We are beginning a series of programmes dedicated to the European Parliament.
The European Parliament is the only body in the EU in which members are directly elected by citizens in a electorial process. In our programs we want to show the inner workings of the parliament. Show the people who represent the interests of Europeans- and who fight for matters that are important to their electorate and countries of their origin. We would like to showcase their work- both in the European Parliament and in their immediate environment. We are going to visit various EU states to show from their citizens' perspective what the European Parliament means to them. What issues, which are dealt with by the European Parliament, are important to them - issues that affect their daily lives, culture, social policies, etc.
The first part in the series has been dedicated to Finland. This is one of many countries, within the EU, which must find ways to deal with the current crisis. Are they succeeding? What does the average Finn think and talk about?
Our guide around that country was the Finnish MP, Tarja Cronberg, A Finnish politician and an economist. Member of the Finnish Government: former Minister of Employment, Member of the Finnish Parliament . Former Director, Copenhagen Peace Research Institute (COPRI). Former Chair, Green Party (Finland). Currently Member of the Greens / European Free Alliance in the European Parliament.
Tarja Cronberg began by telling us how, in retrospective, she evaluates Findland's accession the the European Union in 1995.
- „In my opinion, the first thing that affected Finland after its accession to the EU, was the closer cooperation among the regions of the various member states. The furthest reaches of Finland were brought into greater prominence, which was only possible due to European Regional Development Grants.”
One of the Finnish papers recently started a debate about Finland leaving the euro-zone.
- „First and foremost I must underline, that from the start I have been against Finland entering the euro-zone. Just like many economists, I'm of the opinion, that the euro-zone cannot function well, when the differences in economic development among the various countries are so pronounced. Now we are paying for past mistakes.”
„However, I don't think that the potential break up of the euro area is a problem. The danger lies in the disruption of the development of European community.
A separation has now emerged among the member states, those that are in the eurozone, and those that are not. Nothing good can come of that. We have to look at the EU as a process of building a unity.
That's exactly what the EU received a Noble Peace prize for, not for the economic growth. The prize was awarded for peace, which is the result of the unification of Europe. The development of economic ties and the development of cultural contacts has such an effect that war is impossible.”
When asked about the most pressing problems that EU needs to deal with, she replied:
- ”In my opinion, we cannot allow for any internal conflicts to develop.
There is a risk, that social equilibrium in member states will cease to exist. Already now, many people in Greece, Spain and Italy have no work. In some places even half of all young people are unemployed. This may pose a risk to peace in Europe.
We need to stop the progressing division into the rich and the poor Europeans.”
During the programme we linked with the Finnish radio station: Yleisradio in Helsinki, with Pawel Drozd as the correspondent for Channel 3.
Finland has 13 MEPs in the European Parliament. Everyone of these is an incredibly interesting person. Pawel Drozd gave special mention to two of these MEPs . One of them is Sari Essayah, a politician and a sportswoman, an athlete of Maroccan descent, European race-walking champion (1994). This year she ran for President in the Finnish presidential elections.
Another interesting MEP is Mitro Repo- a Finnish Orthodox cleric. Prior to the 2009 elections he had been approached by various political groupings to represent them. Mitro Repo eventually decided to run for the Finnish Social Democrats. His decision to stand in the election led to a conflict between Repo and the church leadership. In the end, the Finnish Orthodox Church banned him from serving in religious services and wearing his trademark priestly outfit.
In the elections he was elected as one of two candidates for the Social Democrats. He became a member of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats as well as of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection.
Our guide and also a Member of European Parliament, Tarja Cronberg, invited our correspondent and spoke to Channel 3 about her home.
- „I'm from North Karelia- a region located in eastern Finland- this region has close ties with border areas in the whole of Europe, including the Polish-German border area.”
Her home is on an island and the closest neighbour is 4 km away. She admitted to valuing her privacy.
The Channel 3 correspondent also spoke to inhabitants of Helsinki. He spoke to a Finnish family. The general opinion is that Finns are rather withdrawn and reserved. This opinion is shared by the inhabitants of that city. A trait highly valued in that country is honesty. Finns always honour their committments.
What he especially liked in Helsinki is the ease of communication. English is commonly spoken here. The younger generations travel a lot too. The country has been increasingly opening itself up to other nations. However, they are afraid of the opening of the borders within the European Union. They are afraid of criminal element making its way into their country from other member states. The Finns have also been increasingly speaking up about immigrants, of which there are more and more.
Finland is in the fortunate situation that it doesn't need any outside help, it is Finland that is providing such help to other EU member states. The subject of Finland as a member state and the issues taken up by the European Parliament are being raised more frequently by Finnish politicians as well as by the Finnish citizens themselves.
Finnish MEP, Tarja Cronberg:
- „Finns are asking why should we be giving money to the Greeks? And I agree with them. This should not be. In my opinion, we should be forming a new type of European solidarity and justice, where there is no division into the rich and the poor.”
The guest during the second hour of the programme was a Budapest born young finnish film maker, Marton Jelinko, the director of the film "Indebted”, showing the life and problems faced by Finns today- presented during the last Finnish Film Festival in Warsaw.
- „I wanted to emphasize that women's position in Finland is very strong. Women are very strong. And this is what I wanted to show against the backdrop of a male dominated society- said Jelinko - I think that what is most beautiful about Finland is the equality and very stringent adherence to human rights. Of course, nothing in this world is perfect, but in this world it is highly significant. And this is something that I think should be exported out of Finland.”
Channel 3 correspondent also visited Salo, a city in western Finland. This is where the current president of Finland, Sauli Niinistö , comes from. Until recently this is where Nokia's biggest European factory had been located. Nokia is not just a mobile phone brand, it is an importan part of life for many Finns. This year the Board of Directors decided that the factory would be closed.
A local reporter speaks: „ This was a factory where everything started. It was here that many ideas, that made international success possible, were born. And that is why the closing of the plant had such a dramatic effect. According to industry experts it was the competition that unseated Nokia from its leading position. Now the company is fighting for survival. It used to employ over 6000 people.
A couple thousand people lost work after the closure of the company and this has had a serious effect on the city of Salo, with its population of 55000. It is estimated that closing of Nokia's plant, together with an expected domino effect, may increase unemployment to 20% there.”
The average unemployment in Finland is 7%. The closure of the plant has had a direct impact on the city's budget, because as much as 90% of the inflows came from Nokia. The results of the changes are already being felt by the inhabitants.
One of the people who lost her job in this way is Teja Taskinnen, who has been unemployed for close to a year. She had worked for Nokia for 17 years. She is unemployed but is trying to change her life. She is studying to become a nurse. For her it is a chance for a new life. For the time being she is optimistic. Massive support has been given to the unemployed by the government as well as EU funds.
In the third hour, the programme focused on the Finnish economy. At this point young Finns and their business ideas are starting to be heard. Emerging new firms are gaining in ground in Europe, e.g.: the makers of the popular Angry Birds game for mobile phones.
Another Company which has been created in similar fashion, has been visited by Channel 3 correspondent. Ovelin is a video games company. : „Its headquarters are located in Helsinki. In the beginning only 4 people worked here. Now there are 16. The company has created a game that teaches one to play the guitar. The game is taking the world by storm.” There are many more such business ideas here in Finland. And what is important, they have the backing of Finnish government.
As a proof of his involvement and committment to improving the economy, at a recently held innovations in business conference in Helsinki, the Finnish Prime-minister, Jyrki Katainen, came on stage with his nails polished in the colours of Ovelin's game. This way he is emphasizing that Finland is betting on innovation, creativity and the young generation.
