Summary:
A majority of EU countries is going to participate in the proposal by the French President Emmanuel Macron to consult EU citizens on the future of the Union. Only Hungary and the UK are not participating.

The consultation sounds organised, but at least in Finland there is no clear picture of how the discussions are to be utilised. In Finland, Ministers have promised to hold open discussion events.

The European Parliament’s Information Office in Finland will also arrange events. The idea of a web survey has not been very popular in Finland. The Government has proposed that instead, there could be a few extra questions on the Union’s future in the eurobarometer survey.

Summary:
According to Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö, the poisoning attempt of the Russian agent, Sergei Skripal, in the UK is a very severe blow to international security. He finds that Russia should contribute to the investigation of the crime.

President Niinistö said that both alternatives proposed to the events, the fact that Russia has been an active player in the events, and that the dangerous substances are not under its control, are both very worrying.

According to the President, Finland is ready to give all its support and help to the UK.

Summary:
Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö spoke about various topics in his annual New Year’s speech. In the part that focused on foreign affairs, President Niinistö talked about the major powers, North Korea and climate change. According to President Niinistö, the small Finland has its own place in world politics, and the country likes to offer its services to others when there is demand for them, while the world is spinning around and major powers control world politics. President Niinistö is concerned over the shrinking roles of the European Union and United Nations (UN). Finland supports the initiative to reform the UN, with the aim to increase the effectiveness and responsibility of the organisation, the President said. In his speech, President Niinistö also expressed a wish on stopping climate change and progress of the Paris Climate Agreement. He pointed out that Finland is taking responsibility in the sector. The planet is not only for us, it is for continuity, and that we must guarantee, the President stated.

Summary:
The official Finnish name for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs changes from ulkoasiainministeriö to ulkoministeriö. The Ministry’s Swedish and English names remain unchanged. At the beginning of the year, the Ministry also gets a new visual look and logo.

Media:  Demokraatti.fi
Date: 31.12.2017
Journalist: STT
Main source: –

Summary:
Helsingin Sanomat interviews President Sauli Niinistö, who says that if he was re-elected in the upcoming Presidential elections in January, he would approach his second term through « three peaces ». By this, the President means avoiding wars, as well as maintaining the peace of nature and society. What comes to relations with Russia, President Niinistö finds that they are as good as they can be under the circumstances. « Under the circumstances means that Finland was the first to condemn the Crimea takeover and Finland has shown its support to sanctions, » the President adds. He declines to comment on under what circumstances Finland should join NATO. However, the President says that if Sweden joined NATO, Finland should consider its options. In EU affairs, President Niinistö does not believe that Brexit is a breaking point for EU. When Finland becomes EU president in autumn 2019, President Niinistö thinks that Finland should then keep mutual solidarity as well as security issues on the agenda.