Finland’s newly formed government has expressed its intention not to yield additional national powers to the European Union (EU), signifying potential future conflicts with Brussels.
The governing coalition, composed largely of right-wing parties, is also against increasing Finland’s contribution to the EU budget despite the European Commission’s plea for additional funds due to the Ukraine conflict.
The coalition agreement emphasizes a balanced role for the EU, addressing large-scale issues while leaving smaller matters to individual countries.
The coalition strongly opposes future EU-wide financial bailouts, advocating instead for each member state’s responsibility for its national debt.
This marks a significant shift from the previous leadership of Sanna Marin, a pro-EU prime minister.
The government includes the center-right Coalition Party and the Finns Party, known for its anti-immigration stance and calls for Finland to leave the EU, among others.
The coalition aims to bolster Finland’s ties with the United Kingdom and ensure a strong UK-EU partnership.
New immigration policies are outlined in the coalition agreement, including making refugee status temporary and considering penal sentences for illegal residents.
The government plans to streamline the asylum process to prevent it from being exploited for job-seeking.
Despite stricter asylum regulations, Finland is committed to supporting Ukrainian refugees.
Petteri Orpo, the leader of the National Coalition Party and future prime minister, acknowledged differences in the coalition but stressed their common goal to prioritize Finland’s interests.