This is because the European Union in early November adopted a new set of rules for weighing the votes of its member states.

Officials from member states of the European Union will have to learn a new method of tallying votes and gauging the balance of power in the European Parliament as they toil away on new bills in Brussels.

As a result, Finland along with other small and medium-sized member states have lost some of their clout in matters brought before the Council of the European Union, whereas the significance of large member states – namely, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom – has increased.

Under the old system of weighing votes, Finland had 7, or roughly 2 per cent, of the total of 352 votes. Under the new, population-based voting system, the proportional share of votes of Finland has declined to roughly 1 per cent.

Finland has actively advocated the new voting system as it believes the system will enhance and clarify decision-making in the European Union. The new, dual-majority system prescribes that a qualified majority is achieved if a proposal is supported by at least 55 per cent of member states representing at least 65 per cent of the population of the European Union.

“Finland has concluded that it's more often in the camp that wants to take steps forward, not put the brakes on,” explains a Finnish official in Brussels.

Virve Kähkönen – HS

Aleksi Teivainen – HT

© HELSINGIN SANOMAT

Photo: Frederick Florin / AFP