Finland to postpone ratification of EU draft constitutional treaty
NewsRoom Finland
June 17, 2005
Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (centre) told the Finnish News Agency (STT) in Brussels that the Finnish government was about to postpone its proposal to Parliament to ratify the EU's beleaguered draft constitutional treaty.
"Probably only a government report will be issued on the matter to lay the foundations for a thorough debate on the constitution," Mr Vanhanen said late on Thursday night.
The conclusion to be drawn from the first day of the European Council meeting is clear in the prime minister's mind: the timeframe - with a deadline on 1 November 2006 - earlier fixed for ratification is not sufficient.
"None of the EU leaders has questioned the need for a constitution. But it also became clear that further 'no' decisions are not needed," Mr Vanhanen said, referring to the French and Dutch referenda.
Said President Tarja Halonen, also attending the summit, "The overall view was that what we now need is time and discussion in the member states on how we can move the constitution forward in the future."
She added that EU heads of state and government on Thursday dedicated much time to pondering how matters had panned out as they had.
The president said most EU leaders talked about people reacting to everyday reality, employment and economic stability.
/STT/
© Copyright STT 2005
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prima tulit tellus, eadem uos ubere laeto
accipiet reduces. Antiquam exquirite matrem:
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