Finns reject proposal for EU President

Finns are sharply opposed to a proposal for the establishment of an office of President for the European Union. According to a poll commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat, an overwhelming majority of Finns want to devolve power from Brussels and bring it back to the member states. A majority also feel that a new referendum should be held on European Union membership if the new constitution significantly changes the character of the EU. The opinions of the Finns go against proposals of the European Convention, which concluded the main part of its work on Friday. According to the poll 85% of Finns opposed the establishment of an office of president for the EU, while just ten percent were in favour of such a move. If the EU member states give their approval to the draft constitution, the EU will have a president chosen for a five-year term, as well as a foreign minister. The Finnish government opposes the establishment of an office or president, as well as calls for reducing the size of the European Commission. However, Prime Minister Anneli Jäätteenmäki (Centre) did not warm up to the idea of holding a referendum on the issue if the proposed changes are approved. Although the new draft constitution was toasted with champagne in Brussels on Friday, there was some grumbling as well. The number of countries opposing the institutional reform decreased as the process wore on, and in the end, only Finland, Portugal, Austria, and Spain remained opposed. The militarily non-aligned EU states - Finland, Sweden, Austria, and Ireland - as well as NATO member Britain found it hard to swallow the proposal according to which the EU could form a defence alliance among those who wish to do so.