It's safe to say that the right-wing National Coalition Party, the big winner in Sunday's election, is the most europhile party in Finland. When party leader Jyrki Katainen has criticized Matti Vanhanen's government on EU matters, he has faulted it for passivity, which according to him has hurt Finland's influence on European matters compared to the reign of Vanhanen's predecessor, Paavo Lipponen of the Social Democratic Party. Studies have found that the Coalition's supporters have the most positive attitudes toward European integration. The Centre Party, by contrast, has some of the more eurosceptic supporters in Finland, whose views are at odds with the EU policies of recent party leaders like Vanhanen and Esko Aho. The EU certainly isn't an issue in which Coalition voters and Centre voters are perfectly in sync and if the two parties end up in government together, it'll be interesting to see how they will try to bridge the gap.
During the election campaign the Coalition released a document titled "10 theses on building EU's future" (PDF, fi), written by rampantly europhile MEP Alex Stubb, where it outlined the party's vision for Finland's EU strategy. The ten theses are (my rough translation):
This is an area in which the Centre leadership, at least, agrees. However, it's interesting that Stubb writes that the institutional changes mainly benefit large countries. That could be used against his party if Finland winds up ratifying some sort of a mini-treaty - which it inevitably will, if such a treaty is agreed upon by others.
The Coalition supports of writing down a collective self-defense obligation in the European constitution/whatchamacallit, which is at odds with the Centre's traditional approach of studied military neutrality. Stubb takes a swipe at the government over the matter, writing that Finland tried to "water down" the obligation in negotiations.
This is another possible source of tension. Maintaining agricultural subsidies is an extremely important issue to many rural Centre voters. The issue goes straight to the heart of one of the most important fault lines in Finnish politics: periphery versus the urban south. The Centre represents the former; the Coalition is much more popular in the latter. While Vanhanen doesn't share many of his base's misgivings about the EU, he still needs to be seen as making an effort to bring home the bacon in the form of agricultural subsidies. Or, as the Centre's election program (fi) puts it, "Finland must strive for a clear, simple, and long term EU subsidy policy, which takes into account the disadvantages of the country's natural conditions."
To further the point, in the summary Stubb writes: "Out of Finnish parties, the Coalition is most clearly the supporter of tearing down of borders, a proponent of free trade and responsible market economy - in other words the opponent of national protectionism and factionalism." If translated into government policy as per Stubb's recommendations, that's an approach that won't sit easy with many Centre voters. How these tensions will affect the next government's EU policy is an interesting question. I wouldn't expect a great deal to change. Both sides are willing to go along with majority decisions, just like previous Finnish governments, which gives them a way to settle their differences: just go with the flow.
During the election campaign the Coalition released a document titled "10 theses on building EU's future" (PDF, fi), written by rampantly europhile MEP Alex Stubb, where it outlined the party's vision for Finland's EU strategy. The ten theses are (my rough translation):
1. EU as a champion of preventing climate change
...ambitious and binding emission goals... EU must use its entire foreign policy authority to bring about a global climate treaty by 2012...
Finland must take care that the EU meets the challenges of climate change in time.
2. EU as a great power in global politics
...To become a great power in global politics, the EU must develop its defense cooperation, speak with one voice, and be represented in the UN security council. ... A constitutional treaty enhances the Union's outward representation by creating the offices of EU president and foreign minister...
Finland must support and strengthen EU's role as a great power in global politics.
3. EU's enlargement must continue in a controlled fashion
...In the long term enlargement benefits all sides. ... No country has ever fulfilled all membership criteria. ... The EU is never ready for enlargement, but it's nevertheless always ready. However, this must not mean that the EU's enlargement criteria are sold short...
Finland must support the EU's determined, but controlled enlargement.
4. EU to have a constitution by 2009
...A mini-treaty is not a desirable for a small country like Finland, because in practice only the institutional changes that mainly benefit large EU nations would be accepted. In a 'treaty plus' option a basis for a common energy policy could be added. Similarly combating climate change could be raised as one of the EU's most central goals. The Union's social dimension and immigration policies could also be strengthened. These four reforms should be implemented flexibly - everyone wouldn't have to take part in everything...
Finland must work toward the goal that a constitution comes into power without radical changes before the next European elections.
This is an area in which the Centre leadership, at least, agrees. However, it's interesting that Stubb writes that the institutional changes mainly benefit large countries. That could be used against his party if Finland winds up ratifying some sort of a mini-treaty - which it inevitably will, if such a treaty is agreed upon by others.
5. EU's four freedoms must be honored
...Free movement of goods, services, capital, and labor form the bedrock of the EU's functioning. ... Member countries' protectionist line is worrisome. It weakens the EU's competitiveness, which is the absolute requirement of economic growth and employment...
Finland must do everything it can, so that the EU's four freedoms work in reality.
6. EU to have a common energy policy
...Because of its great energy dependency, it's vital for the EU to speak as one to energy supplier countries. ... Deregulating energy markets must be finished to accomplish more effective production and cheaper consumer prices...
Finland must take active part in forming the EU's common energy policy.
7. EU's defense cooperation must be strengthened
...A crisis management ability and rapid response troops must be created for the Union on a quick schedule. ... Defense budgets will provide more value when every member country doesn't have to do the same things. ... It's impossible to think that one EU country is attacked and other member countries don't come to its aid...
Finland must work for tightening the EU's defense cooperation.
The Coalition supports of writing down a collective self-defense obligation in the European constitution/whatchamacallit, which is at odds with the Centre's traditional approach of studied military neutrality. Stubb takes a swipe at the government over the matter, writing that Finland tried to "water down" the obligation in negotiations.
8. EU's budget and spending must be reformed
...Spending should be concentrated more on research, technology, combating climate change, and foreign policy. Now a great deal goes in different ways to agriculture...
Finland must take part in developing the EU's budget to be understandable and rational.
This is another possible source of tension. Maintaining agricultural subsidies is an extremely important issue to many rural Centre voters. The issue goes straight to the heart of one of the most important fault lines in Finnish politics: periphery versus the urban south. The Centre represents the former; the Coalition is much more popular in the latter. While Vanhanen doesn't share many of his base's misgivings about the EU, he still needs to be seen as making an effort to bring home the bacon in the form of agricultural subsidies. Or, as the Centre's election program (fi) puts it, "Finland must strive for a clear, simple, and long term EU subsidy policy, which takes into account the disadvantages of the country's natural conditions."
9. Common decisions on justice affairs and internal affairs
...The EU needs closer police cooperation and common border controls... The member states' criminal and civil court systems should be standardized and a charter of basic rights should be added as a part of EU treaties...
Finland must invest in common EU decisions in justice affairs and internal affairs
10. EU regulation must focus on the essentials
...Common laws are defensible when it's a matter of improving the state of environment, security, or competitiveness. On the other hand on many questions the need for regulation can be left to be judged by municipalities...
Finland must oppose protectionism and excessive regulation.
To further the point, in the summary Stubb writes: "Out of Finnish parties, the Coalition is most clearly the supporter of tearing down of borders, a proponent of free trade and responsible market economy - in other words the opponent of national protectionism and factionalism." If translated into government policy as per Stubb's recommendations, that's an approach that won't sit easy with many Centre voters. How these tensions will affect the next government's EU policy is an interesting question. I wouldn't expect a great deal to change. Both sides are willing to go along with majority decisions, just like previous Finnish governments, which gives them a way to settle their differences: just go with the flow.
0 comments:
Post a Comment