Finse regering: met nieuwe Europese grondwet wachten tot beter politiek klimaat (en)

EUOBSERVER / HELSINKI - The Finnish government has said an improved overall "political climate" is necessary to give a slightly re-drafted EU constitution a chance, as Helsinki takes over the EU's helm on Saturday (1 July).

Just hours before the launch of the six-month presidency, Finnish prime minister Matti Vanhanen told journalists in Helsinki on Friday that it is crucial to wait for next year's elections in France and the Netherlands before a real solution to the EU's institutional limbo can be found.

He indicated that before that time, "it is not possible to have conclusions."

"Personally, I think the problem with the constitution [in those countries] was not in details or single articles but with the overall political climate."

"We have to change that political climate and then we may reach a momentum to see a change in views on the constitution," he noted, adding that a deal on the services directive, for example, could change French citizens' concerns.

Foreign minister Erkki Tuomioja said on Thursday "We now have almost 100 percent certainty that the constitution in its present form will not be preserved."

But he argued that future talks should ensure that whatever new text emerges it should "as much as possible" resemble the current treaty, while "the easiest way would be to drop the name."

During its presidency, Finland is planning to ratify the constitution itself in autumn as the 16th member state to do so, while at the same time launching a series of consultations with other member states on where to head next with it.

Taking it personally if Turkey talks fail

The Nordic country, a member of the union since 1995, has a packed agenda for its six months at the head of the EU, with the constitution, enlargement, innovation and energy - including its foreign policy implications for relationship with Russia - topping the list of priorities.

"We are starting in a decisive and optimistic mood and we think Finland has a lot to give to the EU," Mr Vanhanen said.

Enlargement is set to be the most pressing issue on Finland's working agenda, with the Finnish leader saying he "shared totally" concerns on the situation of Turkey expressed earlier by his fellow national - EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn.

It was in Helsinki seven years ago when Turkey was granted a candidate country status following decades of rejection from Europe.

But just year after Ankara launched official entry talks last year, the talks could be suspended in the autumn due to Turkish failure to implement a customs agreement obliging Ankara to open its ports and airspace to Greek Cypriots.

Mr Vanhanen said Helsinki will work hard to avoid any dramatic development, adding that he would consider it as his personal failure if the talks were stalled.

"It would be a failure of Turkey and of the EU," foreign minister Tuomioja noted.

Another hot issue during Helsinki's chairmanship will be the final phase of international talks on the status of Kosovo, in which Mr Vanhanen said the EU would follow and support the line taken by Marti Ahtisaari, the Finnish UN appointee to lead the negotiations.

No fixed EU borders

Mr Vanhanen also said he backed the commission's line on Bulgaria and Romania, which has put conditions on the two hopefuls that must be fulfilled over the summer before a scheduled 1 January 2007 entry date can be confirmed.

But Helsinki also aspires to achieve a "new consensus" also on more general principles of Europe's future expansion.

Mr Vanhanen said it was a crucial decision by EU leaders at the Brussels summit earlier this month to say that the bloc's "absorption capacity" to take in new members should not be viewed as another criterion for enlargement.

The commission will in the autumn present a key report on the union's expanding capacity to trigger the debate, but Mr Vanhanen warned "Absorption capacity can't cause any harm to candidate countries... It shouldn't be a problem for them."

He stressed that there should not be extra criteria and conditions for new EU hopefuls, adding "We have to have a fair play."

"We shouldn't define borders of Europe," he said. "European countries which share our values..must have a possibility to join."