By Finnish ALDE MEP Anneli Jäätteenmäki is a former Finnish prime minister and member of the European parliament’s internal market and consumer protection committee - 29th June 2006
Finland’s six month EU presidency will be much more challenging that its previous stint in 1999, suggests Anneli Jäätteenmäki MEP.
Finland’s six-month EU presidency begins on July 1. On the one hand this half year rotating chairmanship is without doubt a routine exercise where most issues on the agenda have been inherited from the previous EU presidency.
The task therefore is to take forward these active projects. It’s not a one man show. On the other hand, the presidency offers an excellent opportunity for my native country to be at the centre of attention during this short period, providing a fresh impetus to the EU and make its voice heard. At the same time it will increase the level of EU knowledge among Finnish citizens.
Compared to the previous Finnish EU presidency in 1999, the current political setting is much more challenging.
After the no votes by French and Dutch citizens on the future constitution, the EU is currently undergoing a period of reflection, prolonged until 2007 by the European summit earlier this month.
It appears not to be an easy task for EU leaders to admit that the constitutional treaty in its current form cannot be salvaged.
Finland will probably remain the last country to ratify the EU constitution. Instead of playing for time, Europe’s leaders should start considering what kind of treaties and rules the future EU needs.
Difficult decisions cannot and should not be postponed into an unknown future. Given current circumstances, the role of the Finnish presidency will be mainly to frame the debate on the future constitution in order to provide the 2007 German EU presidency with the means to re-launch the constitutional process.
EU enlargement will be a key priority on Helsinki’s presidency agenda. After having received a conditional yes by the European commission in May, Bulgaria and Romania will have a few months to prove that they are capable of obtaining EU membership in January 2007.
The commission’s review of their accession status is planned for October. I support Romanian and Bulgarian accession, but only if these countries fully implement the reforms proposed by the commission, such as combating fraud, improving children’s rights and implementing reforms in many other areas.
Additionally Helsinki will have to ensure good progress is made on EU-Turkey accession talks, which are likely to be demanding, given the difficulties met at the June foreign ministers council and the recent European summit.
Enlargement talks with Turkey will be influenced by discussions on the EU’s absorption capacity. A report will be drafted by the commission taking into account citizens’ views on future enlargement.
I trust that the Finnish presidency will chair discussions on this issue in a constructive spirit.
Looking at the other important issues on Helsinki’s agenda, my highest expectations for concrete action lie within the so-called Northern Dimension strategy.
The EU decided in November 2005 to develop the Northern Dimension into a common EU policy with Russia, Norway and Iceland.
This region deserves as much attention as the Euro-Mediterranean Barcelona-process which has enjoyed substantial EU funding in many important areas for decades.
The Finnish presidency is expected to finish negotiations on a framework document on the Northern Dimension that will define its geographical and sectoral scope, take partnership projects further and provide for future development.
The Northern Dimension policy needs to be prepared in association, not in confrontation with regional, municipal and local decision makers, including NGOs, businesses and individuals. It also needs to acknowledge that the Russian Federation has more to contribute as an equal partner rather than an obstacle to cohesive regional cooperation.
The European bank for reconstruction and development should be given a more active role in the EU’s eastern and southern neighbourhood programmes. There is still an enormous task ahead in stabilising the economies of central Europe and in creating a sustained investment environment. The completion of the internal market, in particular the services and energy market, will be the major focus on Helsinki’s competitiveness agenda.
The Austrian EU presidency managed to reach a political agreement on the controversial directive on services in the internal market at the end of May.
This major breakthrough makes it easier for the Finnish presidency to take the work forward. The council common position is likely to be adopted during Helsinki’s six month stint, if not earlier.
Energy cooperation with Russia is an important part of the EU’s energy policy. There is a clear need for new energy initiatives with Russia in order to avoid energy shortages similar to last winter.
Other important priorities include fostering innovation policy and concluding negotiations on the seventh research framework programme. All are part of the key elements of the EU’s growth and jobs strategy.
All in all, I trust that the Finnish presidency will successfully carry on the work of the Austrians and will do its utmost in shaping EU policy in a constructive spirit.
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