National Coalition Party concerned about EU security guarantees
Ben Zyskowicz
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Finland’s largest political opposition group, the right-of-centre National Coalition Party, wants Finland to actively promote the implementation of security guarantees within the European Union, even if the proposed EU constitution does not take effect.
EU security guarantees would mean that all member states would be committed to defend each other against an attack from outside. Such guarantees are provided for in the EU’s draft constitution, which was rejected by voters in France and The Netherlands earlier this year.
The National Coalition Party feels that it is in Finland’s interest to make sure that EU heads of state make a separate decision on security guarantees no later than the autumn of 2006, when Finland holds the EU Presidency.
At their summer meeting of the party’s Parliamentary group in Oulu, the group’s chairman Ben Zyskowicz criticised the initial wary attitude taken toward EU security guarantees by leaders who feared that they could endanger Finland’s non-allied status. Later, when they were included in the draft constitution, the President and Prime Minister said that they would actually improve Finnish security. Now they are again seen as unnecessary.
"This is a national interest, and if it requires that the Finnish state leadership changes its mind again, then it should."
President Tarja Halonen denied that she had vacillated in her opinion. "I have always had the same view", she said on the television news of Finland’s public service broadcaster YLE.
Halonen said that Finland’s goal was for security policy in the EU to be a matter for everyone, and that this was successful.
EU security guarantees would mean that all member states would be committed to defend each other against an attack from outside. Such guarantees are provided for in the EU’s draft constitution, which was rejected by voters in France and The Netherlands earlier this year.
The National Coalition Party feels that it is in Finland’s interest to make sure that EU heads of state make a separate decision on security guarantees no later than the autumn of 2006, when Finland holds the EU Presidency.
At their summer meeting of the party’s Parliamentary group in Oulu, the group’s chairman Ben Zyskowicz criticised the initial wary attitude taken toward EU security guarantees by leaders who feared that they could endanger Finland’s non-allied status. Later, when they were included in the draft constitution, the President and Prime Minister said that they would actually improve Finnish security. Now they are again seen as unnecessary.
"This is a national interest, and if it requires that the Finnish state leadership changes its mind again, then it should."
President Tarja Halonen denied that she had vacillated in her opinion. "I have always had the same view", she said on the television news of Finland’s public service broadcaster YLE.
Halonen said that Finland’s goal was for security policy in the EU to be a matter for everyone, and that this was successful.
Helsingin Sanomat