Sweden and Finland pledge to keep each other informed of NATO plans

Swedish PM Fredrik Reinfeldt keen to move on from scandal-laced start to government term

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Sweden's Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt (Moderate Party) and Finland's Matti Vanhanen (Centre) agreed on Sunday that the two countries would keep each other abreast of security policy solutions to be adopted in the future.
      Reinfeldt, on a brief visit to Finland shortly after his election to head the new centre-right government, said that the countries should build a "close dialogue". Vanhanen agreed and stated that Finland and Sweden had a security policy link that would hold.
      Matti Vanhanen commented that the two men had discussed the fact that all possible changes, including any application to join NATO, would be reported on in good time. Both countries have a need to be able to foresee possible changes in direction well in advance.
      Just over a decade ago, Sweden took Finland by surprise with its application to join the EU. Vanhanen noted that this was water under the bridge and that it would not recur.
     
For Reinfeldt, making his first trip abroad since he was appointed to head the new centre-right coalition in Sweden, the visit was mainly spent in answering media questions about the recent tax scandals that have already led to dismissal of two ministers.
      Journalists wanted to know how many more heads would have to roll before the PM's credibility would be restored.
      Reinfeldt was understandably more eager to talk about politics and Monday's budget proposals than what he described as an atmosphere of "receipt-checking" that is currently prevailing in Sweden. He nevertheless acknowledged the gravity of his ministers' offences.
      The Swedish Foreign Trade Minister Maria Borelius, also from the Moderate Party, was forced to resign on Saturday, after it came out that she had not paid taxes on the family's nanny.
      Although she charged that she could not afford the taxes and ancillary fees, it became clear that the Borelius family had considerable wealth, enough to support two luxury holiday homes, allegedly purchased through a Channel Islands tax haven.
      Culture Minister Cecilia Stego Chilò resigned on Monday. The minister who would have been resposible for the broadcast matters had not paid her television licence for 16 years.
      One other minister is in the firing line over non-payment of television licence-fees.
     
Reinfeldt's visit also included a meeting with President Tarja Halonen in the morning, and talks with the Finnish opposition conservative leader Jyrki Katainen (National Coalition Party).
      Katainen, too, has recently faced setbacks caused by surprise revelations within the party.


Links:
  Swedish Government website

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