The Constitutional process, the future extension, the "economic competitiveness based on innovation and research". And then, the "creation of a space of security and freedom", where to "fights threats against the citizens" and "illegal migration". The plan of the six-monthly presidency of the EU Council, taken over on July 1st by Finland, was presented today at the EU Parliament in Strasbourg by the Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen. Who, after illustrating the Helsinki’s many ambitions, stated that "every presidency is just one link in a long chain", as if admitting that the great decisions in each sector will be taken by the more authoritative presidencies of Germany and France in the next two years. As to the extension of the EU, Vanhanen explained that, "once the negotiations with a country are under way, of course we expect it will join the EU. But the candidate states must prove they can fulfil the accession criteria; this specially applies to Turkey and Croatia. At the same time, the European Union must reflect on its ability to take up more member states". About the Constitution, the Finnish Prime Minister insisted on "the urgent need to give legitimacy to the EU before its citizens" and to "show that we cannot do without the EU". (to be continued)
