Andres Reimer: three drops of Finnish blood

Photo: Postimees

PR-catastrophe – this is how Finland’s business daily Kauppalehti describes endeavours by their government to delay European sanctions against the Ukraine-harassing Russia. Estonians agree: the statesmen in Finland do behave kind of funny.

The Northern neighbour is applying brakes, having given three drops of blood for big deals with Russia.

While Estonia is cutting, Finland keeps growing its energy-dependence on Russia. In February, the Finnish government led by Jyrki Katainen – now a vice president at European Commission – entered a transaction whereby Rosatom is building the Hanhikivi nuclear power station. By investing close to a billion euros, Rosatom acquires controlling shareholder status with a 34-percent holding.  

In March, Russia annexed Crimea. As the European Union imposed sanctions on the aggressor, the Finns got their fingers slapped. Last year, the Fortum-owned heating monopoly in Chelyabinsk doubled its profits. Now, the tariff committee of the oblast is carefully reviewing the Finns’ application regarding next year heat prices. «Taxpayers of Chelyabinsk Oblast are feeding a Finnish company. Great! But the Finns are imposing sanctions against the Russian Federation! Simply super! Now, we will all be working for the good of Finland!» shouted the Oblast prime minister Sergei Komjakov, via Uralpress.

Over half of Fortum is owned by the government and pension funds of Finland.

Gasum, an energy form 25-percent owned by Gazprom and a third held by Fortum, managed to convince all that in order to enhance energy security, the Balticconnector gas pipe is to be built between Estonia and Finland with European money. The pipe will be used by Gazprom – the sole supplier of natural gas in the region. While not offering Estonia and the other Baltics alternative gas sources, the pipe will enable Gazprom to use Latvia’s underground gas reservoirs to supply Finland. This week, Gazprom cut gas supplies for Poland, to hinder it from providing gas to Ukraine. This serves to show that by Balticconnector, Gazprom will have the same kinds of options to affect the Baltics.

The success of Finnair, and of the Vantaa Airport, is based on the special conditions by Russia to fly over Siberia. Should Russia halt flight across Siberia for Europeans, the Finns’ flight business would fall apart. The day before yesterday, Finnish development minister Pekka Haavisto hastened to assure all that the state’s 55.8 percent holding in Finnair guarantees the firm flights over Siberia even if for other Europeans the door is slammed shut. Perhaps it is by their politics that Finns have earned a guarantee like that.

Again and again, the Finnish economic success and their good Russia-relations have been served to Estonia as examples – Russia, supposedly, was on its way towards democracy and becoming a European-like nation. Not happening.

I hope Finns will be able to make payment for their three drops of blood.