Helsinki, 25/05/2000 (Agence Europe) - In an interview published on Thursday in the "Helsingin Sanomat", Finnish Prime minister Paavo Lipponen said he was in favour of the proposal made to him over the phone on Wednesday by Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres of setting up a group of observers responsible for monitoring the situation in Austria before lifting the bilateral sanctions of the Fourteen against the country. The Portuguese Presidency, he stipulates, would like this procedure to be launched before the Feira Summit, but that the question of sanctions should not be broached before the summit. According to Mr. Lipponen, it is obvious that the consensus necessary to lift the sanctions will not be found before the end of the term in office of the Portuguese Presidency.
"Helsingin Sanomat" also states that Finnish Finance Minister Sauli Niinisto (Leader of the European Democratic Union) has written to President Prodi asking him to see whether or not Austria had breached fundamental provisions of the EU Treaty.