President for more independent EU

President Sauli Niinistö on Saturday emphasised the need for strengthening the European Union to make it more independent so that it can play an influential role for itself.

Pointing out the present uncertainty in the global political arena, he said strengthening EU is essential due to variety of converging factors.

The president’s made the remarks while addressing a gathering in Mikkeli, reported the national broadcaster Yle.

Niinistö dubbed the situation as a “significantly increasing” external geopolitical pressure on Europe. He pointed out the rapid deterioration of relationship between Russia and the US and the greater uncertainty in trans-Atlantic relations, said the Yle report.

“If we look back to half a year ago, there has been a tremendous change in the geopolitical area. Half a year ago we were watching as the relationship between the USA and Russia was developing surprisingly quickly. Today we see that the relationship is falling apart surprisingly quickly,” the Yle report quoted Niinistö as saying.