The European Union must be great in great matters and small in small matters, Prime Minister Juha Sipilä told Parliament on Friday morning.
In his address stemming from the UK's Brexit vote, Sipilä reminded his listeners that the EU was founded on the ruins of World War Two. He stated his view that the greatest achievement of the EU has been the creation of peace, security and stability in Europe.
"Europe must not forget the events of history. At the meeting of Heads of State or Government, a colleague of mine said: Anyone who doesn't understand the purpose of the EU should visit some war graves."
The second greatest achievement of the European Union, according to Prime Minister Sipilä is its Single Market where goods, services, people and capital move freely.
"The Single Market is not a finished article but must be developed further, and the EU must have a common view of the direction to take," Sipilä added.
Critical perspectives
The Prime Minister did not ignore shortcomings of the EU. He pointed out that there is a lot that still need to be fixed. He conceded that The EU sometimes gets involved with inessential matters and regulates in too much detail.
"There is a lot that needs fixing in the EU, but unfounded criticism should be avoided. Of course, EU jargon is not easy to understand. We should learn a lesson, humbly accept criticism and improve our ways. If someone feels unfairly treated, this should be taken seriously."
Sipilä went on to say that political culture needs to be shaken up. Citizens in all parts of Europe have been disappointed in the EU's ability to respond to problems. The political culture also needs to be shaken up, he said.
"The causes of problems are too often sought from afar, from Brussels, even where the problem is home grown," he pointed out.
The world has changed
Sipilä described the results of the UK referendum as a disappointment for Finland and for the whole of the EU. The UK, he said, has been an important partner for Finland both in economic and security terms.
Commenting on the referendum campaign appeals to nationalism, independence and empire, Sipilä pointed out that the world has irrevocably changed.
"But the world has irreversibly changed in this respect. Globalization and interdependence connect us all together in an unprecedented way and this clock cannot be turned back. Europe, and Finland with it, is part of the global, competitive economic environment. In competition with giants like China and India, it is clear that Europe should act in a united manner. Europe's chilling history serves as a warning when it comes to invoking nationalist sentiment."
The Finnish prime Minister challenged the EU leaders to now adjust their thoughts from crisis mode to development mode.
"Brussels must do better, as must Finland. Finland will not, however, be holding a referendum on withdrawal from the EU. It is clear where we belong. Let's not focus on complaining, but on exerting our influence," Sipilä told Parliament.
