HELSINKI, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Finnish President Sauli Niinisto on Tuesday voiced his concern that Finnish political community may face difficulty in making choices when talking about the integration of the European Union (EU) in the future.
Addressing the opening of the 2018 session of Finnish parliament, Niinisto identified that discussions about the common currency and the increase of joint responsibility... will create dilemma for Finland.
"It is clear that there are problems with the euro, but it is equally clear any changes in the single currency will require unanimity. Finland should adopt an active role in this process as well," he said.
The president's speech followed recent Finnish media speculation that the vista for possible tighter cooperation in the EU may cause increased polarization between political parties in Finland and thus complicate the formulation of a Finnish stand.
Former Finnish prime minister Paavo Lipponen, who was present in the parliament, underlined that the Finnish government needs the support of the president and parliament for upcoming negotiations.
"The government must have room for maneuver, so that it would not have to say 'no' but can work for a solution," Lipponen said to social democratic news service Demokraatti.
Touko Aalto, chairman of the Green Party, told Finnish news agency STT he was pleased the president triggered debate on the EU in Finland. He said Finland has lost "ten years in taking a stand on the EU" and that there had been no Finnish opinion leadership on the EU since Lipponen in the 1990s.
Petteri Orpo, chairman of the conservative party and the current finance minister, said to STT that the president's speech was in line with the government policy. Orpo predicted that Finland may face difficult choices when talks about the development of the EU progress.
In his speech, Niinisto expressed the view that the best way to alleviate pressure from migration is to improve living conditions in the countries of origin.
"The EU member states and the union itself have their respective development cooperation programs, which need to be better coordinated," he said.
Niinisto also suggested a closer contact between the Finnish president and the Finnish parliament. He said such contact will improve continuity as governments change.
In the current Finnish practice, EU affairs have been dealt with by the government, and the president has concentrated on relations with countries outside the EU.
