Palestinian Territories flare up, Finland could still find its hands full before Germany takes over the Presidency at the beginning of January.
      Nevertheless, this was an occasion for Vanhanen to reflect on the recent past.
     
"This has been the most challenging phase in my political career", Vanhanen told Helsingin Sanomat.
      "It was a pleasure to take on, but because it was so challenging and difficult, I dare not use the word ‘enthusiastic’."
     
Considering Vanhanen’s political background in the Centre Party, it was perhaps surprising that he openly criticised the system in which so many decisions have to be made by consensus.
      However, he rejected suggestions that he might be a "closet federalist" because of his support for more qualified majority decisions.
      "Federalism is linked with the structures of the institutions in a broader sense. In no federation does the treasury handle only one percent of the GDP."
      Nevertheless, Vanhanen’s profile is that of a conspicuously pro-EU politician, which might be seen as being in conflict with his status as leader of the Centre Party, whose rank-and-file view the EU with some suspicion.
      Vanhanen says that he is not advocating an increase in EU powers, but rather a more efficient use of the power, for instance in the fight against crime.
      "It has been quite clear to the Centre Party... that in those matters in which power is handed over to the Union, there is an expectation that it can also make decisions."


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finnish European Union Presidency seen as somewhat lacklustre (15.12.2006)
  Possible solution in sight in meat dispute between EU and Russia (15.12.2006)
  Legislation passed, EU Chemical Agency to come to Helsinki (14.12.2006)
  EU punishes Turkey with partial freeze of membership talks (12.12.2006)

Helsingin Sanomat