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The repercussions of British exit from the European Union (EU) have reached the very northern part of Europe. In Finland, a country outside NATO, the EU has been seen in a security role more than in most other EU countries.
Initial comments made by Finnish politicians were cautious, but reflected concerns felt in Finland as the strongest military force within EU was pulling out.
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said last Friday, the first day when the result of the British referendum was released, that the impact on European security would depend on the "willingness of Britain as a NATO country to cooperate in security policy with the EU".
When non-NATO Finland joined the EU in 1995, the role of the EU in maintaining security was highlighted. During the recent tension in eastern Europe, Finland underlined the security dimension of the EU.
Finnish Defence Minister Jussi Niinisto said Brexit is a blow to the joint foreign and security policies promoted by the EU.
He said Britain has the strongest military force in the EU and in that respect a hole will be left after the country leaves the EU.
He said it remains to be seen whether the remaining EU countries will deepen their cooperation in security policy. "This is not the end of the world," he assured.
Finland, an EU country that has a lengthy borderline with Russia, maintains general conscription and aims at an independent credible defence, reiterated the defense minister.
Meanwhile, former Finnish Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen on Monday said the media had exaggerated the impact of Brexit.
Talking on Yle television, Lipponen said he saw the growing role of Germany as a positive factor in the security sense.
Lipponen said that to Finland, Germany and France are more important than the UK.
"Germany and Finland have a joint interest in aiming at getting along with Russia," he said.
Arguing that anti-Russian sentiments are "not sensible", he said the EU had tackled "too large issues" such as the Ukraine crisis.
He acknowledged that Britain has been a important partner to Finland in matters such as reducing bureaucracy in Brussels and promoting free trade.
While the weight of Germany is increasing within the EU, Finland should intensify cooperation with the rest of the Nordic countries, said Lipponen.
"To secure Finnish influence in the EU, Nordic companions are important," said Lipponen.
Lipponen said he did not believe any domino effect would get under way to leave the EU.
"There are claims that deepening of European cooperation would cease, but even that is not certain. More cooperation is needed in the euro zone to make the currency work better," he said.
Lipponen was a social democratic prime minister of Finland in 1995-2003.
(APD)
