Prime Minister Vanhanen: Finland must not be deaf to EU criticism

Government "cannot act as if nothing had happened" after French and Dutch referendums

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Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) said in Parliament on Wednesday that Finland cannot continue in the European Union as if nothing had happened after the rejection of the proposed EU constitution by French and Dutch voters.
      "Politicians must take this message into consideration in all countries, including Finland", Vanhanen declared.
      He added that if the EU countries decide together to give up the ratification of the constitution, Finland will not oppose the move.
     
Vanhanen insisted that the EU will not fall apart over the failure of the constitution, "even though it will end up being one of the greatest crises in its history".
      "The countries of the Union will now need strong nerves to show that the Union can function, and that there is solidarity, so that we can take control of the situation together", Vanhanen said.
      According to the Prime Minister, Finland can also suspend the ratification process for the draft constitution, but only if all EU countries agree on this at next week’s summit.
      "A majority of voters were dissatisfied in a serious way. We politicians must take this message into consideration in all countries, including Finland", he said.
      "Both the Union and its member states exist for the citizens, and not vice versa."
     
While the Prime Minister did not say what politicians should do in this situation, Members of Parliament were eager to offer advice.
      Left Alliance MP Outi Ojala and the Greens’ Heidi Hautala repeated their call for a referendum on the constitution.
      "The arguments with which the referendum was rejected on the part of the government parties are a reflection of the attitude of indifference toward the opinions and concerns of the people, which is what got the majority of the French to turn against the constitution", Ojala said.
     
Hautala called on Vanhanen to propose to other EU leaders that only the core part of the constitution, concerning citizens’ fundamental rights and Union values, should be ratified.
      "Unless they [the leaders of the EU countries] have a clear road map to show citizens how to move forward from here, the EU will lose what is left of the confidence that people have in it", Hautala warned.
     
The most scathing comments came from Toimi Kankaanniemi (Christ. Dem.) and Timo Soini (True Finn). In Kankaanniemi’s view EU enlargement into Turkey should now be frozen, and the ratification of the constitution should be abandoned.
      Soini made no attempt to hide his glee when he proclaimed that "the government’s fanatical EU policy line" had undergone "a complete shipwreck".
      "We will not acquiesce to being the subjects of the well-fed Brussels elite, or as partners in collaboration", Soini said.
      "Independence is again one day closer."


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finland to proceed with EU constitution ratification process (3.6.2005)
  President Halonen: EU constitution ratification in hands of Finnish Parliament (2.6.2005)
  PM Vanhanen warns EU leaders against dreaming up mini-solutions to constitution issue (1.6.2005)
  Prime Minister Vanhanen downplays horror scenarios after French vote (31.5.2005)
  Foreign Minister Tuomioja regrets result of French EU referendum (30.5.2005)

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