According to Tuomioja, one noticeable change during Finland's presidency is that the EU now realises the significance of having a common voice.
"If the EU is to be taken seriously as a global actor, it has to present a unified voice, despite internal differences," he said.
He added that it is also important to operate according to set policies.
Tuomioja also said that the president plays a vital role in crisis situations, saying that the EU operated both effectively and cohesively during the Lebanon crisis. The Cyprus dispute with Turkey also was handled without major problems.
Tuomioja added however that a resolution in the Cyprus dispute is ultimately in the hands of the United Nations.
YLE24