Eduskunta centennial decision: New independent institute of international relations and EU affairs

The Eduskunta celebrates its centennial from spring 2006 to summer 2007. The intention is that at its first festive session on June 1st 2006 the legislature will create an independent research institute concentrating on research into international relations and EU affairs.

Finland lacks an institute that concentrates on university research and political decision making, analysing the topical international relations and EU affairs that lie on the fringes of administration as well as sustaining a social discourse on these matters. A think tank like this could be entrusted with many tasks that are now partly taken care of by ministries and universities, but the effective discharge of which would require a new kind of actor.

Legislation defining the institute's tasks and its administrative structure as an independent body working in connection with the Eduskunta would have to be enacted. One possibility would be to make an agreement with the Foundation for Foreign Policy Research providing for the functions now performed by the Finnish Institute of International Affairs to be transferred to the new body and added to its other tasks. Transferring the Finnish Institute of International Affairs would give the body being established under the auspices of the Eduskunta pre-existing structures within which to begin its work.

The intention is that the independent research institute for international relations and EU affairs will begin its work on January 1st 2007.