Finnish Prime Minister Antti Rinne stressed the importance for Member States that are net contributors to the EU budget to make the provision of EU funding conditional on respect for the Rule of law.
“Net contributors agree that, as a consequence of Brexit, they cannot increase their contributions if they cannot include conditionality”, said Mr Rinne on Friday 6 September in Helsinki, on the sidelines at a meeting between the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU and the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament’s political groups. “The principle of the Rule of law in Europe is important”, he added, also referring to the fight against climate change as a possible element of conditionality.
Similarly, European Parliament President David Sassoli contended that the principle of ‘conditionality’ was “fair” in order to have a 2021-2027 budget for the EU that is equal to the challenges faced and that “puts European values and identity back at the centre”.
Brexit. Asked about the United Kingdom's exit from the EU, Mr Rinne said that the situation in the United Kingdom is “quite a mess”. “We don't know what's happening there”, he said. What is “very obvious”, according to him, is the prospect of a no-deal Brexit. And Finland, as well as the European Union, have taken action to prepare for this.
According to Mr Sassoli, “there is fog over the Channel”, as it seems impossible to understand the will of the British government and Parliament.
“But we know who we are. We are the ones who have tenaciously sought an agreement and who want to support it”, said the Italian Social Democrat, praising European unity on the Brexit issue. He reiterated the willingness of MEPs to “discuss any initiative whatsoever”. And he warned the British authorities: “If someone seeks to leave without an agreement, they will have to take responsibility for it, particularly with regard to the erection of a border in Ireland”. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)