The Finnish formula

He’s a "rising star", and perhaps more, in European politics. Jyrki Katainen, Finnish, from Siilinjärvi, a town in the heart of the region of the lakes, leads Helsinki’s government since 2011 with a centre-right coalition. He’s 42, married, with two children, marathoner for passion. In politics since the beginning of the 1990s, national MP in 1999, in 2003 he was elected vice president of the European People’s Party. A few days ago he left the Finnish capital for a week, headed to the European Parliament in Strasbourg where he delved into the problems of European integration."I understand the difficulties". "Thanks to European integration my generation had many more opportunities compared to the previous ones. When I was a student at Tampere University, I went to the United Kingdom with an Erasmus program". Jyrki Katainen willingly speaks of himself, and of his Europeanism. In his account emerges a part of Finnish history, when between the second half of the 1980s and the following decade, the Country was going through a serious recession with high unemployment rates. "At the time I was just a student. I couldn’t imagine I would have had a house of my own for my family". The Scandinavian country eventually joined the EU, and entered the eurozone. For some time already it has been experiencing a period of remarkable economic and technological development. "I therefore understand the ongoing crisis in European economy, whose seriousness overshadows the debate on integration. Public opinions are marked by widespread pessimism. People worry about their jobs, their pensions, their children’s future. These factors increase the malaise which often is turned into populism, into nationalism. People loose faith in the European project".Making order. The premier that arrived from the North went on with his analysis: "At a time when we should join our forces to respond to the crisis we seem to be divided. I believe that determined action is needed to step up integration. But we need fair integration", he said. "Fair integration means that the European Union continues to be founded on common values and rules that are truly respected by all and at all times; it means that while member states engage in ever closer integration, they keep their own house in order, starting with public accounts". In these words we see the North European politician, whose rigorous approach is aimed at convincing his citizens that by entering the euro area they will have to act in solidarity with Greece, sharing Portugal’s structural delays, along with Spain’s downturn, Italian debt, and the near failure of the Cypriot banking system. Three indications. "We need both more Europe and more national responsibility", underlined the young politician, who listed three rules to break the deadlock afflicting EU27: "First, we must respect our common European values and rules we have adopted together. Second, we need to strike the right balance between solidarity and responsibility. Finland is also shouldering its responsibility to assist countries in need of financial assistance. But solidarity must go hand in hand with the Member State’s own responsibility. Third, to make Europe stronger, we need deeper integration". In this sense Katainen seems to proceed against the trend compared to the eurosceptics of David Cameron. "There is no shortcut", he pointed out. Europe must become more competitive. We have to work with the markets, not against them". The "Katainen formula" covers many areas: no to protectionism, yes to the single market, go-ahead to investments in infrastructures; stepping up foreign trade (with a preferential relationship for the United States and Japan), carry out research, create an integrated energy market. The premier is relentless with his proposals. He suggests to pave the way to banking union, as it would "curb reckless risk taking and protect tax payers". Premier Katainen is even in favour of further enlargements. But, he pointed out: The European Union must remain open to deserving candidates". Creating confidence. The Finnish leader extended his reflections to include security policies and community budgetary investments, the promotion of employment for the youth, environmental protection and inclusive policies. And while it was almost time to catch the flight back home, he concluded with a positive note: "European integration has proven to deliver peace, stability and wellbeing to European citizens on a scale never seen before in the continent’s history. The European Union will emerge from the crisis stronger. We must focus on building mutual trust. We have an obligation to focus our energy on what unites us, not on what separates us". Time is running late, there would be many questions to ask, on Finland, on European economy, on nationalisms and populisms harbored by Katainen’s fellow countrymen. But it’s almost dark, and it’s time for "good-byes".