Finnish PM pleased with Lisbon Treaty approval in Ireland

Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen said that he was glad that the Yes side has won in the second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty in Ireland, Finnish media reported on Saturday.

According to Vanhanen, for the European Union, the Lisbon Treaty is obviously a better alternative than the currently valid the Treaty of Nice. Lisbon Treaty passed in Ireland can exert pressure on Czech Republic for its ratification.

Meanwhile, Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb said that the global economic crisis has let the Irish people know about the benefits they could get from a merged Europe. According to Stubb, this could be the main factor that made Irish people changed their attitude towards Lisbon Treaty.

The Lisbon Treaty was signed by EU heads of state and government in December 2007 in Portuguese capital of Lisbon. The charter must be ratified by all 27 EU member states before it comes into force.

Source:Xinhua