By Bruno Waterfield - 3rd May 2006
Finnish leader Matti Vanhanen is in Brussels for high-level talks as his country’s EU presidency looms this July.
Vanhanen meets European commission president José Manuel Barroso and European parliament president Josep Borrell.
The centrist leader also holds a meeting with parliament’s socialist leader, Martin Schulz.
The Finnish EU presidency talks will focus on the future of the European constitution, energy policy, justice cooperation, WT talks, enlargement and July’s Russia G8 summit.
Regarded as safely uncharismatic, even boring, domestically, Vanhanen will be regarded as a safe pair hands at the EU tiller in Brussels.
Vanhanen has been Finnish prime minister since 2003, he is a teetotaller, and cites chopping wood and his family as his main interests.
His father is professor Tatu Vanhanen, the controversial co-author of ‘IQ and the wealth of nations’, a book that linked national GDP to intelligence, genetics and environmental factors.
Helsinki has the “ambition to deal with all the issues on the union’s agenda in a successful, efficient and objective manner”.
Helsinki is set to overhaul the working of the council of the EU, the Brussels institution that represents national governments.
And, Finland is committed to greater openness in key legislative and policy meetings of ministers.
“Efficient running of the union’s daily business often proves as important as the drafting and implementation of ambitious policy programmes,” states a government memo.
“For that reason, Finland will make particular effort to increase the efficiency of the council’s working methods and decision making.”
“The council meetings should focus on issues that require decision making. Finland will also aim to improve the predictability and openness of the council’s work both in its daily work and by active communication.”
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