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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Jan 1994

Vol. 437 No. 6

Written Answers. - Official Visit of Finnish Prime Minister.

John Bruton

Question:

28 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his meeting with the Finnish Prime Minister.

I met the Prime Minister of Finland, Mr. Esko Aho, on Monday, 10 January, in the course of his official visit to Ireland on 10-11 January. The visit took place against a background of intensified contacts between Ireland and Finland, as part of the Government's programme of systematically developing contacts with the countries currently negotiating accession to the European Union.

The meeting was timely, coming as it did at a crucial stage in the negotiations. It proved to be most constructive whilst in particular providing me with a useful opportunity to hear at first hand of Finland's concerns, primarily relating to agriculture. I indicated to Mr. Aho Ireland's strong support for Finland's application for European Union membership and for the successful conclusion of the negotiations.

At the meeting, we also looked ahead to future developments in the European Union, with particular reference to the Intergovernmental Conference which is to be held in 1996. The Finnish Prime Minister expressed appreciation of Ireland's role in resisting proposals for far-reaching institutional change in the European Union in advance of this Inter-governmental Conference and we both noted our common interest in this regard as small states.

Mr. Aho and I also discussed the future development of the common foreign and security policy in the context of the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference. I indicated that Ireland was committed to playing a fully active part in the consideration of this issue, and we noted the somewhat similar historic background in this regard shared by our two countries.

I believe that the meeting — and Mr. Aho's visit generally — made a very useful contribution to strengthening the ties between Ireland and Finland and to further developing the basis for close and mutually beneficial co-operation between our two countries in the enlarged European Union.
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