Lipponen supports EU defence cooperation - says public opinion should not block difficult decisions

Finland's Speaker of Parliament and Social Democratic Party chairman Paavo Lipponen has reiterated his view that Finland should not rule out any opportunity of joining the core of European Union defence. In a television interview programme on Saturday morning Lipponen said that there must not be any issues which Finland cannot touch, including the establishment of a defence core for the EU. On the programme Lipponen repeated his familiar view that Finland must be in the EU as a fully-fledged member, and that it should also show leadership. Lipponen noted that there are historical reasons for Finland to prepare for all possible scenarios. He added that the same motives were behind Finland's decision to join the EU. Lipponen was worried about the consequences if Finland stayed outside some activities. He noted that countries who take part in close cooperation enjoy privileges that the smaller countries do not have. Finland's minister for Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja (SDP) said on Saturday that Finland will take part in the debate over EU defence decisions. However, Tuomioja's view was somewhat different from that of Paavo Lipponen. Whereas Lipponen had said that Finland should not rule out any options of joining the core of the EU defence, Tuomioja repeated the position that Finland opposes the establishment of a hard core for defence. Tuomioja emphasised the importance of implementing decisions in foreign and security policy that have already been made. He also said that Finland is ready to strengthen the resources of the EU.