By Finnish Socialist MEP Riitta Myller is a member of the European parliament’s environment, public health and food safety committee - 29th June 2006
The marine environment and relations with Russia are intertwined priorities for Helsinki, writes Riitta Myller MEP.
Creating a widespread and purposeful debate on the future of the EU is without a doubt one of the greatest challenges of Finland’s upcoming EU presidency.
With the recent June summit decision, the constitutional treaty is back on the agenda for early 2007.
The presidency will present to the European council a report containing an assessment of the situation and alternative courses of action.
This means that Finland will open the related discussions with member states during its presidency.
The mission is challenging, but as we know, the ratification of the constitutional treaty will be the key for reinvigorating European cooperation.
In addition to the constitutional treaty discussions, Helsinki needs to take charge of the other major future challenge, EU enlargement.
During Finland’s presidency, a general debate will take place on the EU’s ability to accept new members, and on the means to improve the enlargement process.
Finland’s presidency will also coincide with the European commission publishing new monitoring reports on Bulgaria and Romania’s preparedness for membership, on the basis of which a decision will finally be taken on whether these countries will join the EU at the beginning of 2007.
Europe’s citizens are calling for better means for participation and more openness in EU decision making. Increased openness, improved quality of regulations, and simplification of the executive system and administration can increase citizens’ trust in the EU’s work.
The most significant change, that of increasing openness, will concern ministerial deliberations on legislation to be adopted by co-decision procedure that will, as a rule, be made public.
As we all know, the EU needs to develop better cooperation on energy policies. In addition to developing Europe’s internal markets, energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources must be brought to the core of the energy debate.
During its presidency, Finland should also pay attention to developing the EU’s external energy-policy relations, especially in increasing our dialogue with Russia.
Finland has been asked to examine ways that would allow community-level action for developing freedom, security and justice.
Finland’s goal is to proceed with the development of the asylum system, and to turn it into genuinely common rules, and to develop cooperation between member states asylum authorities at a practical level.
The EU should continue its promising cooperation on pandemic preparedness.
In defending against these threats, the EU should cooperate closely with third countries in neighbouring areas and more globally. Cooperation with the World Health Organisation should also be continued.
It is important that we restore people’s trust in the safety of foodstuffs. Of legislative issues the most important by far is the REACH regulation on chemicals.
I consider it vital that the regulation is adopted and the negotiations are concluded during Finland’s presidency.
Issues such as tackling climate change are naturally on the agenda of all presidencies. Helsinki should try to achieve an agreement on developing the UN climate regime after 2012.
Binding and ambitious targets for reducing emissions must be achieved so that global change is adjusted down to a level which harms neither people’s health nor the balance of nature.
Other environmental challenges include directing the community’s biodiversity policy towards reaching the goals agreed upon and carrying on with the handling of the intermediate review of the sixth environment programme.
From Finland’s point of view, another important issue during the presidency is the Baltic Sea and its environmental status.
I hope that Helsinki’s presidency will achieve a marine environment strategy that will have a real effect on improving the marine environment’s status.
Strengthening the environmental partnership of the Northern Dimension is equally vital, as it is only in cooperation with Russia that Baltic Sea emission levels will be reduced.
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