EU level recovery is vital to Finland: Vanhanen

Matti Vanhanen, the newly appointed finance minister, underlined the importance of the EU-level recovery from the COVID-19 crisis to Finland, reported Xinhua.

Addressing a news conference immediately following his appointment, Vanhanen said the six largest EU countries are recipients of 40 percent of Finnish exports and "The recovery of our major trading partners is vital to Finnish economy."

Vanhanen, 64, stressed the efficiency of joint action and the same speed of recovery measures of each country. "If all countries pursue their own course, money is lost," he said.

Vanhanen rejected media speculation that the Center Party would be more critical towards the European Commission's proposed package for recovery from the COVID-19 crisis than the rest of the five-party coalition cabinet. The Suomen Keskusta (Centre Party of Finland) is one of the five parties in the current coalition government under Prime Minister Sanna Marin.

Finland has suggested that the share of direct assistance in the proposed EU recovery package be reduced. Vanhanen underlined the importance of reaching an EU level agreement.