In an interview published on Monday by his hometown newspaper, Salon Seudun Sanomat, Niinistö said that the union's older small countries could have formed a common front alongside its big members, with Finland in the lead.
As Niinistö sees it, Finland's economic and political influence in the EU was growing steadily until the early years of this decade. He says Finland played a larger role than one would expect considering its size.
"In the early years of its EU membership, Finland's role grew year by year until it became extremely strong," said Niinistö. "The union's summits were dominated by economic issues, and the super-achievements of Finland's own economy raised its political authority."
Finland joined the EU in 1995; Niinistö served as finance minister and deputy prime minister from 1996 until 2003, when he moved to the European Investment Bank.
He also served as minister of justice, chair of the conservative National Coalition Party, and president of the rightist EPP block in the European Parliament.
Still Mum over Presidential Bid The 57-year-old Niinistö also referred to speculation over next January's presidential elections. Current National Coalition leader Jyrki Katainen recently visited Niinistö in Brussels to urge him run as the party's candidate. Niinistö again declined to say whether he will run, saying only that the timetable for the presidential campaign is up to Katainen. "Katainen knows what I think, and I know what Katainen thinks," he said. "As I see it, the matter is now up to Katainen," he added cryptically. YLE24, Salon Seudun Sanomat
