President Halonen in Aachen: the success of the EU is based on the confidence of its citizens

According to President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen, the success of the European Union is ultimately based on the confidence of its citizens, which in turn rests on everyday experience. “The Europeans of today want freedom, but they also want security. They are firmly in favour of sustainable development, but they also want creature comforts. People want to work and earn their own living, but society is also expected to provide social security.”

President Halonen talked about the future prospects and requirements for Europe at the Charlemagne Prize Forum on Wednesday 24 May in Aachen in Germany. The esteemed Charlemagne Prize of the city of Aachen was given this year to Luxemburg’s Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker on 25 May.

President Halonen also highlighted developing internal markets, improving competitiveness, enhancing global co-operation, and investments on both basic education and research and development, catering for ageing population, and enhanced investment on lifelong learning as Europe's factors of success.

President Halonen said that the European Union must be based on genuine cooperation and solidarity, and on the desire to create a better future together. “However, blinkered selfishness is ultimately self-defeating in society and in the EU. European integration has always been and must always be cooperation that benefits all participating countries. We are in a win-win model, not a zero-sum game. It is a form of sustainable development.”

Regarding the enlargement of the EU, President Halonen stated that the enlargement has promoted stability and security in Europe and benefited both old and new member states. “Successful enlargement also increases the international importance of the European Union. Finland has declared herself in favour of further future enlargement on several occasions.”

”The EU has to apply the same principles to all applicant countries, and each applicant must progress towards membership on its own merits. We should also remember what the criteria do not include. We are not aiming at a single culture. Quite the contrary — a plurality of cultures is a richness for Europe.”

According to President Halonen, Finland has methodically supported the Constitutional Treaty, which is a jointly approved compromise. Despite of its defects, Halonen regards this treaty as a significant improvement on the present state of affairs.

”It is important to maintain the delicate balance of the Treaty through the reflection period and to reach a consensus on a new solution already next year. It would be unrealistic to consider that the countries who have already rejected the Constitutional Treaty once in a referendum could be forced into accepting it. Equally, it would be impossible to force countries that have already ratified the Constitutional Treaty into accepting a new or an amended treaty.”

“European integration does not happen through coercion or pressure. Integration can only proceed as a project serving shared targets and interests, with the support of citizens. A new Treaty for the Union can only be achieved through a just and equal negotiation process.”

President Halonen mentioned that challenges for the incoming EU Presidency of Finland are, for example, the Northern Dimension, the renewal of agreements between the EU and Russia, the neighbourhood policy, the situation in the countries of western Balkans, establishing the future of Kosovo, and energy policy.

Full text of the speech