Prime Minister Vanhanen at the commemoration of the Government's bicentennial

Madam President, Doctor Arajärvi,
President Koivisto,
President Ahtisaari,
Mr Speaker,
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great honour for me to thank you, on behalf of the Government, for the kind words that you, Madam President and you, Mr Speaker, had to say to the Government on its 200th anniversary.

I would also like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to others as well. On this memorable day, I wish to greet and thank all the Government employees for their efforts on behalf of the country and the people. At the same time, we remember with gratitude those who have served the country before us.

The first session of the Governing Council of the Grand Duchy of Finland – the predecessor of the Council of State and the higher courts – held here in Turku exactly 200 hundred years ago signified the birth of the Finnish national government.

We also have every reason to remember those Finns who took the initiative to establish Finland’s autonomy and national government. Of course, Marshal Mannerheim’s grandfather Count Carl Erik Mannerheim, Bishop Jakob Tengström and their contemporaries could not foresee what the future held. Today, we know that the era paved way for an independent and modern Finland based on parliamentary democracy.

Finland’s strength throughout its long history of nation-building is that at every turning point we have had the wisdom and courage to rise to the challenge of the times, defend the positions we had secured and strive for what is possible to achieve.

In ancient times, the Finnish tribes did not have the opportunity to attain sovereign statehood before the race for the north between the Roman and Byzantine churches ended in a victory for the West.

Before long, a bishop’s seat was established in Turku to underline local needs and set up direct links to the centres of culture in Europe. Finland did not become a Swedish colony; instead, from 1362, Finnish delegates participated in the election of the King and the Diet on an equal basis.

The European Reformation paved the way for the Finnish language and the emergence of the Nordic notion of freedom coupled with a sense of responsibility. During the era of Count Per Brahe, Finland was able to establish the form of government, legal system and the institution of the university required by the new times.

The 18th century age of enlightenment and utilitarianism presaged the beginnings of cultural and economic prosperity while at the same time unleashing the forces that were to shape our history, namely the Russia of Peter the Great and the Great French Revolution.

Among the many consequences of the encounter between these two forces in Tilsit in July 1807 were the outbreak of the Finnish War of 1808-09, the Diet of Porvoo, the Treaty of Hamina, the creation of the autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland, and the establishment of the Governing Council and a national administration.

Attainting an autonomous position as part of the Russian Empire meant the first 100-year period of peace in Finland’s history, the consolidation of Nordic traditions and national religion, and the establishment of the most important modern institutions.

To put it in today’s terms, the first step was to introduce a system of governance by sustaining the institutions dating back to Swedish rule and establishing a central administration. Gradually, a process of nation building developed and expanded, ascribing a new meaning and content to administrative structures and society.

K. J. Ståhlberg, Finland’s first President, described the rise of parliamentary democracy in Europe by saying that the traditional council responsible for administration on behalf of the King became increasingly and finally completely dependent on Parliament representing the people. This was exactly how things developed in Finland as well.

During the 600-year Swedish rule, we were part of the nationwide state and its system of government. In 1809, we got both an autonomous state and a Finnish Governing Council subordinated to the Russian Emperor to lead it. Subsequently, new generations developed the country and its government by expanding democracy and parliamentary rule.

Among these steps were the national assemblies held regularly from 1863 after the Crimean War, the unicameral parliament of 1906, and the parliamentary constitution of 1919 that still showed a degree of compromise between republican and traditional views.

I believe that future historians will put the step towards greater parliamentarism represented by the constitution of 2000 in a wider European post-cold-war context. I also believe that a slowly strengthening parliamentary rule will be a natural continuation to this long tradition.

Similarly, Finland’s accession to the European Union in 1995 is related to the same long trend of our history and the end of the cold war.

EU membership has considerably shaped the nature and practice of government. Among the changes are, of course, the advocacy of Finland’s interest within the Union as well as close involvement in the development of the whole continent and influencing through the Union issues that concern all of mankind.

In addressing EU issues, we have succeeded in combining our parliamentary traditions with good governance and administrative procedures. The large number of issues to be handled in the European Union means that they play a major part in the work of the Government and central administration.

A case in point is the Cabinet Committee on European Union Affairs with its weekly meetings, which has become one of the key forms of Government work.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today, Finland is an independent republic and a member of the European Union. We live in stable conditions and have good relations with our neighbours.

The modern state is still responsible for responding to the oldest needs of any human community – the establishment and maintenance of a legal order and security.

New times have added human rights and equitable social and cultural services for the whole nation to the agenda.

As in the past, the Government is responsible for developing administration in a way that responds to the changing needs of society.

However, western countries, including Finland, are facing a fundamentally new situation and new duties. The modernisation of the economy and society that started in Europe and Northern America has moved ahead and keeps moving ahead throughout the world in the form of globalisation.

The Finnish economy derives its strength from skills and knowledge arising out of its long cultural and education traditions, the Nordic model of society and natural resources. With their help, we have created an export-driven economy and prosperity.

However, today we have to compete in a world where others, too, possess advanced skills and knowledge but have completely different cost levels – or where trees, for example, grow five or ten times faster than in Finland.

The situation we are facing at the beginning of this century is also partly our own doing.
Since the latest wars, we have always had some natural assets to fall back on during times of transition: post-war reconstruction and government investments; the great structural change from an agricultural into an industrial and service society; investments in new technology, and Nokia.

Unfortunately, no such major developments are currently in the offing and, on top of it all, we have a highly disadvantageous demographic structure. As a result of the recession, we have also been compelled to maintain services and employment by a budget deficit that we will have to start paying back in the next decade. It is the only way of gathering strength to respond to further upheavals.

Less than a century ago, European leaders had the people’s blood, sweat and tears to fall back on. Luckily, we are more fortunate today in that we will manage by hard work and sweat alone.

But there is another side to the global modernisation process. Many nations will not survive, which may lead to unforeseen consequences that will also affect us. When we are asked why we are involved in development cooperation or crisis management initiatives, the answer is humanitarianism and the need to promote it on a world scale.

Yet there is a third side to global modernisation – one that eclipses all other issues, namely climate change or, more precisely, the endangerment of the ecosystems that sustain life on earth and, if the worse comes to worse, that of man’s living conditions. For this reason, the first and foremost task of this century is to bring climate change under control and restore a sustainable balance between man and nature.

The requirement for sustainable development and the challenges posed by emerging economies will compel us to reflect upon the justification for the modern way of life and the possibilities to maintain it.

The cultural traditions of humanism and reformation will once again be highlighted side-by-side with the great ideas of enlightenment, freedom and economic prosperity.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Two hundred years ago, we Finns, as a new nation, became involved in the great drama of Europe and for all intents and purposes, we have been doing quite well. The various generations have understood the drivers of change at work in their time and have been ready to face the inevitable.

And the inevitable issues of this century are climate change, the emerging economics, the crises threatening the poorest countries, as well as cultural upheavals and increased interaction between cultures.

Once we realise the potential they offer, we will be able to forge ahead through hard work and cooperation drawing upon on our skills and competences, and the country's national resources.
As in the past, the Government’s duty is to defend and deepen parliamentarism and safeguard the prosperity of the whole of the country and its people, while understanding that it is ultimately based on the day-to-day efforts and shared sense of responsibility of hard-working citizens who show a spirit of entrepreneurship.

The present times require that Finland, too, increasingly amasses resources to influence the great issues of mankind from financial to development crises. In these efforts, an ever greater role will be played by good relations with our neighbouring countries, Nordic cooperation, the European Union, and its strong development and active involvement in global organisations.
While the doctrines of the preceding century do not give us enough pointers to the future, it should not lead to cynicism. The future belongs to those who get down to the business of creating it.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
In conclusion, let us remember those who two hundred years ago continued the work of past generations and rose up to the challenge of the times. Like J.V. Snellman, let us appreciate that working on behalf of one’s country is our lot in human development. Let me add that the more viable and vigorous our nation is, the better it will be able to contribute to the solution of global issues vital to each and everyone of us.

Let us continue our efforts to ensure that the nation will rise in splendour every single day it lives, and that we make our own contribution to the prosperity of all mankind.