Speech by President of the Republic Tarja Halonen at the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, 8 September 2010

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We are the first generation to fully realize that our planet is the shared home of the whole humankind. In the global world, the importance of multilateral cooperation has continued to grow. Our common challenges are becoming broader and more multidimensional. This means that also our cooperation must be more effective and global.

In addition to armed conflicts, peace and security are undermined by human rights violations, extreme poverty, terrorism and contagious diseases. Natural disasters and accelerating climate change are likewise threats to all of us. In addition, food, energy and economic crises frequently call for our action. All in all, we need more sustainable development.

The United Nations is the most important global forum in strengthening international peace, security and development and promoting human rights. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), located in Rome, does significant work also from the viewpoint of sustainable development. In addition to the UN, regional organizations, the Council of Europe and the OSCE play a vital role. The European Union is naturally an important channel of action for Finland.

Finland's foreign and security policy is based on a broad concept of security. We understand peace in a much broader sense than simply the absence of war. Peace should mean democracy, respect for human rights, human security and social justice. In other words, sustainable development.

Finland, like Italy, participates in international crisis management to promote peace and security, development and respect for human rights. We are involved in operations led by the UN, the EU and NATO.

With the nature of crises changing, we must be capable of activities that include both military and non-military crisis management aspects. The situations in Afghanistan, Darfur and Somalia show that peace, stability and security require more than crisis management. It is important that military and civilian crisis management, development cooperation and humanitarian aid are coordinated in order to achieve sustainable results.

Respect for the fundamental and human rights of all people, including women and girls, must be ensured in all crisis management operations in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

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This year marks a decade since the UN Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals were adopted. I co-chaired the Summit together with the President of Namibia and remember well the enthusiastic atmosphere at the meeting. The progress towards the goals will now be reviewed at a special meeting that will be held in connection with the UN General Assembly. It will be a kind of halfway assessment, which does not look entirely good. The work must be continued with even greater determination. Achieving the goals would have crucial effect for global security and sustainable development.

Almost forty years have passed since the Club of Rome published its report “The Limits to Growth” in 1972. The Club of Rome called for humankind to re-evaluate its exploitative attitude towards humans and the earth itself. This calling for global responsibility is even more pressing today.

I do not want to underestimate the economic difficulties, but they should not slow down actions against climate change. Finland has emphasized women's role as well as paying attention to gender aspect in climate negotiations.

Achieving sustainable and socially just development requires broad cooperation among different actors internationally. I have the honour of co-chairing the High-level Panel on Global Sustainability, launched by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in August, together with President Jacob Zuma of South Africa. Our aim is to create new ideas so that the international community can respond better to the challenges of increasing environmental problems and promote the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

The intention is that the Panel's recommendations will be used in preparing the UN Conference on Sustainable Development to be held in Rio de Janeiro in 2012. The work is expected to be completed by the end of 2011.

Environmental protection and economic development are indeed not mutually exclusive objectives. Sustainable development means ensuring the well-being of people and the nature. To achieve this objective we need new knowledge and expertise. Finland wants to be at the forefront in developing clean technologies.

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Finland has been a member of the European Union for 15 years. During this time, the Union has changed a great deal. The number of Member States has nearly doubled, and the EU has gone through several treaty processes.

The EU Member States are linked by shared values: human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Europe is broader than the European Union, however. It is good to remember that these same values were also the basis for the establishment of the Council of Europe over 60 years ago. The Council of Europe's strong human rights standards and the Strasbourg European Court of Human Rights, which exercises supranational authority, have had a key influence on legislation and the development of legal security in the European Union's Member states.

In the European Union we can be proud that human rights and fundamental freedoms are implemented well in our countries as a rule. But there are still challenges. We have not yet succeeded in completely eliminating discrimination. Minorities such as the Roma and immigrants are in a very difficult position in many countries. The Roma face discrimination all over Europe and their fundamental rights are implemented poorly. They are often victims of human trafficking. To eliminate discrimination and human trafficking we need determined action from the governments of the Member States and the European Union.

Violence against women will receive special attention at the UN this autumn. Unfortunately, it is a familiar problem in Europe as well. Our continent is a significant destination for human trafficking. Domestic violence is also part of everyday life for many European women.
While Finland, Italy and the European Union work to promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law globally, it is important that we have the courage to recognize violations of human rights and the need for development in our own countries.

With the Lisbon Treaty the EU now has better preconditions to work for these values. The will of the Member States to promote a common policy is also important. The better we can speak with one voice, the more influence and authority the Union will have.

In recent years, the work of the EU has focused on economic and international issues. Current crises and problems draw the main attention. The common values of the European Union are often regarded so self-evident that they receive less attention.

Finland has consistently supported the enlargement of the Union. We believe that it strengthens stability, democracy and prosperity throughout the continent. Finland supports EU membership for all the Western Balkan countries and Turkey. We consider it important, however, that candidates meet the required criteria. Finland is also satisfied that the accession negotiations have begun with Iceland.

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The Nordic welfare model is based on strong democracy, joint responsibility and social justice. People value high-standard services, such as education, health care and social services, which include a daycare system and services for the elderly.

The welfare state is a positive thing for both individuals and the society. I strongly believe that equality of women and men is a human rights issue, and that it also provides opportunities for developing society. This is clearly reflected in international comparisons, too.

Of course, balancing work and family life is a challenge for many women and men in Finland as well, although it is easier than in many other countries. Thanks to excellent maternal care, family leave system, children’s daycare and pre-school system and, for instance, free warm meals at school, both men and women can participate actively in working life as well as take care of their families.

The Finnish education system repeatedly achieves good results in international comparisons. We do not take this for granted but constantly aim to develop it. We believe that education plays an important role both in equality between people and the nation’s competitiveness and economic success. Modern democracy also requires that people are well-educated.

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Bilateral relations between Finland and Italy are excellent. Interaction is lively and diverse.

Italy is an important trade partner for Finland, traditionally among the top ten. Trade has grown steadily. The economic recession affected our trade figures last year, but this year the trend has already turned upwards. Around 80 Finnish companies have established operations in Italy.

Geographically our countries are located in different parts of Europe. Many factors nevertheless connect us. We are border countries of the EU. For Finland the Baltic Sea and for Italy the Mediterranean are vital in many respects. Both seas also face great environmental challenges. I hope that we can also exchange experiences and enhance cooperation in this area.

It goes without saying that Italy's significance in the history of European culture is well known in Finland. Students and pilgrims have travelled here since the 15th century. Later on many Finnish artists came to admire Italy's art treasures and also sought inspiration from your beautiful country. Queen Christina of Sweden, which at that time included Finland, lived opposite this very building in the 17th century.

Nowadays interaction in the cultural field is vibrant in both directions. Multifaceted cultural and scientific cooperation receives support from the Finnish Institute for Classical Studies in Rome (Villa Lante) and from the Italian Cultural Institute in Helsinki. Villa Lante promotes research in the arts, antiquity and Italy but also assists researchers in other fields. The direct and indirect significance of Villa Lante is great, since over 5,000 Finnish researchers and artists have studied or worked there.

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I have tried to tell you briefly about Finland’s interest in Italy and raise your curiosity about Finland. I believe that it would benefit both of us.

Thank you for the attention.