EU-affairs in Parliament

Compared to many other states The Finnish Parliament plays a strong role in decision-making on EU affairs, compared with many other member states. All the committees handle EU affairs, but Parliament’s positions are generally decided by the Grand Committee. National parliaments are not directly represented in the European Union’s institutions. They participate in decision-making by monitoring and directing their own government’s EU policy, however.

Finland and the European Union

Finland joined the European Union on 1 January 1995. As a member state, Finland participates fully in EU decision-making and is also bound by EU decisions. The EU has supranational decision-making powers in certain areas specified in its treaties, such as agricultural policy and trade policy. The most important legislative tools in the EU are regulations and directives. The EU also issues decisions and recommendations.

EU regulations enter into force immediately in Finland. EU directives, on the other hand, require the implementation of specific goals at the national level. This often entails the amendment of national legislation.

Parliament and EU affairs

Finland’s Constitution requires that the Government keep Parliament informed on the preparation of matters in the European Union. The Government must also hear Parliament’s views on proposals being discussed in the EU and must explain and justify the policies it adopts within the EU. According to the Constitution, the Government and each minister must enjoy the confidence of Parliament in all of their activities. This principle of accountability to Parliament also applies to the Government’s activities within the EU.

The handling of EU affairs in Parliament has been entrusted to the committees. Parliament’s position on EU affairs is generally expressed by the Grand Committee. In the case of the EU’s common foreign and security policy, however, Parliament’s views are expressed by the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Task and composition of the Grand Committee

The Grand Committee serves as Parliament’s EU committee. Its most important task is to ensure that Parliament has a proper say in EU decision-making and that parliamentary scrutiny is effective in this regard. Nowadays the Grand Committee rarely participates in the handling of purely domestic legislation.

The Grand Committee has 25 members and 13 deputy members. In contrast with other committees, deputy members have the right to attend and speak at committee meetings even if regular members are present. The MP from the Åland district also has the right to attend Grand Committee meetings. The Grand Committee normally meets on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Grand Committee decides Parliament’s position

Proposals for EU legislation that fall within Parliament’s powers are known as U affairs. The Government informs Parliament of U affairs by sending a memorandum to the Speaker together with the EU proposal. The Speaker forwards the memorandum to one or more special committees as well as the Grand Committee. The special committees’ task is to issue a statement to the Grand Committee concerning the memorandum.

The Grand Committee decides Parliament’s position after studying the EU proposal, the Government memorandum and the special committee’s statement. The position expressed by the Grand Committee on a U affair is politically binding on the Government. If the Government has not been able to act in accordance with the Grand Committee’s position, because of changes in circumstances, for instance, it must immediately inform the Grand Committee of the reasons for its actions. A U affair remains pending in the Grand Committee until the final decision is made in the EU.

Hearing ministers

The Grand Committee can request information on the preparation of matters in the European Union. The Government also has an obligation to report to the Grand Committee on its own initiative as necessary.
Before attending Council meetings, ministers inform the Grand Committee of the items on the agenda and the positions that Finland’s representatives intend to take in the Council. Council meetings are attended by the minister responsible for the policy sector in question. The Grand Committee often discusses upcoming Council meetings on the preceding Friday. After the minister who will represent Finland has outlined the agenda, members of the Grand Committee can ask questions or present their views on the matters that will be discussed at the meeting.

Ministers always report to the Grand Committee after each Council meeting on decisions and taken discussions. If a minister has had to deviate from the agreed position, the minister must give an explanation to the Grand Committee without delay.

The Prime Minister informs the Grand Committee in advance on the preparation of European Council meetings and Finland’s positions and reports to the Grand Committee or to Parliament as a whole on the results of each meeting.