For now, Brussels can set aside concerns about the Finnish far-right’s attempts to push the nation out of the EU, according to a report by Finland’s new pro-European foreign minister, reports Politico.
Elina Valtonen, Finland’s new foreign minister, has said that she believes the coalition government’s political programme, finally published after long negotiations,
confirms the government’s pro-European stance.
Though the far-right Finns Party, Finland’s second largest party, maintains its “long-term” goal of EU exit due to Brussels perceived power over national decision-making. However, in the government’s programme, the party’s opposition to the Valtonen’s National Coalition Party’s pro-European position is not prominent.
Valtonen stated in an interview that while not all coalition parties are expected to agree entirely, consensus is necessary on the negotiated outcome—the government programme. She mentioned the Finns Party’s EU exit aspiration as a “long-term goal,” without clarity, but emphasized current focus on the upcoming four years,
expressing doubt over their push for a Finnish EU exit during this period.
Valtonen’s remarks are likely to offer comfort to pro-European centre-right and centre-left policymakers in Brussels, who have been wary of the far-right’s emergence in different parts of the bloc.
At a recent conference in Tampere, Finland, Jussi Halla-aho, the party’s presidential candidate,
reaffirmed his aim to leave the EU because of its “democratic deficit” and criticised the EU’s “dictatorial” policies.
Nevertheless, key members of the Finns Party, including Halla-aho, recognise that a fragmented EU could hinder support for Ukraine against the Russian invasion. Valtonen pointed out that this factor would discourage the Finns Party to push for an immediate Finnish exit from the EU. She said that the recent invasion showed the
importance of EU unity in support of Ukraine, which resonates positively with the Finnish people.
Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen has taken up her duties in Helsinki during the summer recess of the Parliament. In addition to steering the government’s EU policy, she is focusing on ensuring Finland’s smooth transition to NATO. The Russian reaction to this move has been negative. Valtonen stressed that Finland does not want confrontation and that Russia should not feel threatened.
Read also: Ukraine liberates strategic settlement; two dead in Russian attack in Ukraine’s Poltava region