SDP’s Kumpula-Natri: The EU must reform now

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has fundamentally reshaped Europe’s security environment and now challenges the EU’s ability to respond to growing demands in security and defence policy. SDP Member of Parliament Miapetra Kumpula-Natri is calling on both Finland and the EU to show diligence and courage in reforming their security and defence capabilities. She emphasizes that true resilience can only be built by simultaneously upholding the rule of law, democracy, and social justice.

As Europe Day is celebrated on Friday, 9th of May, and Finland marks 30 years of EU membership, the Union faces major questions that demand solutions – if necessary, also through significant internal reforms, Kumpula-Natri says.

“The EU must strengthen its own security and defence. Since amending the founding treaties is a lengthy process, we must make the most of existing treaties to improve security. Even under the current framework, major decisions are being made.”

Key initiatives currently under discussion include substantial financial measures to strengthen security, such as the ReArm Europe plan supporting EU defence investments, and the creation of a new SAFE funding instrument to aid member states’ defence investments.

“When we talk about new joint debt and billions of euros to support defence, Parliament must have a real opportunity to debate the terms under which these significant and critical investments are made. On Europe Day, it’s especially important to foster strong public dialogue about Europe. These issues should not be pushed through in just a few hours behind closed committee doors,” Kumpula-Natri stresses.

According to her, the need for reform in the EU is clear. A reformed EU requires the strong support of national parliaments and citizens. Security must not come at the expense of the welfare state. Sustainable security is built on the foundations of democracy and social justice, which means the EU’s renewal must be holistic.

Finland’s own EU policy preparation also requires stronger democratic processes. Kumpula-Natri reminds that the same urgency we demand from the EU must be reflected in how national preparations are handled—and how matters are brought from the government to Parliament. Too often, Parliament has been forced to form a position on important EU decisions in haste or even retroactively, even though the Finnish Constitution states that Parliament must have a genuine opportunity to influence decisions in advance, not after the fact.

“If the government fails to submit EU matters to Parliament without delay, as required by the Constitution, it raises serious questions about its capacity to manage EU policy properly,” Kumpula-Natri warns.
“Just in recent weeks, we’ve seen examples such as the postponement of the EU’s sustainability reporting and corporate responsibility directive (Omnibus I) or the regulation on wolf protection status—which had already been decided in Brussels before even being reported to Parliament.”

“A well-functioning Finnish EU policy requires both government capability and strong citizen support. Well-managed processes help improve both the quality of legislation and the overall public debate,” Kumpula-Natri concludes.

“Happy Europe Day!”