FM voices strong support for euro
Finance Minister Jutta Urpilainen reiterated Finland's steadfast commitment to the common currency on Yle’s discussion programme A-Studio on Wednesday.
Urpilainen said Finns had the eurozone to thank for the relatively low interest rates of recent years. She also pointed out that the common currency had been a boon to a small export-dependent country like Finland.
She, however, conceded that the euro debt crisis was very serious.
Finland’s possible exit from the euro became a hot topic around the world after an international news agency last week erroneously quoted Urpilainen as saying Finland would consider leaving the eurozone.
"Finland is very committed to the euro, wants to defend it and also wants to help solve the European financial crisis," she told Yle on Wednesday evening.
Urpilainen said a final agreement on Spanish collateral in exchange for Finnish aid was still elusive.
"There is no light at the end of the tunnel," she said of bilateral talks with Spain.
Finland is seeking collateral to cover 40 percent of its contribution to the Spanish aid package, according to the minister.
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