Guidelines for Finland´s Policy on Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia
MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF FINLAND
ISSN 0358-1489 ISBN 978-951-724-815-0 ISBN PDF 978-951-724-816-7 Layout and printing: Edita Prima Ltd, Helsinki 2010
Guidelines for Finland’s Policy on Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia
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Guidelines for Finland’s Policy on Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia Finland attaches importance to the fact that the countries neighbouring the European Union should be open and democratic states with stable economic and social development. Finland seeks to contribute to the rapprochement of the countries of Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia to the European Union, to prevent the emergence of new dividing lines and to foster the convergence of common values and goals with the countries in the region. In its role as a member state of the European Union, as well as bilaterally, Finland is striving to actively promote these goals by redoubling its efforts 1. to foster the stable development of these countries, including in the fields of democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and the civil society, as well as in the development of good governance and market economy conditions. 2. to prevent conflicts and to promote conflict resolution through peaceful means by way of international cooperation and by encouraging regional cooperation. 3. to actively participate in the strengthening of European Union foreign policy in the region. To enhance bilateral political and economic relations between Finland and the countries in the region. To strengthen Finland’s presence, visibility and influence by means of development cooperation.
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The significance of the region
The stability and development of Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia is important for Europe as a whole. It is in the interests of Finland and the EU to support societal development, to seize the opportunities offered by these countries, and to help them address the various challenges they face. The region comprises eleven countries, embracing a total population of approximately 137 million. Eastern Europe includes Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine, while Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia belong to the South Caucasus. The Central Asian countries are Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Geography
The region holds importance for Finland not least due to its geographical location. Three Eastern European countries are immediate neighbours of the European Union, while five of the countries share a land border, and three a sea border with Russia. Central Asia borders China in the east, and the region borders Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan in the south. Notwithstanding the considerable country-specific differences, Finland is intent on promoting the above-mentioned goals in all three regions. In its regional and country-specific policy guidelines the distinctive features and needs of each country are taken into account, with an emphasis on the promotion of regional cooperation.
Increasing importance
The countries of Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia are gaining in international importance. Several are important energy producers or transit countries, offering rising potential for trade and investments. At this stage of their development, the states are in the process of reinforcing their societal structures and identity. This process,
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which began with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, is still on-going and in need of support. History
The region is at the crossroads of European and Asian cultural and religious influences. Some of the countries are still in the process of defining their geopolitical orientation. The sense of interdependency between states is rather weak in spite of, and partly due to, their common history. In their foreign policy, the countries strive to find a nationally beneficial balance between the attentions of outside players with growing interests in the region. Historically, important players in the region have been Russia/the Soviet Union, Turkey, Iran and the United States. For Turkey and Iran the countries of the South Caucasus and Central Asia have strategic importance. China’s focus is mainly on Central Asia. For its part, the European Union’s interest in the region has grown in the last decade.
The EU
For the EU, the significance of Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia has increased to a notable degree. In recent years, the EU has paid increasing attention to the region and duly reinforced its foreign policy. Yet the EU’s influence and options are somewhat restricted due to the fact that the Union is not in a position to offer the prospect of EU membership to the countries. The challenge therefore remains to develop an increasingly efficient neighbourhood policy when the Union is not ready to offer deeper integration; when some of the countries are not aiming at systematic convergence towards EU norms and practices, and when there are disputes between Russia and some of the countries in the region.
Russia and the CIS
It is in Russia’s interests to maintain its geopolitical influence in the region, especially as it sees the
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growing presence of the United States and the EU as being contrary to such interests. The strengthening of its leverage in the region is a central objective of Russian policy, which is evidenced not only in its neighbourhood policy, but also in the broadened scope of its instruments. Apart from Georgia, all the countries in the region are members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Trade between the CIS states is brisk, although of relatively minor significance from an international perspective. Indeed, the legacy of the Soviet Union has hampered the full-scale development of their industry and trade, and prevented the competitive integration of their economies into the global market place. The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) also operates within the CIS framework, and is tasked with developing security cooperation between Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Russia, China and the Central Asian states, with the exception of Turkmenistan, also belong to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Neighbourhood
China’s engagement in the region is focused on securing its energy supply and economic interests, but it also harbours certain foreign and security policy concerns. Turkey is aiming to strengthen its regional and European status. Stability in the neighbouring South Caucasus is important for Turkey, not least because of its growing energy needs. Iran aims to restrain the growing influence exerted in the region by the United States, and also by Russia and Turkey.
Challenges
The countries of Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia face a number of internal challenges that reverberate beyond their immediate borders. These include deficiencies in the de-
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velopment of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, as well as women’s rights. Poverty and underdevelopment, crises in the educational and health systems as well as endemic corruption are common problems. Environmental problems are also rife. Terrorism as well as trafficking in drugs, human beings and arms have the potential to threaten the wider international community. The shortage of water and inadequate water management fuel conflicts both within and between the countries. Some of these problems are connected with the lack of proper border demarcation between the former states of the Soviet Union. The continued instability in Afghanistan provides a fertile breeding ground for the surge in drug trafficking via Central Asia. The Central Asian states form a significant transit route for drug trafficking to Russia, and from there to Europe. Drug trafficking goes hand in hand with organized crime, terrorism, corruption and Islamic radicalism. This parlous state of affairs is exacerbated by the fact that Afghanistan produces approximately 90 per cent of the world’s opium. The improvement of border security between Afghanistan and Tajikistan is of paramount importance. To this end, Finland supports border security projects and the training of border authorities in the region. The unpredictability of the situation in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the wider neighbourhood raises concerns over growing Islamic extremism. Radical political Islamism has gained a foothold in recent years and its influence continues to grow in the region. Protracted conflicts
Further tension in the immediate EU neighbourhood has been caused by protracted conflicts.
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Four such conflicts which can be traced back to the break-up of the Soviet Union are the Transdnistrian conflict in Moldova, the South Ossetian and Abkhazian conflicts in Georgia, and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The conflict in South Ossetia escalated into a war between Russia and Georgia in August 2008. As Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Finland played a major role in the ceasefire negotiations. In line with the EU policy, Finland supports Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and does not recognize the independence of South Ossetia or Abkhazia. Finland advocates the importance of a full understanding between the EU and Georgia when it comes to contacts between the EU and the separatist regions. Finland is a member of the Minsk Group, the OSCE-led process for the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. If progress is made in the conflict resolution, Finland might need to consider participation in a possible peace-keeping operation. In the case of the Transdnistrian conflict, Finland supports the negotiation process under the auspices of the OSCE. Financial crisis
The global financial crisis has had inevitable repercussions on the economies in the region. The most open of the region’s economies, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, have been hardest hit, as their growth has been based largely on foreign borrowing by the private sector. Remittances for migrants working in Russia, Kazakhstan and western countries constitute a significant buffer for several of the countries’ economies. A decline in demand for these migrant workers has resulted in their partial return, and in a corresponding drop in remittances.
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Gas and oil revenue dependency is a structural problem shared by the energy producing countries. The high world market prices of oil, gas and minerals boosted export revenues in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan before the onset of the global economic crisis. These countries are expected to have good prospects for a renewed economic upturn thanks to their rich natural resources. The prosperity from natural resource exports is unevenly distributed among their citizens, however. In stark contrast to the energy producers, there are also states which lack natural resources and whose inhabitants subsist, for the most part, on less than two dollars a day. The European Union
Relations with the countries of Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia are guided by Finland’s national interests and the common policy of the European Union. Finland’s foreign policy is based on its membership of the EU and on active bilateral relations with the respective countries. The Union’s foreign policy is not a substitute for national policy. Rather, the two are complementary and compatible. The European Union provides the central framework and channel of influence for Finland’s foreign policy, and the Union’s role in support of the stability and development of the region must be strengthened. The EU’s relations with its eastern neighbours should encourage them to continue political, economic and social reforms. The prospect of EU membership is a significant incentive for non-member European states. The Union should remain open to all European countries that share European values and fulfill the membership criteria (acquis communautaire).
Eastern Partnership The Eastern Partnership was launched at the Prague Summit of the EU and its Eastern European Partners in May 2009. The Eastern Partnership
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covers the eastern Partners of the European Neighbourhood Policy: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, as well as Belarus. The Eastern Partnership strengthens EU policy towards these countries and deepens relations with them. Third countries may participate in the multilateral programmes of the Eastern Partnership on a case-bycase basis. Finland supports the Eastern Partnership and its active development. The relations between the EU and the Eastern Partners must be deepened according to each Partner’s capabilities. In both bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the EU and the Partner States, instruments should be used that best support the countries’ own reforms. Chief among these instruments are the new Association Agreements, and their component Free Trade Agreements, as well as the facilitation of the free movement of people. The stability and economic development of the Partners, as well as their administrative capacity, have a direct impact on Finland as a member of the European Union. Relations with the Partner States are based on common values, such as democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. Central principles include market economy, sustainable development and good governance. The implementation of the Eastern Partnership takes place through four thematic platforms, namely 1) democracy, good governance and stability; 2) economic integration and convergence with EU policy; 3) energy security and 4) contacts between people. PCA and Association All the countries, apart from Belarus and TurkAgreements menistan, have a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with the EU. These agreements define the modalities of cooperation between the EU and the respective countries. They entered into force
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in 1998-1999, and in 2010, and will continue to remain in force, unless either party decides to terminate the agreement. Finland considers it important for the EU to strive towards ratification of the PCA with Belarus. Moreover, Finland welcomes Kazakhstan’s initiative to update the PCA. The EU should also assess the internal situation of Turkmenistan in light of possible contractual negotiations. The European Parliament has approved an Interim Agreement, which provides for the provisional implementation of trade- related aspects of the PCA, and which considerably facilitates trade between the EU and Turkmenistan. The current PCA agreements between the EU and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine will be replaced by Association Agreements that promote convergence with the Union. Finland supports the strengthening of relations between the Partner States and the EU through these so-called new generation Association Agreements, which include provisions for visa facilitation and free trade. The timing, specific content and feasibility of the agreements need to be determined through country-specific assessments. Negotiations on an Association Agreement have progressed furthest with Ukraine. The Council of the European Union has also launched Association Agreement negotiations with Moldova, and preparations are underway to begin negotiations with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Free trade
In the longer term, the EU should pursue free trade with all the Eastern Partners. Closer economic and trade relations promote regional stability and generate new markets through economic
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development. Economic integration must proceed gradually, through the establishment of deep and comprehensive free trade areas, taking into account country-specific progress. Before actual free trade negotiations, certain fundamental conditions must be met: membership of the World Trade Organization (WTO), political commitment to the negotiations, as well as the economic and institutional capacity to implement the agreements. In 2008, the EU launched negotiations on a deep and comprehensive free trade area (DCFTA) with Ukraine in the framework of a new Association Agreement. The goal is to negotiate similar, farreaching free trade agreements with Armenia, Georgia and Moldova in the framework of the Association Agreement negotiations, once the countries are deemed ready for extensive trade liberalization. With Azerbaijan the goal is to include negotiations on enhanced bilateral trade provisions. Actual free trade negotiations will be launched only after Azerbaijan enters the WTO. Economic cooperation with the Central Asian states should also be intensified, with the objective of arrangements similar to those currently being developed with the Eastern Partners. The Partner States should also be encouraged to engage in the development of a free trade network, taking into account their respective agreements with the EU. Finland considers the development of mutual trade relations between the EU, the Eastern Partners, Russia and Central Asia an important long-term goal, through contractual arrangements that are compatible, comprehensive and non-discriminatory. Visa facilitation
Finland supports the facilitation of people-to-people contacts in accordance with principles agreed between the Union and the countries in the region.
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Visa facilitation arrangements should be pursued on a country-specific basis, according to the joint approach agreed within the EU. The effective implementation of visa facilitation and readmission agreements can lead to a visa dialogue, which in turn forms the basis for so-called road maps, with the aim of eventual visa-free travel. The EU must be assured of reciprocity on the part of the partners, as well as of their firm commitment to combating corruption, organized crime and illegal immigration. The preconditions for reciprocal visa freedom can be determined through the visa dialogue and a possible road map. Dialogue is underway with Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia on visa questions. The EU and Ukraine have advanced to a visa dialogue, with the goal of a visa road map, while visa facilitation and readmission agreements with Georgia are under preparation. Finland also welcomes visa facilitation discussions with the other countries in the region. Central Asia Strategy The European Union adopted a Strategy for a New Partnership with the Central Asian states in 2007, the first comprehensive opening towards Central Asia by the EU. The Strategy covers Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tadzhikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. It is based on the progress made by these countries following their independence and on the shared interests between the EU and the Central Asian states. The Strategy is realized through the implementation of sectoral projects coordinated by the Commission. The thematic priorities of the Strategy are: 1) human rights, the rule of law, good governance and democratization 2) youth and education 3) economic development, trade and investment
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4) energy and transport links 5) environmental sustainability and water issues 6) common threats and challenges (border management, migration, combating organized crime and international terrorism, as well as trafficking in human beings, drugs, and arms) 7) inter-cultural dialogue. Finland’s bilateral policy is in line with the Strategy, and the country takes an active part in its implementation and development. Finland’s new regional, thematic framework programme of development assistance, the Wider Europe Initiative, takes into account the priorities and recommendations of the EU Central Asia Strategy. Common Foreign and Security Policy
The protracted conflicts and the war in Georgia in 2008 have underlined the importance of crisis management efforts in the region. The European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia deploys a total staff of 370 civilians, over 20 of whom are Finnish experts. Finland participates in the European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) at the Moldovan and Ukrainian border with 4-6 Finnish experts out of a total staff of 90 at any given time. Finland also takes an active part in Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) operations underway in the region, and is prepared to respond in the event of any new requirements. Finland supports the work of the EU Special Representatives (EUSRs) in the region and is ready to offer Finnish expertise to their teams. Finnish experts are currently members of the EUSR team for South Caucasus.
Democracy and human rights
Shortcomings pertaining to human rights and democratic development are common to the three regions, although there are marked differences between the individual countries. Civil society is
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weak and subject to constant pressures, while the work of the independent media and the political opposition is often restricted. The importance of human rights, including the rights of women and minorities, may be undervalued. It should also be pointed out that the death penalty is still practised in some of the countries. For Finland, the strengthening of the rule of law, the civil society and human rights is a priority, as well as a significant aspect of activities in the region. Actions are guided by the principles and priorities of the Government Report to Parliament on Finland’s Human Rights Policy. Finland monitors the human rights situation in the region and contributes to the human rights dialogue concerning Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia within the EU context, within international organizations, as well as bilaterally. Development cooperation projects funded by Finland constitute a major component of this work in all the eleven countries. Finland works mainly through the European Union in the promotion of human rights. The EU should pay sustained attention to human rights issues in the region and promote the ratification of the Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights regarding the abolition of the death penalty and the Protocol concerning the Reform of the European Court of Human rights by all the countries that are members of the Council of Europe. The partnership between the Union and the countries in the region should be based on an open exchange of views, with human rights dialogue playing an integral part in deepening the relations. International organizations
Through international organizations active in the region, Finland seeks to encourage greater commitment on the part of the respective countries
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to the international system and the honouring of pledges made to international organizations. Effective multilateral cooperation is a central pillar of Finland’s foreign and security policy. Finland considers it important to develop synergies and coordination among international actors in order to avoid the needless duplication of tasks. The United Nations The United Nations is a key organization through which Finland carries out its multilateral cooperation. Finland is firmly committed to the UN system, supports its goals, and emphasizes the interdependence of security, development and human rights that are a hallmark of its work. The UN agencies operate throughout the countries of Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia. A pivotal role is played by the UN Development Programme (UNDP). Finland supports regional environmental projects, especially the development of water management via the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Finland seeks concrete cooperation on human rights with the countries in the region in connection with the Universal Periodic Review carried out under the auspices of the UN Human Rights Council. Finland is a candidate for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2013-14 term. East Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia constitute an influential entity from the perspective of Finland’s membership campaign. The Council of Europe
All the countries of Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus, bar Belarus, are members of the Council of Europe. Finland encourages the countries in the region to ratify and implement Council of Europe conventions concerning human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Finland supports the work of
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the Commissioner for Human Rights, and also advocates the reconsideration of Belarus’ membership application as soon as the moratorium on the death penalty enters into effect. The OSCE
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is the most far-reaching regional security organization in the world, with 56 participating states. Membership of the organization extends from North America to Central Asia. The OSCE’s concept of comprehensive security is based on three dimensions: 1) politico-military, 2) economic and environmental, and 3) the human dimension. The organization plays a key role in conflict prevention and early warning, as well as in conflict resolution and post-conflict rehabilitation. The organization is well known and its work is widely appreciated in the region. The work carried out by the 18 field offices in Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia, as well as in the Balkans, is an integral part of the OSCE’s mandate. After the stabilization of the situation in the Balkans, the focus of the OSCE’s activities is shifting to the South Caucasus and Central Asia. At the beginning of 2010, four Finnish experts were posted in OSCE field offices in Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia. The Finnish Chairmanship of the OSCE in 2008 served to bolster Finland’s bilateral relations with the countries in the region. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland visited all the eleven countries of Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia in his capacity as Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE. These contacts form the basis for the further enhancement of relations between all parties.
Bilateral relations
Finland aims to intensify political dialogue with the countries in the region, building on the in-
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creasingly active bilateral relations of the last decade. Exchange of visits will be increased, with special attention on active contacts between the public authorities. The importance of regular consultations with each country at the level of senior officials is underscored in current policy planning. The exchange of high-level visits will continue in accordance with the international principle of alternation. Bilateral meetings at the political level may also be arranged in the margins of international conferences. Finland enjoys a positive public image in the region. Finnish experience in various sectors has generated interest, based on the country’s reputation of reliability, high level of competence and success. Finland will continue to promote and capitalize on its strengths in its relations with the region’s countries. Presence
The number of Finnish diplomatic representations in the region is modest. Finland established an embassy in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, in 1993. In autumn 2009, an embassy was established in Astana, Kazakhstan. Since early 2010, the Ambassador of Finland to Kazakhstan is also accredited to Kyrgyzstan. The Finnish Ambassador in Bucharest, Romania, and the Ambassador in Vilnius, Lithuania, are accredited to Moldova and Belarus respectively. Two roving ambassadors, based in Helsinki, are accredited to the countries of the South Caucasus, as well as Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs plans to establish a diplomatic office in Belarus in 2010. The need to upgrade Finland’s representation in the South Caucasus will be examined. There is also a need to consider the appointment of new honorary consuls in the region.
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In the longer term, the new External Action Service and the missions of the EU may open up opportunities for closer cooperation with those countries where Finland does not have missions of its own. Development cooperation
Finland is strengthening its development cooperation in East Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia both bilaterally and through international organizations. Finland’s new Framework Programme for Development Policy in East Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia, the Wider Europe Initiative (WEI), will be implemented from 2010 onwards. The programme will significantly increase the volume of Finland’s development cooperation in the region by 2013. The initiative is based on the Government Programme, which emphasizes crisis prevention, support for peace processes and environmental cooperation, as well as support for the private sector and trade. The goal of the initiative is to support security, stability and prosperity in the partner countries in the region, and even more extensively in Europe. It seeks to respond to the partner countries’ development challenges in an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable manner. Pan-European cooperation aims at preventing and defusing confrontations, and promoting consensus and cooperation both between the countries in the region and with the EU and Russia. The Wider Europe Initiative comprises three regional cooperation programmes, which will be launched gradually. There are five themes, which will be carried out in each region while taking into account their circumstances and needs. The themes are security, trade and development, infor-
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mation society development, energy and environment, and social sustainability. International Financial Institutions (IFIs), such as the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) are key implementing partners of the initiative, as are the United Nations (UN) and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Initial projects include the construction of communications networks, development cooperation supporting trade, and water sector cooperation. Arms control
It is Finland’s goal to promote security cooperation in East Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia by means of arms control. Finland takes part in arms control-related projects, which support training related to arms export control, the destruction of surplus weapons and the countries’ preparedness to prevent the smuggling of nuclear and radio-active materials. The prevention of terrorism by means of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) is high on the international agenda. As far as conventional weapons are concerned, particular attention is paid to the creation of international arms trade rules and the prevention of the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons.
Trade prospects
The combined economic potential of the countries of Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia is considerable, although major differences exist between the countries. Finland pays particular attention on the development of economic relations with Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Azerbaijan. These markets are of particular interest to Finnish companies, and trade volumes have grown noticeably as a result in recent years. The objective is to support Finnish foreign trade in the region. Export promotion is a joint effort be-
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tween the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Finpro, an organization providing internationalization services for Finnish companies. Businesses can benefit from the promotional services offered by the Finnish embassies and ambassadors. Finnish diplomatic missions can “open doors”, establish contacts and disseminate information about both the potential and pitfalls of doing business in the region. Export and trade promotion visits to the region are conducted at the ministerial and senior official level. Official intervention can often help mitigate problems encountered by businesses, and the removal of trade barriers is an important task of the Finnish government authorities. Finnpartnership is a business partnership programme of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs that provides advice to Finnish companies and funds the planning, development and implementation phases of new business initiatives abroad. Regular meetings of the Joint Commissions for Trade and Economic Cooperation are convened with Ukraine and Kazakhstan, or between their co-chairs. Economic and trade consultations are also held with the other countries in the region. The WTO Finland supports the integration of the countries of East Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia into the international economic cooperation arrangements, especially the World Trade Organization (WTO). Membership requires that countries in the accession process comply with the conditions of the WTO. Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova and Ukraine are members, while Belarus, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are negotiating their accession, and currently participate as observers. Initiating bilateral negotiations with the EU on a free trade area (FTA) is also conditional upon their membership of the
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WTO. Finland is chairing the working party on the accession of Kazakhstan to the WTO. Turkmenistan has not applied for WTO membership thus far. Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus reached an agreement on the establishment of a Customs Union in December 2009. The countries have stated that they will negotiate their accession to the WTO separately, but that their aim is to accede simultaneously. Finland considers that keeping the WTO accession negotiations on separate tracks is a prudent decision, since the countries’ negotiations are at different stages, and hopes that the customs union plans will not unduly hamper the WTO accession negotiations.
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Policy guidelines Finland pursues the goals specified in these policy guidelines as a member state of the European Union, bilaterally and via international organizations.
Finland and the European Union • Finland advocates the strengthening of the EU policy in the region. For Finland, the encouragement of further political, economic and social reforms, and the reinforcement of the Union’s instruments in support of these goals are of central importance. • Finland supports the use of the Union’s common foreign and security policy tools (CFSP) to advance the EU’s active role in the region. • Finland takes an active part in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) and in the preparation of EaP programmes and project proposals. • Finland supports the entry into force of Partnership and Cooperation Agreements (PCAs) with those countries with which the EU lacks a legal cooperation framework. • Finland considers the negotiation of Association Agreements with Moldova and the countries of the South Caucasus important. The conclusion of these Association Agreements, including the negotiation of Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (DCFTAs) with the countries in the region is a longer-term goal. • Finland supports the WTO membership aspirations of the countries in the region. Partner countries are also encouraged to develop mutual trade relations. • Finland advocates visa facilitation agreements between the EU and all the Eastern Partnership countries, with the ultimate aim of visa freedom, provided that the countries fulfill the appropriate criteria. • Finland promotes the conduct of an ongoing human rights dialogue as an important aspect of relations between the EU and the countries in the region.
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Bilateral relations • Finland intensifies political dialogue with the countries in the region. An increase in exchange of visits at different levels is envisaged. An important goal is the conduct of regular consultations between the foreign ministries of Finland and the respective countries. • In 2010 the Finnish Embassy in Astana will become fully operational. Finland’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan is accredited as a non-resident Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan. • Finland will open a diplomatic office in Minsk, Belarus in 2010. • Finland will examine the need to strengthen its representation in the South Caucasus. • Finland will consider the appointment of new honorary consuls in the region. • Finland’s objective is to increase the volume of development cooperation in the region significantly by 2013 in the framework of the Wider Europe Initiative. • Finland emphasizes the importance of the rule of law, civil society, and democracy development as a part of all bilateral activities, including development cooperation. • Finland pays particular attention to the development of closer trade and economic relations, especially with Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Azerbaijan. • The active exchange of trade and export promotion visits, and the provision of internationalization services to Finnish businesses operating in the region is a priority of the MFA and its embassies. • Finland will continue to reinforce its positive image and to promote its strengths in its relations with the region’s countries.
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International organizations • Finland works towards the strengthening of the role and visibility of the international organizations that operate in the region, with a stronger linkage between security, development and human rights as a universal goal. This includes the promotion of a greater commitment to the international system and the honouring of pledges made to international organizations by the respective countries. • Finland encourages the countries in the region to embark on political, economic and social reforms by participating in the programmes of international organizations. • Finland urges ratification of the Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights, Concerning the Abolition of the Death Penalty in All Circumstances and the Protocol on the reform of the European Court of Human Rights by all the countries that are member states of the Council of Europe. • Finland strengthens its development cooperation through the Wider Europe Initiative in cooperation with international organizations and financial institutions. • Finland aims to increase the number of Finnish experts serving in international organizations in the region. • Finland promotes its candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2013-14 term.
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PUBLICATIONS OF THE MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS 3 / 2010
ISSN 0358-1489 ISBN: 978-951-724-815-0 PDF ISBN 978-951-724-816-7
