10/09/2012 Political Affairs and Democracy
Strasbourg, 10.09.2010 – “It becomes increasingly important to make sure that democratic institutions and processes can function well and that our commonly adopted rules are respected. One of our most important assets in difficult times is the confidence of citizens in the democratic process,” said Eero Heinäluoma, Speaker of the Finnish Parliament, in her speech at the opening of the meeting of the PACE Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy in Helsinki today.
Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja echoed this call by underlining that with regard to the Eurozone crisis, many visions of building a genuine economic and monetary union had been detailed on integrated financial, budgetary and economic policy frameworks, but vague on strengthening democratic legitimacy and accountability. “This is a serious, maybe even fatal mistake,” he said.
The Chairperson of the Finnish delegation to PACE, Susanna Huovinen, stressed the importance of increasing the awareness and the knowledge of the work of PACE in the Finnish parliament and media. In this context she warmly welcomed the presence of members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Finnish Parliament at the meeting of the PACE Political Affairs Committee.