Finnish islands may vote to reject Lisbon Treaty

FINLAND: Finnish prime minister Matti Vanhanen insisted yesterday he will not let the Aland Islands block ratification of the Lisbon Treaty.

The government of the semi-autonomous Swedish-speaking Baltic Sea islands may not win the necessary two-thirds majority in its 30-member parliament to endorse the treaty.

Elisabeth Naucler, who represents Aland in the Finnish parliament, said the islands want their own seat in the European Parliament and are angry at Finland because it did not fight for the Alanders' right to continue using snus, a chewing tobacco.

Mr Vanhanen said that even if the islands, which by law must be consulted on treaties, did not approve the treaty, it would not stop Finland from ratifying it.

"If Aland does not approve it, the judicial situation will be confusing, but it will not stop ratification at the union or Finland level," he said.

Experts say the legal position is unclear if Aland does not approve a treaty.

Mr Vanhanen and Ms Naucler said that Finland and Aland would continue to negotiate to try to resolve the issue.

The islands, located between Sweden and the west coast of mainland Finland, have a population of 26,200 and a large degree of autonomy, using their own flag and postage stamps.

Finland is barred by law from stationing troops or weapons there. -

© 2008 Reuters

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times