Summary:
Helsingin Sanomat has interviewed Kare Halonen, Finland’s State Secretary for EU Affairs since 2008. He visits Brussels about 15 times a year, and takes part in preparing summits with other EU Member States advisors. The article states that it is quite justified to claim that no one else has had more influence on Finland’s EU policy during the last few years than Mr Halonen. He also acts as Prime Minister Juha Sipilä’s EU adviser.

Media:  Helsingin Sanomat (E-edition, PDF)
Date: 26.7.2017
Journalist: Pekka Mykkänen
Main source: –

Summary:
Helsingin Sanomat writes about the planned new US sanctions against Russia, which would impact i.a. the EU energy companies cooperating with Russia, e.g. on the Nord Stream II gas pipeline. According to Financial Times, Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president, has proposed « possible countermeasures » against the US. According to an EU working document, the EU is concerned about the « detrimental political side effects » caused by new sanctions by the US. The sanctions are expected to affect also the bilateral meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Finnish President Sauli Niinistö by bringing the presidents’ interests closer together. Finland has been supporting Germany in advancing the pipeline project.

Summary:
The government will face challenges this autumn when the EU’s call for assistance to facilitate the refugee situation in Italy will be discussed. Minister of the Interior Paula Risikko and Foreign Minister Timo Soini agree on the fact that all EU countries will have to fulfill their responsibilities in the future. They refer to the 2015 agreement by which the EU countries agree on sharing the burden of Italy and Greece. The agreement has failed in every way. Foreign Minister Soini has already said that Finland cannot commit itself to new internal transfers of asylum seekers within the EU. According to him, all EU countries must first stick to their old promises. Both Soini and Risiko agree that it is most important to influence the roots of immigration.

Summary:
Helsingin Sanomat writes that the Brexit negotiations have started in Brussels. The biggest issue is how the Brits will regard the payment obligations of 100 billion euros. Foreign Minister Timo Soini became a sub-plot to Brexit news reporting when Bloomberg used a story about Brexit Minister Davis accidentally calling Brexit negotiator Barnier instead of Mr Soini as an example of the British government’s mess. Mr Soini underlines that Finland stands with the remaining EU member states when it comes to the negotiations. It has been assessed that the EU is much better prepared for the negotiations than Britain.

Summary:
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a formal note to Finland in mid-June in which it expressed its disappointment with Finnish consul Virpi Hanhikoski’s presence in the imprisonment trial of Dmitri Bogatshev, who is suspected of the smuggling of weapons. Experts wonder whether the timing of the note is related to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Finland. UPI director Teija Tiilikainen says that the timing raises questions, but that Putin’s agenda will become clear only later. The exchange of notes between foreign ministries is in itself an ordinary diplomatic exchange, though it is unusual to make them public. On Monday, Keijo Norvanto from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented on the note shortly to Ilta-Sanomat, saying the Ministry receives and handles hundreds of notes every year. Norvanto did not comment on how and when the note will be answered. Foreign Minister Timo Soini was not available for comment. The Finnish Foreign Ministry now holds a low profile on the issue.