Parliament calls for report on EU security guarantees

Foreign Affairs Committee in favour of ratification of EU consitution

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The Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee is urging the Government to submit a report on the actual meaning of the European Union's so-called security guarantees on mutual defence. The report is to be submitted to the Parliament at the beginning of the next electoral period - in practice next year.
      The demand is included in the report of the Foreign Affairs Committee on the ratification of the proposed EU constitution. The Parliament is to make a decision on the ratification next Tuesday.
      The security guarantees on mutual defence are included in the draft constitution of the European Union. The implementation of such security guarantees would mean that member states would be committed to help defend each other against an external attack - using military force if necessary.
      The Foreign Affairs Committee's stand on the issue last spring was that the EU security guarantees are already a political obligation, even though the draft constitution has not been ratified as yet.
      The Government included this view in the ratification proposal of the EU constitution, but did not make it clear how Finland would actually give aid to other EU countries.
     
The ways of assistance and the armed forces for ensuing military operations could have been defined in the bill for a new law on the Defence Forces that was recently brought before Parliament.
      The bill determines that the new tasks of the Defence Forces include an obligation to give aid and assistance to other EU states in natural disasters, in the aftermath of terrorist attacks, and in other similar events. This obligation is also included in the so-called solidarity clause of the proposed EU constitution.
      The Committee working on the bill on the Defence Forces also discussed the security guarantees, but the Ministry for Foreign Affairs took the view that the law on the Defence Forces should not interfere in security guarantees. Consequently, the proposed law does not mention providing military aid to other EU states. Currently, the bill is under debate in the Parliamentary Defence Committee.
      The Foreign Affairs Committee states further that before the EU security guarantees can have any kind of credible and practical meaning, certain concrete measures have to be taken. The Government should clarify what such guarantees would mean on the operative level: how to prepare for assistance, whether or not any legislative amendments are required, and if resources should be increased.
     
The Foreign Affairs Committee is in favour of the ratification of the EU constitution. Formally the decision was unanimous, as a proposal by Petri Neittaanmäki (Centre) to oppose the ratification was left without support.
      However, deputy member Esko-Juhani Tennilä (Left Alliance) said after the meeting that the Left Alliance opposes ratification. Tennilä could not cast a vote, as all ordinary members of the committee were present.
      In its report the Foreign Affairs Committee will clarify the cooperation of the Government and the President in EU matters, without taking any stand on whether or not the President could continue to participate in EU summits. The Prime Minister is required to participate and submit written information on the summits to Parliament.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Vanhanen warns of risks of yearning for EU security guarantees (12.9.2005)

Links:
  The Foreign Affairs Committee
  The Defence Committee

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