Summary:
Brexit is complicating the planning of the EU’s future budgets, writes Helsingin Sanomat. The Finnish Government is assuming an absolute position in the budget negotiations. Minister of European Affairs Sampo Terho (Blue) maintains that if the Union becomes smaller, the budget must also shrink. MEP Petri Sarvamaa (EPP), First Vice-Chair of the European Parliament’s Budget Committee, is very disappointed in the Government’s position, saying it is incomprehensible and ignorant. He says Finland’s position reflects an old-fashioned zero-sum game attitude although Brexit would allow for reforming the Union’s stiff budget framework and seek European solutions that would benefit Finland, too.

Media:  Helsingin Sanomat
Date: 15.11.2017
Journalist: Pekka Mykkänen
Main source: MEP Petri Sarvamaa (EPP); Sampo Terho, Minister of European Affairs