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From Isolation to the Core: Finland's Position towards European Integration 69
The collapse of the Soviet Union, finally, brougt about a profound change in
Finland's international position. In early 1992 a new Basic Agreement between Finland
and the Russian Federation replaced the FCA Pact, which meant that Finland's
international action was freed from Moscow’s control. Once the 1947 Finnish-Soviet
trade agreement was replaced by a new one and the 1960 tariff agreement abolished,
Finland freed herself from those obligations in the field of foreign trade that
were incompatible with the common trade policy of the EC. 28 These contractual
changes, at least, removed obstacles for Finland's policy with regard to West European
integration. Later the same year 1992, the very concept of “neutrality” was redefined
to mean “military non-alignment” and “independent defence” as forms of
characterisation of Finland's foreign policy. 29
The failed coup in Moscow, August 1991, was the turning point on Finland's
way to EC membership. Obviously, security policy considerations in the shadow of
the Russian turmoil were decisive for the rapid turn in the Finnish opinion, while
the EEA negotiations still were going on. 30 The Social Democratic Party stood up
for membership, and in the autumn of 1991 both the Coalition Party and the Social
Democratic Party urged the government to hasten preparations for membership.
The fourth government report to Parliament on Finland's relationship with West
European integration, January 1992, already advocated EC membership. In March
1992 the Finnish Parliament, finally, voted 133 to 60 in favour of an application for
EC membership. The Finnish application, which did not include any reservations,
was submitted to Brussels on 18 March 1992.
The Central Union of Agricultural Producers – among interest organisations –
and the Christian Union – among political parties- were then and still remain today
the most violent opponents to EC/EU membership. Taking a decision on EC membership
was most difficult for the Center Party. A majority of the party supporters,
mainly farmers and other rural people, was against membership, but the party was,
from April 1991, the leading government-coalition partner and could not afford a
government crisis. Therefore in early 1992 the party leadership arranged a series of
provincial meetings through which the party folk reluctantly authorised the leadership
to act in favour of EC membership. 31
Negotiations with the Commission extended over a year from the spring of 1993, simultaneously
with other applicant countries. In the referendum of 16 October 1994,
membership was approved to by 57 against 43 percent, i.e. with a larger majority than
in Sweden. In the succeeding Parliamentary vote, the membership option won 152 to
45. Over half of the opposition votes came from the Center Party, even though a scarce
27. e.g. E. ANTOLA, From Bridge-Building to Broker, op.cit., pp.19-22.
28. Suomen säädöskokoelman sopimussarja – Finlands författningssamlings fördragsserie, No.63/
1992, ibid., No.70/1992.
29. e.g. E. ANTOLA, From Bridge-Building to Broker, op.cit., pp.28-33.
30. See M. JAKOBSON, Finland in the New Europe, Westport, 1998, p.111; E. ANTOLA, From
Bridge-Building to Broker, op.cit., pp.30-36.
31. See e.g. O. SUNNARI, Suomen EY-liityntä poliittisena prosessina. Aineistoraportti, Turku, 1993,
pp.39-66.