Stefan Wallin calls for Nordic defence alliance

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Stefan Wallin, Chairman of Finland’s Swedish People’s Party has come out in favour of the idea of a military alliance of the Nordic Countries. Speaking on Friday at a meeting of the executive of the Swedish People’s Party, he that such an alliance could be set up through a declaration of mutual solidarity.
      The idea of such an arrangement was launched by Norway’s former foreign minister Thorvald Stoltenberg, who advanced the proposal in a report on foreign and security policy cooperation, which was commissioned by the Nordic foreign ministers.
     
The defence alliance was the last item on the three part programme suggested by Stoltenberg, but Wallin feels that it is the most fundamental of the proposals.
      “And it is not even very strange. We have a statement in the EU on support, so why shouldn’t we have that in the Nordic region, which remains politically, economically, and culturally our traditional reference group?” Wallin said.
      Wallin noted that Sweden has stated officially on a couple of occasions that if some EU country or Nordic country would come under threat, Sweden would not stand by.
     
Wallin continued to say that he does not believe that there is reason to doubt that Finns would take a positive view of showing solidarity toward the other Nordic countries.
      He pointed out that if a solidarity declaration were drawn up, it could lead to broader defence cooperation, and to monetary savings in materiel acquisition.
     
Wallin also took issue with the composition of a committee headed by Jukka Rantala on delaying the start of retirement. Wallin pointed out that all eight members of the working group are men, and felt that women would be needed there.
      The working group, which now comprises representatives of the labour market organisations and pension experts, is to be augmented by two representatives of government ministries. Wallin says that it would not be enough even if both of the new members were women.
      “As Minister for Equality Affairs I demand that at least four women will be part of the final composition of the working group.
     
Four new candidates for the European Parliament elections were named on Friday. They are Päivi Storgård from Helsinki, Charly Salonius-Pasternak from Helsinki, and Bo Lindeman from Vaasa.
      The Swedish People’s Party now has 12 candidates for the elections of the European Parliament. The remaining eight are to be named next month.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Defence Minister: Nordic cooperation might save defence costs (11.2.2009)
  Finland considers proposal of joint Nordic air surveillance over Iceland (10.2.2009)

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