Finland's Europe Minister Tytti Tuppurainen (SDP) welcomed the announcement of a Brexit deal on Christmas eve, saying it was 'damage control' but also that Finland must approve it as soon as possible.
"The agreement is mutually beneficial and issues of crucial importance to the EU, such as level playing field, have been taken into account," tweeted Tuppurainen. "Nevertheless, this is damage control, since the new relationship lacks the benefits of the single market. This was the will of the UK."
Tuppurainen said that Finland and the EU would now do everything they could to ensure the agreement is in force from 1 January.
Parliamentary approval will be necessary, and Tuppurainen suggested that the agreement would go to parliament as soon as possible, before the New Year.
Win-win situation
The Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) said that the deal was a victory for Finland, the EU and for Britain — but it weakened trading conditions compared to British membership of the EU.
Janica Ylikarjula of EK told Yle that the deal was historic, as it introduces new barriers rather than removing them, and that the impact on free movement of people will be considerable.
"Freedom of movement ends, and especially work-based immigration will become clearly more difficult," said Ylikarjula. "And one concrete thing relating to younger people is that Britain no longer wants to be part of the EU's Erasmus exchange programme."
No style points
MEPs struck a similar tone, with Henna Virkkunen (NCP) saying in a statement that she was pleased that a deal was reached but concerned there'd be little time to analyse it.
"The exact text was not shared outside the EU Commission's negotiating team during talks," said Virkkunen. "Now the agreement comes so late that really going through it and processing it in the European Parliament is in practice impossible. The process does not deserve any style points for that, but in my opinion it is important that an agreement was finally reached."
SDP MEP Eero Heinäluoma wrote on Twitter that the deal was the best Christmas present for the EU and for Britain, while Laura Huhtasaari of the Finns Party said that it is better to be poor and free than wealthy and imprisoned.