Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja on the Danish referendum

The Danish decision to reject euro membership is regrettable for Finland and other euro zone countries. However, it does not alter the status quo and does not carry implications on other aspects of EU cooperation and development.

This is a decision by the Danes of their own accord, and thus to be honored. The unification of Europe can proceed and succeed only with a clear majority support.

The Danish referendum provides ample reason to ponder why the European Union is still widely perceived in the Nordic countries as a threat to the Nordic welfare society and not as an opportunity to strengthen and enhance it which was seen as the main incentive for Finnish EU membership. This is not a question of wrong or right promotion of the EU and euro but rather a demonstration of the real implications of EU decisions - or the lack of them - in the lives of the citizens.