Speaking at the American Chamber of Commerce election watch on Wednesday in Helsinki, Halonen said Obama faces challenges both domestically and abroad in his new role as president.
She added that Europe hopes Obama will place more weight on global issues than his predecessor.
Stubb: Obama is a New Beginning Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb also attended the election watch.
"A new president always means a new beginning. And in this case, a particularly new beginning," he said.
"We have a lot of work to do, especially in foreign policy between the United States and the EU. Not the least of which is multi-faceted co-operation. We have to get the U.S. on board environmental programmes and climate change programmes, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Middle-East, and relations with Russia. This really is about a new beginning."