PM and President still at odds over representation at EU summits

Former SDP MP lashses out at President, Foreign Minister downplays split

Matti Vanhanen

Tarja Halonen

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President Tarja Halonen and Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) were not able to iron out all of their differences on Friday on the capacity in which the Finnish President would participate in summit meetings of the European Union.
      Some kind of understanding is needed, because the EU’s Lisbon Treaty takes effect this week, changing the role of the EU summits, and also possibly reducing the possibilities of a member state having two representatives at meetings of the European Council.
      Under the Treaty of Lisbon, EU summits will be able to make decisions that are legally binding. The EU leaders could also decide that each country will be restricted to one representative at the summits.
     
Under a practice initiated by President Martti Ahtisaari, the Finnish President has attended EU summits.
      The member states have been allowed to bring a head of state, or government into the venue of the meeting, in addition to a minister to assist him or her. Technically, the Finnish Prime Minister has attended summits as an assistant to the president.
     
In the future, EU leaders will increasingly seek to convene among heads of government alone.
     It is difficult for the Finnish government to imagine a situation in which Finland would be represented at a summit by the President alone, because EU matters are the duty of the government, which serves at the pleasure of Parliament.
     
In the view of President Halonen, the current practice is based on the Finnish constitution, and as the constitution has not changed, there is no reason for Finland to change the present procedures.
      However, the constitution also states that the Prime Minister is responsible for Finnish policy in the EU.
      Under the present guidelines, the Finnish President can take part in an EU summit when the agenda involves matters which are part of the president’s authority, and President Halonen takes a very broad interpretation of that authority.
     
No breakthrough was reached in Friday’s talks.
      “The response that is now given is that preparations will continue. When the government gives its proposal, then we will have more to say”, Vanhanen said in Parliament on Friday afternoon.
     
Former Social Democratic MP, Dr. Arja Alho unexpectedly lashed out at President Halonen on Sunday, denouncing the President’s interpretations of her role in EU matters as “almost illegal”.
      “Everyone has known that after the approval of the Lisbon Treaty, Finland is to be represented at EU summits by the Prime Minister alone. Other interpretations go against the constitution, and the line of interpretation taken by Parliament’s Constitutional Law Committee.”
      Alho said that the constitution does not give the President a formal position in matters involving EU jurisdiction.
      “Our President has simply interpreted her position in such a way, and people have not have the nerve to question it.”
     
Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Stubb (Nat. Coalition Party) sought to calm down emotions on the matter on Monday, saying that he expects that a solution will be found this week to the dispute over participation at EU summits.
      Meeting with journalists on Monday morning, Stubb said that the Lisbon Treaty does not dictate how the Finnish constitution should be interpreted, and allows member states to determine on their own whom to send to EU summits.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Presidential authority: committee divided on party lines (24.11.2009)
  Experts calling for new decisions on role of President in EU policy (22.8.2009)
  President Halonen to replace Foreign Minister Stubb at EU summit (28.2.2008)
  President and PM seek common stance on representation at EU summits (27.11.2009)
  President and Government have different opinions on EU representation (15.6.2006)

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