Parliament Committee allows President’s participation in EU meetings
Government still seen to be responsible for all issues discussed at summits
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The Constitutional Law Committee of the Finnish Parliament issued a unanimous opinion on Friday on the proposed Constitutional Treaty of the European Union. The committee did not take a direct stand on the ratification of the treaty, and made very cautious mention of the role of the President in connection with the proposed constitution.
If the EU constitution ever takes effect, EU summits - the European Council - will become an official body of the EU.
In the view of the Constitutional Law Committee, the change will further strengthen the role of the Finnish Prime Minister as the representative of Finland at EU summits, with all issues discussed at the Council falling under the mandate of the government.
Conversely, summits would no longer deal with any matters that are the province of the Finnish President.
The committee did not want to forbid the participation of the Finnish President at EU summits.
The chairman of the committee, Kimmo Sasi (Nat. Coalition Party) noted that the composition of the delegations that attend European Council meetings will be decided by the government, and that the delegations would always be led by the Prime Minister. "There is nothing that would prevent the government from deciding that the President should be part of a delegation", Sasi observed.
Currently the government has taken the line that if the President attends a summit, he or she should be involved in matters pertaining to the office of the President. In the future, the reasons for taking part in a summit might have to be changed, because none of the matters decided at the meetings will be part of the mandate of the Finnish President.
The status of the Åland Islands could also be a problem. The Constitutional Law Committee concluded in its assessments on the idea that Finland can ratify the EU constitution even if the Provincial Parliament of Åland - a semi-autonomous province - cannot accept it.
In such a situation it would be unclear if the constitution would be in force in Åland, and if Åland would be considered a part of the EU any more.
The committee does not support a referendum on whether or not Finland should ratify the EU Constitution. The committee decided by a vote of 7-6 not to consider a proposal by Arja Aalto calling for a referendum on the issue.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 30.10.2006 - TODAY |
 Parliament Committee allows President’s participation in EU meetings
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