Speech by President of the Republic Tarja Halonen at the opening of the annual session of the Eduskunta on 3.2.2004

The new Constitution of Finland has been in force for nearly four years. One of the central aims in revising our constitutional provisions was to strengthen the parliamentary features of our system of government.

The reform also meant a considerable change in the procedure by which the Government is formed in that it transferred the principal responsibility for this from the President of the Republic to the Eduskunta.

This new procedure was followed for the first time after last spring’s general election. The negotiations to form a government and the Eduskunta’s election of a Prime Minister proceeded briskly and in good order.

The new procedure for forming a government had to be employed again a short time later after Prime Minister Anneli Jäätteenmäki had submitted her government’s resignation in June.

Last spring and summer demonstrated that the provisions of the Constitution and the recommendations approved by the parliamentary factions as well as our political system function also in difficult political situations. The government of Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen formed on the earlier coalition base has rapidly gained public confidence.

At the opening of last year’s parliamentary session I emphasised the importance of the highest organs of state being able to cooperate with each other. In this connection I can say that cooperation with Prime Minister Vanhanen and his government has been going well all round.

I also consider it important that the President of the Republic and the members of the Eduskunta keep in touch. Since the new government took office, I have met all of the parliamentary factions and some of the standing committees. These meetings have been interesting and useful. For my part, I am prepared to continue discussions with the members of the Eduskunta on themes of common concern.

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In the course of the annual session now beginning, many important government bills and other matters will be submitted to the Eduskunta for deliberation. The most important of them will undoubtedly include negotiations to produce a Constitutional Treaty for the European Union. Restructuring of the Union and enlargement form a totality that will substantially transform the political map of Europe and affect Finland’s foreign and security policy.

The rapid development of the situation in Europe together with broader international changes make the report on security and defence policy to be submitted to the Eduskunta this year especially important. It will contain a section outlining changes in the environment in which Finnish security operates and conclusions concerning our national operational line.

The previous report was submitted to the Eduskunta during the spring session in 2001. When deliberation of it began in this house during the autumn session, terrorism substantially altered our picture of international security. Already on the evening of September 11, Federal President Johannes Rau of Germany, who happened to be on a state visit to Finland, said the world would never be the same again. And so it has proven – and the Eduskunta came to the same conclusion in its own statement.

Also now as the new report is being drafted, we have only limited chances of knowing what will happen in the future. That is why we must aim for a creative, but yet realistic deliberation.

The report will set forth how Finland’s defence will be developed and how, in various sectors of administration, our preparedness to respond to new kinds of threats and safeguard vital functions in society in all circumstances will be improved. The time lag between decisions and their implementation is long. The report will provide an opportunity for long-term development of preparedness systems for the Defence Forces and internal security.

The development of the European Union’s foreign and security policy, Finland’s independent defence as well as our relationship with the North Atlantic alliance NATO will undoubtedly also be the focuses of extensive examination.

The report is being drafted in a parliamentary manner. The President of the Republic and the Government are responsible for its drafting and contents. The Eduskunta will deliberate the report and present its own conclusions to the Government.

Drafting of the report has made good progress and I am optimistic that it can be submitted to the Eduskunta on schedule.

When it was deliberating the previous report, the Eduskunta stipulated that its most important committees be involved already in the drafting stage as well as that also the input of civil society and research institutes be availed of by consulting them during the drafting stage. The follow-up group appointed by the Prime Minister then and now chaired by Representative Ranta-Muotio has done valuable work in this respect.

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The accession of ten new countries to the European Union is a positive thing from the point of view of Finland and the Finns.

Enlargement is removing the Cold War dividing line for good. The original goal of European integration – to strengthen peace – is being realised more clearly. Enlargement will continue and increase stability in Europe. The process will not end for the new members at the beginning of May, either; instead, they will have to continue developing their societies and implementing Union legislation. The Union and the old members must make their own contributions here.

It is also hoped that enlargement will add momentum to the European economy. An expansion of the internal market will benefit old and new members. An enlarged Union can also be a stronger actor in a globalising world economy. A strengthening of the economy of the EU area will create better conditions in which to safeguard employment and prosperity in Finland.

A constantly growing part of Union legislation directly affects citizens and their everyday lives. Common provisions and measures are strengthening the fundamental rights of Europeans and eliminating discrimination, combating cross-border crime and protecting the environment, and the situation and health of consumers is being safeguarded. All of these provisions will apply also to the new members from the time they join. Their effective implementation is important, because when fences are lowered the neighbours’ affairs must also be in order.

The most recent changes to the Union’s founding treaties have increased the powers of the European Parliament, which has now been elevated to the status of a legislator alongside the Council, which is composed of representatives of the governments of the member states. Proposals now before the IGC would give the European Parliament even greater power in such matters as appointing the Commission, enacting legislation and budget matters.

This development has been hardly discussed in Finland at all. We could give some thought to how we can promote matters of importance to us more effectively also in the European Parliament.

The 14 Finnish members of the European Parliament who will be chosen in the elections next June will be important wielders of influence in the Union. An active MEP who concentrates on matters within the remit of the European Parliament and keeps conversant with feelings at home can make a significant contribution on Finland’s and the Finns’ behalf. Correspondingly, it would be advisable to reflect on how the input of MEPs could be strengthened in their own country’s social discourse and decision making.

In this context I repeat my expression of hope that participation in the European Parliament elections next June will be high.

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Finland has consistently emphasised the role of the UN and especially the Security Council in solving the Iraq crisis. The situation in Iraq shows that it is possible for a country to wage a war on its own, and to win the war on its own. But when one is building permanent peace and security, international cooperation is needed.

The debate on whether the war in Iraq was justified or not will go on for a long time. Conducting a debate is important in order to foster international trust. However, more strength should be concentrated on building a better future for the people of Iraq. The recent development provides hope that the UN will be able to assume the central role in the reconstruction of Iraq to which it is entitled.

Finland and the European Union are supporting the reconstruction of Iraq. The goal is a democratic and prosperous society. I hope Iraq will as soon as possible be able to take its place, on a basis of equality, as a nation among other nations.

Building the future must be based on the Iraqis’ own will. Enacting a new constitution, arranging elections and choosing a new legal government are a central part of the democratisation process.

Democracy, human rights and the legality principle should be promoted throughout the Middle East. In this respect, the development in Iraq will have a significant influence on the whole of the surrounding region.

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Tomorrow, after Prime Minister Vanhanen’s opening speech, the Eduskunta will debate the Government’s policy in 2004 and the most central legislative proposals. Therefore I shall mention only one of the items of legislation that the Government will be introducing.

It is the intention of the Government to introduce, in the course of this annual session of the Eduskunta, a bill to amend the legislation, originally enacted in the 19th century, on execution of sentences.

I have been following the bill’s drafting and the changes that have taken place in our prison system. The aim with the comprehensive revision is to modernise our prison service. The prison population has grown in recent years. The rise is attributable in part to an increase in the gravity of crimes, internationalisation and the spread of organised crime. Nevertheless, persons who have been socially marginalised account for a large proportion of our prison population.

The goal of the prison service must be reduce recidivism and improve the ability of prisoners to return to society. Sentences must be executed in a way that means security from the perspectives of society, prison staff and prisoners and respects human rights and the rule of law.

A person sentenced to life imprisonment can nowadays be released only if granted a pardon by the President of the Republic. Thus a pardon is a regular mode of release for prisoners serving life sentences, and it is one that does not quite accord with the fundamental purpose of a pardon.

Life sentences must be distinct from other prison sentences, but there is a need to reform the regular procedure for releasing life prisoners. Decisions to release them on probation should preferably be taken by a court of law. The area of application of the President of the Republic’s right to pardon must continue to be restricted to pardoning life prisoners in individual cases.

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Esteemed Parliamentarians, I wish you success and wisdom in your work and declare the 2004 session of the Eduskunta open.