in english

the parliament of finland and the eu Finland joined the European Union in 1995. One consequence of this was that a part of our national sovereign power was given up to be used in conjunction with the Union’s collective decision- making. Powers, that had resided with Parliament, were shifted to be used by the Council of the European Union, which consists of representatives of the Member State governments. In return, Finland now has better opportunity to influence EU policy.

The European Commission, the Council of the European Finland did not want to let parliamentary powers slip to Union, i.e. the Council of Ministers, and the European the Government when we joined the EU. This is the rea- Parliament are the key organs of EU decision-making. son behind the arrangement, where Parliament defines The Commission prepares and proposes new legis­ Finland’s stance on issues that would have belonged to lation, but decisions are made by the Council and the the remit of the Eduskunta prior to EU membership. European Parliament. Every Member of Parliament takes part in the de- The Council of the European Union consists of liberation of EU affairs. ministers representing the different Member States. Parliament has the right—and duty—to express an Ministers from the sector being dealt with at the opinion on all matters decided by the Council of meeting in question will be involved in decision- the EU that factually fall under its remit (legislation, making. This means that foreign ministers will be significant fiscal and foreign policy decisions). present if the issue at hand involves foreign policy, Members of Government who act in the Council while ministers of agriculture will attend when the of the EU receive political mandate for their actions questions are related to farming, for example. from Parliament.

Handling of EU affairs at Parliament

The Grand Committee — Parliament’s EU committee proposals regarding foreign and security policy to the The Grand Committee or the Foreign The Grand Committee (not the plenary session) Foreign Affairs Committee, which then decides the Affairs Committee decides parliament’s expresses Parliament’s stance on legislative, budget stance of Parliament regarding these issues. Thus, it stance on EU matters, often after and treaty issues being decided by the EU. Unlike the functions in a similar role in the sector of foreign and hearing sector committees. other committees, the Grand Committee is thus an security policy as the Grand Committee does in other organ that makes decisions instead of preparing them. EU affairs. In addition, the Foreign Affairs Committee It usually deliberates on EU matters on the basis of provides the Grand Committee with statements on statements provided by the sector committees of matters related to its remit, such as trade policy and Parliament. This ensures that EU matters are prepared development cooperation. on a comprehensively democratic basis. and 19 deputy members, and the Audit Committee guide­lines for Finland’s EU policy. This is deliberated The Grand Committee has 25 members and 13 has 11 members and 6 deputy members. The Intelli- on in plenary session on the basis of a Grand Commit- The sector committees prepare EU actions deputy members. In addition, the MP representing gence Supervision Committee has 11 members and 2 tee statement. the Åland constituency is entitled to participate in The sector committees of Parliament monitor EU deputy members. EU regulations often require Finland to amend na- Grand Committee meetings. The political weight of affairs that fall under their respective remits. Sector tional laws. These cases are decided on the basis of Gov- the Grand Committee is emphasised by the fact that committees present written statements on the issues ernment Bills like normal legislative issues. In addition, The plenary session and EU affairs its membership includes several chairpersons of the of their own sector to the Grand Committee, which changes dealing with the EU Treaty, the Economic and parliamentary groups and the special committees. usually bases its decisions on the views presented by Any EU matter can be depated at a plenary session, Monetary Union (EMU) and national budget responsi- the sector committees. but Parliament’s view is always expressed by either bilities are deliberated on in a plenary session. Each sector committee has an unlimited right to the Grand Committee or the Foreign Affairs Com­ The plenary session also decides, based on a Grand Foreign Affairs Committee — foreign and security be informed about matters falling under its remit by mittee. Committee report, on sending a reasoned opinion to policy the Government or the relevant ministries. Plenary session discussions regarding EU affairs the EU institutions (so-called subsidiarity objection). The Foreign Affairs Committee handles matters Parliament has 16 sector committees, which typi- have been conducted on, for example, amending This can be done if the view is that the objectives of related to the European Union’s common foreign cally consist of 17 members and 9 deputy members. EU treaties and other key reforms. Every electoral the proposed EU regulation could be better achieved and security policy. The Government presents its However, the Finance Committee has 21 members term, the Government issues a report that defines the through national effort.

4 5 EU affairs are handled

in cooperation between Parliament and the Government

The flow of information and consultation process in legislative matters. U matters — cases that fall within the remit of The Government presents EU affairs to Parliament Parliament for deliberation. The Constitution requires the Government to U matters fall within the traditional remit of Parlia- submit to the Eduskunta all proposals to amend EU ment, i.e. they deal with legislative and budget mat- regulations and treaties that fall within the remit of ters as well as the ratifying of international treaties. Parliament so that MPs can express their view on the In such cases, the Finnish stance can be expressed matter. The Constitution also grants the Grand Com- at the EU only after Parliament has decided on an mittee and the Foreign Affairs Committee an unlimit- opinion. The ministries report on the progress of U matters in Grand Committee can also request that the Govern- ed right to receive information from the Government The Government decides on the content of a U the EU by sending follow-up statements. In practice, ment report on a matter being prepared by the EU. on other EU affairs as well. statement and submits it to Parliament. The Speaker ministries send follow-up statements if there is need E matters can involve regulatory proposals that The stance of Parliament does not bind the Gov- of Parliament forwards the statement for delibera- to revise the mandate issued by the Grand Committee are not considered to be actual legislative matters in ernment legally, but politically: the Government has tion by the Grand Committee (or the Foreign Affairs or update the information received by Parliament. Finland. This category also includes, inter alia, pre- to answer to the Eduskunta for all of its actions. The Committee if the matter relates to foreign and se- paratory documents for upcoming EU legislative view of Parliament, most usually of the Grand Com- curity policy). In this conjunction, the Speaker also ventures like Commission Communications. E matters — Parliament’s unlimited right to be mittee, is the normative point of departure for Finn- decides which sector committees shall provide the An E statement is sent from the competent min- informed about EU affairs ish representatives at the EU’s Councils of Ministers. Grand Committee with statements on the matter. istry to the Grand Committee, which then forwards Finland’s national stance at the EU Council of The Grand Committee can request additional state- Under the Constitution, the Grand Committee has it to the sector committees. Once the sector com- Ministers is represented by the minister whose remit ments from other committees as well. an unlimited right to be informed of European Union mittees have completed drafting their statements, the matter at hand falls under. The Grand Committee makes its decisions based proceedings regarding any matter. In parliamentary the Grand Committee sends them to the Govern- In parliamentary procedure, EU business is sepa- on the statements submitted by the sector commit- proceedings, these kinds of cases are referred to as E ment for guidance. However, the Grand Committee rated into U, E and UTP matters. U matters are cases tees. The Grand Committee usually decides along the matters. An E matter usually is submitted when the may also itself voice an opinion on an E matter. The that fall under the remit of Parliament, while E and recommendation of a sector committee, but it is enti- Government deems that Parliament needs to be in- stance of the Grand Committee provides a guideline UTP matters are other types of business. tled to decide otherwise as well. formed because of the significance of the matter. The for the Government.

6 7 UTP matters — EU foreign and security policy taining to the EU Foreign Affairs Council are primar- The Foreign Affairs Committee has a constitutional ily submitted to the Foreign Affairs Committee. right to receive Government reports on matters Ministerial hearings ensure that each matter has pertaining to EU foreign and security policy. These been negotiated in an accordance with the guidance of reports are referred to as UTP matters. The Foreign the Grand Committee. In addition, they provide the Affairs Committee decides Parliament’s opinion with minister with a mandate for the upcoming negotia- regard to these cases, just like the Grand Committee tions. The Committee can also issue written instruc- does on the part of other EU affairs. tions, which are politically binding for the minister. Should a minister for some reason deviate from these Parliament’s role in instructions, he or she is required to explain this con- Subsidiarity oversight — decisions must be taken at duct to the Committee without delay. the correct level the handling of EU affairs According to the Lisbon Treaty, which was ratified in Publicity 2009, each national parliament can send a reasoned opinion to an EU institution regarding violations The meetings of the Grand Committee and Parlia- is a strength of the subsidiarity principle. This can be done if the ment’s other committees are not public. However, objectives of proposed EU regulation could be bet- to promote public debate, a committee can decide ter achieved through national- or local-level action to open its meeting to the public when it focuses on instead of EU-level measures. Subsidiarity objections acquiring information through, for example, expert only question the correct level of EU regulation, i.e. hearings. Public committee hearings like this can be The status of the Parliament of Finland in the han- Each committee of Parliament deals with EU affairs they do not deal with the political content or neces- followed through an online broadcast on Parliament’s dling of EU affairs can be considered strong when in addition to its other duties, and this has ensured sity of proposals. website. compared to the parliaments of most other EU Mem- access to necessary specialist expertise in all EU policy The subsidiarity mechanism has not achieved any The minutes of committee meetings and most ber States. sectors and, at the same time, engaged every MP in special significance. For this reason, the Grand Com- other documents – including ones containing the The Finnish model has safeguarded Parliament’s the handling of Union business. mittee will only evaluate an EU regulatory proposal’s Government’s stance – are made public immediately influence on decision-making during EU member- Finland does not present differing Government compliance with the subsidiarity principle if a Com- after the meeting closes. ship. The Government’s obligation to bring EU leg- and parliamentary stances on EU affairs. Finnish rep- mittee member, a sector committee of Parliament or A press release about Grand Committee meetings islative matters before Parliament without delay and resentatives gain an advantage in EU negotiations be- the Parliament of Åland requests that it do so. The fi- is also published. It focuses on key decisions made Parliament’s right to receive the information it desires cause they can promote a stance, which has the bless- nal decision regarding a subsidiarity objection is taken by the Committee and the topics discussed at the on the handling of any EU matter have protected its ings of the Eduskunta and thus a firm parliamentary by the plenary session on the basis of a Grand Com- meeting. opportunities to wield influence. backrest, already in the early stages of preparation. mittee statement. The Grand Committee (and the Foreign Affairs Parliament’s right to be informed has ensured that Committee in the case of foreign and security policy the political opposition is also privy to reliable infor- matters) can decide that Committee members and mation on EU matters. Hearing with ministers — reporting to the Grand other persons participating in the proceedings must Committee before a Council of Ministers meeting maintain confidentiality with regard to the matter de- Prior to a meeting of the EU Council of Ministers, liberated on. Usually, this happens in situations where Government members will present the matters to be it is undesirable to reveal Finland’s bargaining leeway Any EU matter may be discussed in dealt with by the Council to the Grand Committee. because this could be detrimental to the attainment plenary session. Members of the Grand Committee are given a minis- of negotiation objectives. The practice is also to re- try memo in advance that contains the Government’s frain from revealing the negotiation stances of other stance regarding each matter going before the EU Member States. The confidentiality requirement usu- Council. The Prime Minister gives a Grand Commit- ally lapses once negotiations on the matter have con- tee presentation before and after every EU summit, cluded. The overwhelming majority of matters dealt i.e. a meeting of the European Council. Reports per- with by the Grand Committee are not confidential.

8 9 International cooperation Finland’s EU Presidency

Parliament and Brussels tariat includes a Brussels-based liaison officer, who The presidency of the Council of the European Union The Finnish Parliament hosts the parliamentary EU Finland has 13 representatives in the European Parlia- informs Parliament about topical events at EU insti- rotates between the member states of the EU. Dur- conferences during Finland’s presidency. The largest is ment. If the United Kingdom leaves the EU, the num- tutions. ing the six-month presidency, representatives of the COSAC, which brings together delegations from na- ber of Finnish MEPs will climb to 14. These MEPs presidency state chair meetings of the Council and its tional parliamentary EU committees and representa- have no official status at the Parliament of Finland, working groups. Finland has held the presidency in tives of the European Parliament. Cooperation with the EU committees of other but they enjoy free access to its facilities. 1999, 2006 and 2019. The conferences organised by sector committees parliaments The Grand Committee and the Foreign Affairs The presidency drafts an agenda that determines will discuss, among other things, foreign and security Committee regularly meet with Finnish MEPs to COSAC is the cooperation organ of the European what it wants the Council’s focus areas to be during policy, defence policy, the EU’s economic stability and discuss topical EU matters. Parliamentary committees Parliament and the committees of Member State the period. The presidency is responsible for driving coordination, strengthening Economic and Monetary can also invite MEPs to attend their meetings in an national parliaments that handle EU affairs. The forward the Council's work on EU legislation, ensur- Union as well as the topics chosen by the presidency. expert capacity. Grand Committee is an active participant in the ing the continuity of the EU agenda, and cooperation Learn more about the parliamentary conferences The Grand Committee makes regular visits to work of COSAC. among member states. Thus, the presidency acts as an of the 2019 EU presidency at parleu2019.fi. Brussels, where it meets with the leaders of EU insti- Members of Parliament’s various committees impartial mediator. tutions such as Commissioners and high-ranking EU also meet with their colleagues from other national officials as well as Members of the European Parlia- parliaments at EU-themed conferences for various ment. Officials from Finland’s Permanent Represen- sectors of policy in order to be informed of the EU tation to the EU provide the Committee with back- affairs involving their respective fields. ground information on matters being prepared and In addition, national parliaments have the elec- deliberated. tronic inter-parliamentary EU information exchange Parliament’s EU secretariat coordinates relations IPEX forum, which is used especially in relation to between EU organs and the Eduskunta. The secre- matters associated with subsidiarity oversight.

Photos cover photo: european commission page 2: vesa loikas / parliament

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