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[FR] A transitional presidency?

A national vision for Finland’s second Presidency of the European Union, July-December 2006

Finland will assume the Presidency of the European Union for the second time in 2006. Finnish European policy is characterised by the commitment of its elites and the indifference of its population. National security considerations, which were once decisive in favour of EU accession, continue to influence public opinion. Unlike the other Nordic Member States, Finland has no powerful Eurosceptic parties. All the major Finnish parties support Finland’s membership of the European Union, while the anti-EU parties occupy a marginal position.

The Presidency has a busy programme, in which the Constitutional Treaty, EU enlargement, the future of the ASEM summits and Euro-Russian relations will feature prominently. The Finnish government also takes the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy and the progress of the Hague Programme very seriously. In addition, European crisis management capabilities, on which decisions were taken during the previous Finnish Presidency, are coming to the fore again, as important measures will have to be taken with regard to both civilian and military capabilities.