Prime Minister Vanhanen at Forum of heads of mission - EU in the 2010s

Forum of heads of mission, Parliament
Speech summary

(subject to changes)

The year 2010 will mark the 15th anniversary of Finland’s EU membership. Ever since the beginning, Finland has pursued an active and consistent EU policy. We have always adapted our methods and strategies to meet new circumstances and operating environments.

When Finland joined the EU, the close cooperation between Germany and France was the prime mover of the Union. The European Union was different back then. It had 15 Member States and the enormous ongoing projects such as the establishment of the EMU and the Schengen cooperation marked the era. These projects provided a favourable environment for cooperation.

About five years ago, an assessment of how the Union would change was carried out in Finland. The EU did not have a single and complete core any more. At present, the enlarged Union of 27 Member States is more heterogeneous, and cooperation coalitions within it change depending on the issue at hand. Our assessment of the EU’s future made five years ago turned out accurate.

Finland’s EU strategy has been based on activeness, consistency, relationships, constructive position on joint EU projects, clear definition of our own priorities, formation of coalitions depending on the points at issue and anticipation. This has been a good strategy and will certainly continue to be so. If circumstances and operating environments change, a national debate on the strategy will then be welcome.

The European Union faces many real challenges in the 2010s. The situation of the world economy and the EU’s competitiveness in the global competition require daily actions from the Union. It is necessary to assess whether the EU is sufficiently equipped for the competition. Europe can stay in the competition only by proving its skills and by stronger development of its internal market.

International crises and conflicts require the Union to act decisively and assume leadership. Continuous development of the European Union's Common Security and Defence Policy and the EU’s growing role in the world serve Finland’s interests, too.

The EU’s unity faces constant challenge by the various issues on the agenda. The reform of the EU Treaties and ensuing complexities prove how difficult reaching consensus may be in a union of 27 members. Early last winter, Kosovo and the recognition of its independence tried the Union’s unity. EU enlargement, trade policy and the development of the EU-Russia relations constantly put the Union into a test. Reaching a joint decision on the climate action and renewable energy package and presenting a united front in the preparations of the Climate Summit to be held in Copenhagen in December 2009 may be difficult. It is, however, important to succeed in it to maintain EU’s role as a forerunner in climate policy issues and its credibility as an international actor.

This places focus on the inevitable question relating to the possibility of multi-speed integration. I have always preferred to emphasise the importance of the EU’s unity and maintaining the possibility for each Member State to participate in all action if it so desires. Nevertheless, it is self-evident that Finland has interest in participating in all EU decision-making, whatever the forum may be.

In the 2010s, the European Union will also be confronted with comprehensive policy reforms, for example those dealing with agriculture and the post-2013 financial perspectives. European food production must be ensured. We also need to be well-prepared for the negotiations on the financial perspectives and admit the fact that, due to our favourable economic development, Finland is getting closer to the group of main net contributors.

Finland is a member of the Union in order to further Europe’s development and it aims to be in the centre of this development. This is my view of the EU’s challenges and its future in the 2010s. It would also be important to identify a Finnish vision for the decade ahead. Consequently, I have decided to invite various actors of the society, such as representatives of parties, business and industry, trade associations, NGOs and research institutes to discuss Finland’s aims for the development of the EU in the 2010s and Finland’s ways of practising its EU policy. At the beginning of 2009, I will convene a broad-based discussion forum on the theme ‘a Finnish vision for the European Union in the 2010s’. The discussion forum will also contribute to the preparation of a report on exerting influence within the EU which will be presented to Parliament later.