Work to end EU deadlock must start soon warns minister

Work to end the deadlock over the EU constitution should start as soon as possible, a senior Finnish minister has said.

In an exclusive interview with ePolitix.com, Paula Lehtomaki, Finland’s trade and development minister said it was vital EU member states kept up momentum.

Talks over a new constitution for an enlarged EU broke down last year after a row over voting rights for the 10 new countries that are due to join in May this year.

"We are going to hear the Irish presidency’s assessment at the summit in March and we really strongly support the idea that we should get back to work as soon as possible," Lehtomaki said.

"On the basis of the Irish assessment we can see what kind of position we really have. But it is extremely important to begin working as soon as possible for the reason that the longer it takes from last autumn the more we forget about what we’ve agreed already with a strong consensus.

"Of course we are capable of living without the constitutional treaty at least for a while but there is a strong emphasis that we should get to the finalising point on the work that we began on the convention more than a year ago. So it’s extremely important that we get back to work."

The main debate for Britain's political parties has been on whether there should be a referendum once a constitution has been agreed.

The government has argued that it represents a "tidying up exercise" and that other countries are not holding votes but the opposition parties have said it should be put to the public.

Lehtomaki revealed Finland has yet to make a final decision until a final version of the constitution is certain.

"In the autumn we have a public debate about the constitution. We don’t have any rule on the constitution that we should organise a referendum," she said.

"It is possible to organise an advisory referendum but at least so far the government has taken the position that this is a normal parliamentary thing.

"When we reach the place where we are finalising the constitution we can then reassess the situation. And, of course, parliament has its say on this issue. We haven’t made any decisions."

Tony Blair recently announced he is setting up a commission to examine the problems facing Africa and the minister admitted more work needed to be done both by Western countries and Africa's leaders.

"The industrialised world has put in lots of money over the years but the results are not good enough. So we need to work even harder," she said.

"Here, of course, the responsibility lies with the Africans themselves because we are trying to support the strategies that the countries are doing for themselves. If they do not do the real work then we cannot help them from outside."

The 31 year old member of the Finnish Centre Party is one of Europe's rising young political stars.

She rejected the idea that young people are apathetic about politics and said families have a role to play in fostering an interest in politics.

"We tend to think that youngsters are not so interested in politics but they are more engaged than we realise. They have lots of knowledge about what’s going on," she said.

"My background is that my father was involved in municipal politics at a regional level.

"So I learned from home the atmosphere and the attitude that participating in politics is okay and it’s a good and important thing.

"Some people learn from home that politicians are bad boys and girls and that they do no good for anybody. I think it’s a big thing to learn from home that it’s important work."