In their opinion piece (HS 9 January), Finns Party MPs Laura Huhtasaari and Ville Tavio continued their absurd comparison between the EU and the Soviet Union. JEF Finland believes the comparison is a deliberate attempt to stoke conspiracy theories and fear.
Firstly, decisions in the EU are made jointly by the member states. The EU is not some independently thinking actor. It has exactly as much power as the member states have decided to give it.
The President of the Commission is elected through a democratic and open process, since the lead candidate chosen in advance and openly by the party that receives the most votes in the European Parliament elections becomes the President of the Commission. In addition, the candidate for President must also gain the approval of all the democratically elected heads of state of the member states.
“The European Union is not centrally governed – rather, power is decentralised according to the principle of subsidiarity, placed as close as possible to the citizens affected by a given decision. EU-level decisions are made only on matters that the member states have jointly chosen to place within the Union’s competence”, recaps JEF Finland President Iiris Asunmaa.
The EU does not have a unified population or immigration policy. The EU has tried to establish common rules on immigration issues since the 2015 refugee crisis, but the member states have not yet found common ground. Because of this, the European Commission has not really been able to act on refugee and immigration matters either. There is currently no unified immigration policy at all – the matter remains in the hands of nation states within the framework of international agreements. The EU has no means to force member states to accept refugees, so member states decide their own refugee quotas themselves.
“The EU’s supposed “ideological agenda” consists of citizens’ fundamental rights and the rule of law, on the basis of which it seeks to develop legal immigration together with countries of origin. It’s completely incomprehensible to think that the EU would have some hidden agenda here”, wonders Asunmaa.
The European Union can be criticised for many different reasons, and it is precisely through criticism that we can together improve our shared Union. Creating false enemy images does not serve the public – it only drowns out the constructive criticism that must have room in the debate.
“The best way for a citizen to have an influence is to vote in the European Parliament elections on 26 May, to stand as a candidate themselves, and to challenge the themes put forward by European election candidates”, reminds Asunmaa.
JEF Finland nevertheless thanks the MPs for reviving debate about Europe ahead of the elections. “It’s great that active MPs want to increase the EU’s democratic character. Increasing the Parliament’s powers would be an answer to both of the themes the MPs have raised”, suggests Asunmaa.
For more information:
Iiris Asunmaa
President
[email protected]
+358 50 918 7390
Mikko Kymäläinen
Secretary General
[email protected]
+358 40 9112049