GETTY Finland's president Sauli Niinistö warned of a 'genuine threat' to the EU's survival

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Sauli Niinistö, whose country is a member of both the EU and eurozone, insisted Britain would remain an “important partner for the EU and Finland” once the UK finally cuts ties with Brussels. His comments represent a double boost for the UK’s hopes of extracting a favourable exit deal from the EU, after a top Belgian regional leader claimed the continuation of free trade between Britain and the bloc is of “mutual interest”. But as Mr Niinistö expressed his hope for “close and strong” UK-EU relations post-Brexit, along with Britain’s “strong and positive input” in European-wide decision-making from outside the bloc, Mr Niinistö sounded a gloomier note about the future of the EU.

Speaking to Finland’s top diplomatic staff in Helsinki yesterday, Mr Niinistö warned of a “comeback” of the eurozone debt crisis this summer despite it previously having been “declared as solved”. He said: “Powerful forces are now shaking up the EU. The sluggish global economy is making an impact. “We, who have for so long enjoyed the benefits of globalisation, are now also seeing its darker side. Tougher economic competition is eroding our comparative advantages. “The EU appears to have reached an impasse in many other respects. This impasse is largely self-inflicted. “We all know the steps of this dance: a crisis comes out of nowhere. Summits are held. And then the same thing happens again. And the can is simply kicked down the road. “The problem becomes even more intractable.”

GETTY [From right to left] Angela Merkel, Francois Hollande and Matteo Renzi held talks this week

One of the strong messages is that people throughout the EU often have little trust even in their own leaders, let alone the EU. Finland president Sauli Niinistö

Mr Niinistö hit out at Brussels’ “feeble approach” to dealing with the unprecedented migrant crisis in Europe as an example of how the bloc is “undermining its own future in the eyes of its citizens”. Amid rising euroscepticism across the continent, along with Britain’s historic vote to quit the bloc on June 23, the Finnish politician claimed the “EU's future is again in the melting pot”. He added: “The Union must not turn out to be a fair-weather organisation. The signs are not entirely encouraging. “The UK's Brexit decision is a serious blow. Although it does not yet pose a threat to the Union, it must be taken seriously. “One of the strong messages is that people throughout the EU often have little trust even in their own leaders, let alone the EU. “This problem is not confined to Britain, but is also taking hold on the continent. If it is allowed to worsen, it will become a genuine threat to the Union and thereby to all of us.”

Earlier this week, Europe’s trio of powerbrokers - German chancellor Angela Merkel, French president Francois Hollande and Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi - met in Italy as they battle to find a future for the EU following the British vote to leave. Mrs Merkel will this week also hold talks with 15 other EU leaders, including Mr Niinistö, as she prepares for an ‘informal’ EU summit next month in Bratislava, Slovakia where the 27 remaining member states will thrash out a response to Brexit. But Mr Niinistö spoke against a rush towards greater EU integration once Britain departs. He said: “Many now want to see a radical deepening of the Union, while others want to see it break up. I think that both will be disappointed. “Instead of ambitious, new plans, it would be more relevant to focus on the essential, go back to basics and ensure that all member states and their citizens feel that the EU brings an element of stability to their lives.”

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