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     Brexit can be good for Europe, says Finland's foreign minister

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Brexit can be good for Europe, says Finland's foreign minister

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   By Euronews  •  Updated: 25/01/2020
   Brexit can be good for Europe, says Finland's foreign minister
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Brexit could have a beneficial effect on the European Union and help pull the
bloc together, Finland's foreign minister has told Euronews.

   Pekko Haavisto, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, said
   other countries have seen the issues faced by the UK and it has
   galvanised support for the EU

   “What Brexit actually triggered was a lot of support of European Union
   members,” Haavisto said. “They see how difficult it is to leave and how
   many agreements they have to make if they leave the EU so maybe it’s
   better to stay.”

   It had long been feared that the UK's departure from the European Union
   might pave the way for other members to follow suit, however, Haavisto
   instead insists that the EU has a way of surviving these perceived
   crises.

   “I think Europe is very good at surviving,” Haavisto said. “We have
   already many times been thinking this is the end but then something has
   happened and we have been more successful.”
       January 31
       Brexit
       months as UK prime minister?

   In a wide-ranging discussion with Euronews, Haavisto was joined by the
   Chairwoman for the Italian energy company ENI, Emma Marcegaglia, the
   President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, William
   Burns, and Miroslav Lajcak, Slovakia's Minister for Foreign Affairs.

   Lajcak acknowledges it’s been a tough five years for the EU.

   “One reason is that somehow we (the EU) have always had to respond to
   things that we were not prepared for,” Lajcak said. “The migration wave
   in 2015, Brexit in 2016 and the arrival of President Trump and his new
   style of politics in 2017. These were huge changes and Europe was
   struggling to find a proper response.”

   Lajcak does think that the new commission has brought a new way of
   thinking and believes Europe needs to be more assertive.

   In order for the EU to thrive Haavisto believes it must get on better
   terms with the USA. As President Trump threatens to impose huge tariffs
   on automobiles unless a deal can be struck, Haavisto acknowledges this
   is a new situation.

   “We somehow have to convince the US why cooperation with Europe is
   important and why we need each other.”

   Watch the full debate in the video player, above.

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