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.
Étiquette : Foreign Affairs Policy
Timo Soini’s historical praise made a Member of Parliament ask: ‘Timo Soini! Are you at all ashamed?’
Summary:
Demokraatti writes that Foreign Minister of Finland Timo Soini sees the EU’s new defense cooperation as a historical event and the best thing Finland can get from the EU. The new cooperation agreement was signed by 23 states. The contract reminds Finland that the EU member states agree to help each other in trouble. Soini finds that the contract shows the erroneous nature of criticism of the government’s EU policy being passive. Not everyone agrees with Soini, however, and Member of Parliament from the Left Alliance Markus Mustajärvi commented his words critically.
Media: 
Demokraatti.fi
Date: 14.11.2017
Journalist: –
Main source: –
President Niinistö believes in practical collaboration: black carbon could be a suitable topic
Summary:
In connection with the visit of the US Secretary of Defense James Mattis, Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö brought up practical deeds in easing tension between countries. He asked whether now would be a good time to build understanding within concrete civil issues as times are restless. As an example, he mentioned black carbon emissions: there is wide accord on their reduction. « I have been satisfied with the reception of the idea both in Moscow and Washington, » he said. The President added that he believes that practical everyday collaboration could lead to greater results than collaborating in projects.
Soini on Catalonia: Unilateral independence declarations are not fruitful
Summary:
Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini commented on Catalonia’s independence declaration to YLE. He said that it does not meet with the principles of the democratic process as opposition parties were not present. Spain should now proceed legally and through negotiations, Minister Soini said and pointed out that the Spanish constitution must be obeyed. Furthermore, EU should support Spain.
Media: YLE Uutiset
Date: 27.10.2017
Journalist: Annette Blencowe
Main source: Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini
Soini: Cohesion fund budget to be reconsidered if member states do not take their share of asylum seekers
Summary:
Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini thinks that the European Union must reconsider the use of cohesion funds if member states decline to take their share of internal asylum seeker transfers. Finland’s position in the question is clear, Mr Soini told STT. The subsidies should be cut from countries that close their borders from internal transfers.
Media: Turun Sanomat
Date: 23.10.2017
Journalist: STT
Main source: Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini
President Sauli Niinistö to Polish newspaper: Finns cannot be cheated
Summary:
Verkkouutiset writes that the interview of Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö by the Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza has been published on the Euractiv news site. In the interview, Niinistö said that he was able to find a common language with both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. Niinistö also rejected the claims that Russia is trying to split Finland from rest of the EU. Niinistö said that Finland has suffered the most from the sanctions against Russia, yet Finland stands steadfast behind the sanctions. Niinistö also said that the EU needs a more unified common foreign and security policy.
Conviction of a Finn discussed in an EU meeting
Summary:
Aamulehti reports that during the meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg on Monday, Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini raised the topic of the Finnish journalist convicted in Turkey as an example of the worrying state of freedom of speech in Turkey. Minister Soini said the discussion over Turkey was very critical but opinions were quite divided. Many countries still want to continue membership negotiations with Turkey, also Finland. « International politics are complicated, » Mr Soini said. Finland will see the journalist’s judicial process through before making any moves.
Media: Aamulehti (E-edition, PDF) 
Date: 17.10.2017
Journalist: Anniina Luotonen
Main source: Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini
Soini comments on Finnish journalist’s arrest in Turkey
Summary:
Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini is concerned over the freedom of journalists’ work and freedom of expression in Turkey. According to Minister Soini, Finland has conveyed a message about journalism’s problematic situation in Turkey to the country’s leaders and it must be reiterated. He adds that the Ministry is taking the convicted Finnish journalist’s situation in Turkey seriously, and that the Embassy in Ankara is handling the issue.
Media: MTV – Finland
Date: 11.10.2017
Journalist: STT
Main source: Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini