Suomen Eduskunta
Suomen Eduskunta
03/27/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/27/2023 06:32
Grand Committee on the Government Report on the Future: the importance of EU cooperation even more prominent
Published 3/27/2023 3:00 PM
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Grand Committee on the Government Report on the Future: the importance of EU cooperation even more prominent
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The Grand Committee states in its statement on the Government Report on the Future that the EU is the most important reference framework, channel of influence and security community for Finland's economy and foreign relations. The Committee considers that Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine has further emphasized the importance of EU cooperation. Europe's support for Ukraine has once again shown that the EU is able to act jointly and urgently in serious crisis situations. The Grand Committee considers it important to improve the EU's crisis resilience and its response to unforeseen circumstances, as well as to incorporate foresight into legislative work.
The Grand Committee has stressed in several statements the importance of proactive national decision-making on EU affairs and influence on EU decision-making. For influence to be effective, Finland must have a comprehensive and clear strategic vision of where the EU should be going and how it can be achieved. The Grand Committee emphasises the need for a forward-looking and solution-oriented EU-policy.
The Committee considers it important that the EU is even better prepared for hostile influence attempts from outside and the effects of the rise of authoritarianism. The EU must continue to actively defend and support fundamental and human rights, democracy, and rules-based multilateral international cooperation.
The Committee stresses the importance of involving young people in the discussion about the future of the EU. It is also necessary to think about ways to ensure sufficient competence in EU affairs in Finland and to maintain the Finns' strong support for the EU's activities.
The EU must build its operations on its strengths, which include, for example, the open internal market, trade policy, climate measures and responding to security issues.
Categories
EU affairs; Grand Committee