Foreign Minister Tuomioja: EU needs reforms in decision-making when enlargement begins

Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja calls for the European Union to reform its decision-making structures as soon as the enlargement is in full swing. According to him, the model formulated at the Nizza summit in December is temporary.

Reweighting of votes in the Council was the most difficult task in Nizza, said Tuomioja when addressing the Turku chapter of the Paasikivi Society on Friday.

"If we think about the sensitive balance between big and small member states, the result is not unreasonable. The way with which votes were reweighted as well as the end result are not, however, sustainable. For the future of the Union I see it vital that we re-examine the decision-making structures after 2005 at the latest when the enlargement has begun."

The clearest and most logical solution would be a simple double majority, said Tuomioja. It would also be best in character with the Union as a community of sovereign states and citizens. This model would require a majority among member states as well as among states represented in accordance with population.

Flexibility or reinforced cooperation was solved satisfactorily in Nizza. Tuomioja cannot see the exclusion of defence from flexibility as an issue of complaint for Finland. The promoters of the idea portray a menacing scenario in which the lack of flexibility would move cooperation outside the structures of the Union.

When some of the countries wanted to include flexibility in defence, they, in fact, aimed to bring the Eurocorps under the EU flag.

"I think this is a good example of cooperation which is better left outside the EU structures."

"However, it is unfortunate that the flexibility option was excluded from cooperation in military industry as that would have served our interests", said Tuomioja.

Address by Foreign Minister Tuomioja in Tampere on 23 January 2001(Link to another website.)