EU-Vorsitz

[sunny1011]

Was war da bloss im Spiel? Ein offizieller Bericht aus dem inoffiziellen Gipfeltreffen in Lahti im Oktober 2006 ist in Spanien in einem Mülleimer aufgetaucht 80

http://www.hs.fi/ulkomaat/artikkeli/Lah ... 5222958603

[sunny1011]

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Prime Minister Vanhanen feels that the most important achievement of the Finnish EU Presidency has been the agreement that was reached on the EU’s Chemical Law, the Service Directive, the decision on the enlargement of the Schengen zone, and the promotion of the EU’s external relations.
The failure to pass a directive on working hours was a disappointment to Vanhanen.
The European Commission has severely criticised Finland over attempts to agree on the EU’s tight budget for next year.
Vanhanen does not believe that a tough line on the matter would make it more difficult to get Finns appointed in the future.
"Of course they express critical views, because they would have had to implement the cuts, and that is never fun to do. Finland worked on behalf of efficiency, and that is a good thing."

Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen feels that the starting points for the Finnish period were difficult, and that in that respect, he says that Finland achieved very much.
"All in all, the Finnish period has been a great success. It has worked well, and it can be seen as an economically-oriented period, during which much legislation has been achieved", Rasmussen said.
Javier Solana, the High Representative of the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU, simply characterised the Finnish EU Presidency as "Very good, very good", as he rushed to a meeting.

http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Finnis ... 5223705807

Budgetmässig haben sie allemal übers Ziel hinausgeschossen - mal abwarten wenn die endgültigen Zahlen kommen.

[sunny1011]

Geteilte Meinungen über den finnischen Vorsitz. Nicht mehr so positiv wie in 1999 (zu den Zeiten von Paavo Lipponen :thumbsu: ) Obwohl:

." In 1999, when Paavo Lipponen was the Finnish Prime Minister, the Finnish presidency began with an unexpected language dispute raised by Germany."

Weiss jemand mehr? Ging es um die Amtsübersetzungen, die Finnen verweigert haben? Das war doch auch jetzt der Fall, oder?

Natürlich waren die derzeitigen Angelegenheiten wie Lebanon, Russland etc. nicht so einfach, das muss man schon zugeben.

Finnish European Union Presidency seen as somewhat lacklustre

The feared "collision" with Turkey was avoided during the Finnish Presidency of the European Union, significant chemicals legislation and a service directive were passed, and Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja dealt with the crisis in Lebanon in an exemplary fashion. Nevertheless, Finland’s six-month period at the helm of the EU was seen to be somewhat lacklustre.
"It was not as successful as the 1999 Presidency", says Simon Taylor, correspondent of the weekly European Voice. Taylor has closely watched both of Finland’s EU presidencies.
Taylor noted that Turkey was accepted as a membership applicant at the Helsinki summit during the previous Finnish EU Presidency, in December 1999.

At this year’s December summit, the atmosphere concerning Turkey was completely different. Finland managed to narrowly avert a situation in which disagreements over Turkey would become the main topic of discussion among EU leaders. The actual membership talks are on hold for all practical purposes.
Taylor also sees other contrasts with the first Finnish EU Presidency.
"The Presidency team is not as good. [Prime Minister] Matti Vanhanen is not as convincing as Paavo Lipponen was." In 1999, when Paavo Lipponen was the Finnish Prime Minister, the Finnish presidency began with an unexpected language dispute raised by Germany.
The current presidency, under the leadership of Matti Vanhanen began more dramatically, with the crisis in Lebanon.
Lebanon made Tuomioja cancel his summer holiday plans, but the drafting of a common EU stand on Lebanon proved successful.

There was less success in seeking common ground on Russia.
Concerns over energy supplies would have put Russia on the EU agenda anyway, but Finland pushed the importance of Russia up another notch. President Vladimir Putin was invited to the Lahti EU summit as a dinner guest; EU leaders spoke in a more or less united voice, and Vanhanen praised "the spirit of Lahti".
By November that spirit had turned somewhat frosty. The EU-Russia summit was overshadowed by a dispute between Poland and Russia over meat exports, and no agreement could be reached on discussions on a new partnership agreement.
However, Michael Emerson, Russia expert at the Centre for European Policy Studies in Brussels, says that this was not Finland’s fault. In his view, no country could have resolved the issues with Russia, or the problems with Turkey.
"I know that your prime minister and his colleagues have worked hard. I do not believe that anyone is blaming Finland for the failure."
Emerson adds that expectations for EU presidencies are usually set too high, and that six months is too short a time to achieve very much. Now massive expectations are being heaped on Germany - Finland’s successor at the EU Presidency.
Simon Taylor of European Voice says that Germany has been something of a shadow president throughout the Finnish Presidency.
Taylor’s view that the Finnish EU Presidency has been an "interim presidency" is fairly common in Brussels.

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[Sapmi]

Ach, nur keine Sorge. Merkelin wird's ab Januar richten.

Hihi, heute morgen im Radio wurde gerade was darüber berichtet. Der HR2-Sprecher hatte wohl mal gehört, dass im Finnischen immer die erste Silbe betont wird: er erzählte was von Herrn "Fahnhanen"

[Klaus]

Besser als Vannhahnen... (Niederdeutsch: Vom Hahn)

[sunny1011]

Die TV-Rede von Tarja Halonen fand ich sehr nett ) Thema: EU-Vorsitz, Wettbewerbsfähigkeit, finnische Präsenz bei der Globalisierung, Klimaveränderung, auch sehr klar und direkt angesprochen, wo es verbesserungsbedarf gibt. Und sie trug die Naisten Ääni Brosche, sehr symbolisch zum 100. Jubileum der Gleichbereichtigung.