President Halonen: The relationship between the United States and Europe is the key to achieving wider cooperation

According to President Halonen, the European Union and the United States share, as are two most prosperous in the world, responsibility for promoting freedom, prosperity and well-being in the world: “ultimately, transatlantic cooperation is not just about our two sides. It is often the key to achieving wider cooperation. Thus, our cooperation is really about how we relate to global responsibility”, President Halonen said in her speech at the Anniversary Celebrations of the American Chamber of Commerce in Helsinki on Thursday, 22 March 2007. President Halonen highlighted transatlantic economic cooperation as the backbone of the relationship between the EU and the United States. “The economy has often proved to be the strongest link even when political issues have caused problems. The EU is the most important trade and investment partner for the United States, and vice versa. Our mutual trade accounts for about 40 percent of all world trade.” Most recently differences of opinion between the EU and the United States have been regarding the response to international security threats.

President Halonen spoke at the Anniversary Celebrations of the American Chamber of Commerce. Photo: American Chamber of Commerce.

According to President Halonen, Finns and Americans share an interest in new technology and innovations. There is interesting potential for cooperation in energy and environmental expertise, health care, education, and the northern and Arctic dimensions. “We Finns are increasingly interested in business innovation, at which Americans seem to be much better than we Europeans”, President Halonen said.

Full text of the speech