Finland Times

 

Prime Minister Alexander Stubb (on the left.) And the Minister of Economic Affairs Jan Vapaavuori at a press conference in Seinäjoki on Monday. Photo – Str / Lehtikuva.

Prime Minister Alexander Stubb on Monday played down the recent wrangle between his party, Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party-NCP), and the Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (Social Democratic Party of Finland-SDP).

 

Stubb said he does not hold anything against SDP or the actions of the Ministry of Finance during the NCP ministerial group meeting in Seinäjoki.

 

Jan Vapaavuori, minister of economic affairs and an NCP lawmaker, was reportedly not pleased with Finance Minister Antti Rinne’s budget proposal for 2015.

 

The premier called for unity in the budget discussions and underlined the importance of deliberating on and reaching a concession about the recently imposed counter sanctions by Russia.

 

Finland and Austria are the two European Union countries hardest hit by the food embargo imposed by Russia. The two countries have asked for compensation from the EU agricultural sector crisis fund.

 

Photo – Str / Lehtikuva.

In a statement, EU Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos said he instructed for a taskforce to be established to analyse the potential impacts sector by sector and to assess how meaningful support can be provided, if and where it is needed. Minister of Agriculture Petteri Orpo also confirmed that the European Commission is looking into the matter.

 

Economic Affairs Minister Jan Vapaavuori meanwhile also has cancelled a meeting slated for Wednesday with Taloustoimittajat ry, an organisation which provides a forum for discussing economic issues with business journalists. During the meeting, Vapaavuori was to meet with SDP parliamentarian and Labour Minister Lauri Ihalainen. The two ministers were expected to have a joint sauna session and discuss the recently released budget draft for 2015.

 

The premier said he enjoyed working with both Vapaavuori and Ihalainen.

 

Vapaavuori, too, dismissed the perceived disagreement. He described his counterpart Ihalainen as a gentleman, stressing that the two have no differences whatsoever. Vapaavuori also discouraged drawing conclusions from the cancellation of the meeting.