On Wednesday the theme of the day was European Integration. We wanted to introduce the European Union and its role for Finnish decision-making to our guests from Tsinghua University. The EU is part of the curriculum in Chinese schools as well, given its nature as a unique peace project and international organization with considerable competences in its member states’ affairs. However in the Chinese media the EU is often portrayed not as an individual agent but as a shadow of an organization looming behind the backs of its most powerful and biggest member states. In the era of disbelief in the European project, we wanted to hear the insights of top EU-experts in Finland and took our Chinese guests to the permanent representations of European Commission and Parliament and to visit a true Euro-politician, ex-commissioner Minister Olli Rehn.
In the permanent representation we were greeted by Vesa-Pekka Poutanen, Economic Advisor at the European Commission Representation in Finland and Niina Saloranta, Press Officer from the Representation of European Parliament. We got a thorough introduction into the functions, institutions and legislative processes of the union and discussed the Commissions plans for the future of the EU. European Commission, guardian of the treaties and initiator of new legislation, executes the policies and works for the common European agenda. EU’s competences on different policy fields are stated in the treaties and for example education policy is not part of EU competences but in the responsibility of member states.
Jobs, growth and investment are high on Jean-Claude Juncker’s Commission’s agenda consisting of 10 priorities. One interesting pick from the priorities is the development of the digital single market. The common European market is based on 4 fundamental freedoms – free movement of people, capital, services and goods, but many who have tried purchasing services or goods online from another member country have noticed that in the digital world national boarders are still very present. On Commission’s agenda are far-reaching initiatives like boosting interoperability with common ICT standards but also very concrete initiatives ranging from enabling the use of video streaming services in other member countries to better consumer protection of online customers. One welcomed mile-stone on the road to the Common Digital Market is the end to all mobile roaming charges in the summer 2017.
Our delegation posing with Vesa-Pekka Poutanen from the EC Representation in Finland.
After the thorough EU session and interesting lunch discussions on EU-China relations and Finland’s EU policy we headed to the Ministry of Employment and Economic Affairs together with our guests. Minister Olli Rehn greeted us with stories of his career as a European Commissioner. He recalled the times when he was representing the Commission in G20 negotiations and having noticed how other countries were irritated by the multitude of European voices present at the table, he started calling for a stronger and more united European voice. Seen from outside Europe should be more united, like our guests from Tsinghua also pointed out.
Minister Rehn described Finland as an active and goal oriented EU member-country that has shared the common European values for much longer than the 20 years of membership in the EU. Currently on Minister Rehn’s desk the EU is present in many policy fields, especially in energy policy. The EU has an ambitious energy strategy for year 2030 to increase the consumption of renewables and to cut greenhouse gas emissions. To answer to EU targets and other international climate treaties, Finland’s energy policy aims at halving using oil and coal by 2050 and having 50 % renewables in our energy mix. China is struggling with environmental degradation and it’s trying to find ways to increase the share of renewables in the energy mix. Our guests asked the minister what the best strategy to combat climate change is in his opinion. Minister Rehn was in favor of a mixed approach of economic instruments – increasing the burden of using non-renewables by taxation, encouraging investment in renewables through subsidies.
Our Chinese guests were impressed by the easy going and hierarchy-free setting of our meeting with Minister Olli Rehn.
Another key theme of our meeting with Minister Rehn was good governance. Even though also Finland has its challenges, it’s still second in Transparency International’s Anti-Corruption Index, and our Chinese guests wanted to understand the reasons for it. Minister Rehn listed reasons for Finnish success: principles of good governance, transparent society and freedom of expression. He went back to the times when Finland was under Russian rule to explain the law-abiding tradition in Finland – in order to have the leeway to develop Finland, we had to adhere to the legislation and orders from Russia. To underline the most important factor for an anti-corrupt society minister Rehn emphasized the importance of free press and freedom of expression – without them no country can become free of corruption.
After a day of big meetings and serious dialogues it was time to unwind with free time. Some of the delegation went to marvel the selection of goods in market places, I went to Ateneum with a bunch of guests to give them a tour to Finnish art history and to check out the provocative portraits of Alice Neel (strong recommendation!).
Ateneum’s second floor is all about Finnish classics. Mengke was impressed by von Wright’s detailed brushwork.
The evening ended with sauna, of course, and some delicious Chinese dishes our guests prepared for us. A day full of interesting perspectives, lessons learned and taste buds turned!
Chef Zhao prepared a complete dinner for us, xie xie!
Milla Ovaska
Writer works at AYY as specialist in international affairs and loves KTV and Chinese novels