Finnish EU presidency to target globalisation, climate change

Finland's priorities when it takes over the EU presidency in July will be globalisation, ageing, purchasing power, global warming, and security in Europe, the government said Wednesday.

"Finland thinks it's possible to increase the confidence of citizens in the the European Union by reaching concrete results in areas where the Union is better placed to act than isolated member States," a statement said after ministers approved a plan for Finland's EU presidency, beginning July 1.

The Nordic country takes over the rotating EU leadership from Austria for the second semester of 2006 and will hand over to Germany at the start of 2007.

Helsinki said the debate should continue over the future of the EU and its institutions following popular rejections of the bloc's proposed constitution in founding members France and The Netherlands last year.

Finland said that a prolonged "period of reflection", decided on after the French and Dutch rejections, would be insufficient.

Finland has already vowed to press the green agenda both in Europe and with neighbouring giant Russia, to show that protecting the environment doesn't necessarily harm economic growth, and can even strengthen it.

It also wishes to ensure energy supplies to the EU from Russia, on which it is itself highly dependent.

The final programme of the Finnish presidency will be set at the end of the Austrian presidency in June.

Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen is to present the plan to Finnish lawmakers June 21.

Finland joined the now 25-member Union in 1995 and held the six-month rotating presidency in 1999.