Summary:

Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini estimates in Aamulehti that the personnel of the European Union will face cooperation negotiations in the next few years after the UK stops paying for its EU membership. « Other countries will not pay for the UK’s payments, » he points out. Once the UK leaves, the EU needs to cut its budget and lay off staff, the Minister estimates. Another issue is the use of money in the EU. Minister Soini thinks that the Union needs major reforms if it wants to remain. « It means less and better EU. » He does not support deeper integration. What comes to Finland’s EU exit referendum, Minister Soini has not decided his opinion yet, but he says that this government will not organise a vote on it.

Summary:

Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini comments on his visit to the UK. It has been widely criticised. According to him, other ministers have met their interest groups around the world and it is completely normal. Mr Soini states that he has done nothing that should be criticised. He is happy that Finland and the Finns party has such an excellent relationship with the UK. The fuss started after Mr Soini announced that he will visit the UK and meet both representatives of the Brexit and Bremain camps.

Media:  Helsingin Sanomat

Date: 1.7.2016

Journalist: Jaana Savolainen, Juho-Pekka Pekonen

Summary:

Editorial in Maaseudun Tulevaisuus discussed the President of Russia Vladimir Putin’s visit to Finland. While Sweden criticized Finland before the visit, President of Finland Sauli Niinistö managed to strengthen Finland’s position as a mediator between Russia and the West by contacting with the EU’s leading countries and Ukraine prior to the visit. Niinistö also emphasized to Putin that Finland was involved in setting sanctions on Russia instead of just law-abidingly following them. Reducing the sanctions or at least increasing clarity is important, because Russia is an important export partner for Finland.

Media:  Maaseudun Tulevaisuus

Date: 4.7.2016

Journalist: –

Summary:

Representatives of all parties in the Finnish government estimate that the main reason for President Sauli Niinistö’s popularity is his actions related to the foreign politics. He is thanked, for example, for taking care of foreign policy matters responsibly and for emphasising the importance of the relationship with Russia. HS published a questionnaire regarding the subject on Sunday and according to it, 89 per cent think that President Niinistö has succeeded either quite or very well in his job. He has been popular all the time during his presidency but it seems to reach same levels with President Tarja Halonen’s peak times now.

Summary:

Uusisuomi reports that according to Finnish Interior Minister Petteri Orpo, membership in Nato would improve the Finnish security. However, he would like to retain the Finnish self-defence forces as well. He also stresses the need to be ready for hybrid warfare. Also, the common EU foreign and security policy must be tightened. EU and Nato should also increase their cooperation.

Media:  Uusi Suomi

Date: 6.6.2016

Journalist: 

Main source: Minister of Interior Petteri Orpo

Summary:

The Finnish Foreign Minister Timo Soini met his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Monday. The international military exercises Baltops started in Hanko, Finland, during the same day. Mr Soini talked about the exercises after the meeting and stated that they have carried out such exercises since 1993. Mr Lavrov also answered journalists’ questions. According to him, it was beneficial for Russia to participate in the Baltops earlier but not now when they are used as a weapon to incite hysteria against Russia. Both Mr Soini and Mr Lavrov looked happy in each other’s company and were very positive about the collaboration.

Summary:

President Sauli Niinistö comments on the Russian President Vladimir Putin’s future visit to Finland. According to him, it is a natural continuation to his own visits to meet Mr Putin. Mr Niinistö says that with this, Finland does not differ from other European countries. He highlights that the coming visit is a working visit, not a festive occasion. Mr Niinistö believes that they will discuss big international matters and the economy between the two countries.

Media:  Pohjalainen 

Date: 6.6.2016

Journalist: STT

Main source: President Sauli Niinistö

Verkkouutiset reports that a recent foreign and security policy statement by the National Coalition Party proposes that Finland should apply for NATO membership in the next few years. According to the statement, a broad interpretation of the EU’s mutual assistance clause is an advantage for Finland. At the same time, it must be remembered that the EU is not a defence alliance. The EU does not have a credible military capability to plan and command required by a common defence. These capabilities will not be created since 22 of the 28 member states are NATO members.

Media:  Verkkouutiset

Date: 26.5.2016