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PM Wants to Supersede President at EU Top Meetings

Centre Party sources say Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen has asked a constitutional panel to resolve the ongoing confusion about who should represent Finland at EU summits.

Image: YLE

The question has caused tension in the past, most recently when both the President and the Prime Minister travelled to Prague for last month's meeting between EU and US leaders. Despite consultation with Chancellor of Justice Jaakko Jonkka, the two offices were unable to agree on the matter in advance.

A working group, headed up by former Justice Minister Christoffer Taxell, is to work on a clarification on the distribution of powers between the Prime Minister and the President on foreign policy matters. A result is expected before the end of September.

Sources: YLE