Vanhanen answers questions in open Internet chat

Sugar production, Turkey, and Russia interest citizens

Matti Vanhanen

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By Jaakko Laitinen
     
      Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) received a flood of questions on the European Union when he took part in a live Internet chat on Wednesday afternoon.
      Hundreds of citizens taking part in the chat were especially interested in the EU sugar production controversy, Turkey's EU membership, and Russia.
      Last Thursday during Parliamentary question time, Vanhanen criticised the European Commission for the decision on sugar production which was bad news for Finland.
      Yesterday Vanhanen insisted that the Commission had received the message, but that the long-term policy line continues to enjoy the support of Finland and Vanhanen.
     
Vanhanen also was compelled to defend Finnish membership in the EU.
      In his view, leaving the EU would be stupid from the point of view of the Finnish national interest.
     
Citizens were also interested in Finland's possible NATO membership.
      Vanhanen insisted that joining NATO is not currently topical, according to existing policy, because the EU is able to support its member states through all possible means, if there is a threat to security.
      Vanhanen does not seem to consider Russia to be a significant threat.
     
On the question of Turkey's possible EU membership, Vanhanen said that he hopes that Turkey would significantly promote economic development in the EU, and said that he is in favour of allowing Turkey to join, if it meets the criteria of membership.
     
The writer is a pupil in the 9th class of Helsingin Suomalainen Yhteiskoulu (SYK) who is taking part in an orientation to work programme at Helsingin Sanomat

More on this subject:
 Prime Minister Vanhanen meets immigrants at Caisa Culture Centre

Links:
  Helsingin Suomalainen Yhteiskoulu (SYK) website

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