Finland Times

Finland and France on Monday agreed to move proposals to the European Union Council to address youth unemployment, considered a key reason behind the ongoing financial crisis, and checking corruption at the council’s meeting later this month.

The Finnish Prime minister, Jyrki Katainen and French President Francois Hollande at a meeting in Paris came up with the views that specific move to this effect would help lessen the crisis in the region. The meeting took place in the run up to the EU council summit scheduled for June 27 in Brussels.

Katainen said youth unemployment problem is one of the major issues that directly linked to the economic downturn.

The two leaders discussed key European Union issues, including  employment and economic growth,  development of the European Economic and Monetary Union, the banking union, and ways of resolving the European economic crisis where both the leaders supported a closer banking union.

France's President Francois Hollande (L) and Finland's Prime minister Jyrki Katainen wave each other good-bye following their meeting at the Elysee Presidential palace on June 10 in Paris. Photo AFP-Lehtikuva

The Finnish premier emphasised easing the company financing as small and medium companies are struggling to get entry to other countries.

‘The exchange and getting job in abroad should be made easier for the youths,’ said Katainen.

‘Both the countries have a number of common agenda to include in the upcoming EU meeting and implementation of the proposed banking union is one of the common agenda for Finland and France,’ said Katainen, adding that the main common agenda is fighting against youth unemployment.

Katainen said that the position of Finland in EU is very good. He was no more worried about the domination in the union by the two big countries of Germany and France.

Holande said that the euro zone debt crisis was ended and the crisis caused suffering to the member states in the regions for the last four years.

Hollande on May 30 said that EU member states need to be more cooperative on economic issues.

Earlier, the France president met German Chancellor Angela Merkel who opposed handing more power to the European Commission.

They also agreed to place joint proposals at the summit meeting.

In an interview with the weekly magazine Der Spiegel, Merkel on June 2 also expressed agreement with France that EU governments should work more closely on economic policy.

The German Chancellor said that she did not see the necessity for giving more power to the commission in Brussels in next few years.