4.1 Finland in the EU

4.1 Finland in the EU

In 1985 two major changes began in Europe that shifted Finland's position on the continent's political map. The post-war division into spheres of influence began to melt. During the Cold War, Finland's moves were limited by the Soviet Union's suspicion and desire to exert control.

The Soviet Union's negative attitude toward Western organizations blocked Finland from immediately becoming a full member of EFTA in 1961. Council of Europe membership was delayed for the same reason. In effect though, Finland had participated in the work of these European organizations. Both memberships carried more symbolic than practical weight.

Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms led to the dissolution of the East Bloc, liberation from Socialism and eventually the collapse of the Soviet Union in late 1991. During the Gorbachev era, Finland normalized its relations with the USSR. The Soviet Union no longer tried to interfere in Finland's domestic decisions. Gorbachev fully recognized Finnish neutrality on a 1989 visit to Helsinki.

In 1985, a change had begun in Finnish foreign policy, which was slow at first but later accelerated. Finland became a full member of EFTA at the beginning of 1986 and a member of the Council of Europe in 1989. At the same time, the European Community (EC) states decided to tighten their co-operation, forming a union by the early '90s.

Finland gave up its Cold War-era neutrality and joined the European Union. Membership changed Finland's position on Europe's political map, moving it from the periphery to the core of the EU. The membership process divided the Finns, but in a referendum a majority supported the move. Finnish relations with its eastern and southern neighbours were redefined. The Cold War frontier no longer ran along Finland's eastern border.

Finnish 1990s in a nutshell

1992 The Treaty of Friendship, Co-Operation and Mutual Assistance between Finland and the Soviet Union nullified; new treaty signed with Russia.
1992 Finland applies for European Community membership.
1993 Finland, Austria, Norway and Sweden simultaneously launch membership negotiations with the European Community. The EC becomes the European Union.
1994 Mauno Koivisto's presidential term ends; Martti Ahtisaari inaugurated.
1994 In a referendum, Finns approve membership agreement with the EU.
1995 Finland joins the EU.
1999 Finland joins the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).
1999 Finland holds EU's half-year rotating presidency.
2000 Martti Ahtisaari's presidential term ends; Tarja Halonen inaugurated.
2000 New constitution takes effect.