President Joseph Daul European People’s Party EPP Headquarters Rue du Commerce 10 1000 Brussels
Helsinki 8 October 2018
Dear President Daul, With this letter, Kansallinen Kokoomus – the National Coalition Party in Finland, nominates Mr. Alexander Stubb, Vice President of the European Investment Bank, as EPP Candidate for President of the European Commission. Please find attached the endorsements of Mr. Stubb’s candidacy by Nya Moderaterna party, Sweden and Isamaa party, Estonia. Mr. Stubb would make an excellent President of the European Commission for three reasons. First, European values need a strong defender. Respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities, are the foundation of Europe. Our values are under attack from both inside and outside the European Union. Inside, the EU needs to be more united. This means mitigating unnecessary divisions between East and West, North and South. We must be better at highlighting what unites us instead of what differentiates us. We need the member states to take more ownership in the European project. Outside, Europe must take more responsibility of its own destiny. As the United States and the United Kingdom are in a process of voluntary marginalisation from world politics, the European Union needs to step in and fill the emerging power vacuums. This means stepping up to the plate on issues such as security, migration, climate change, sustainable growth and free, rules-based trade. Second, Europeans will support and believe in the EU as long as the EU does things that seem relevant to them. However, the support is not cast in stone. The EU should focus on areas in which, as we act together, the EU can provide more added value to the EU citizens and member states. Those areas include climate change, the single market, security and defense, to name a few.
Finally, to make European values and the European project attractive to new voters and younger Europeans, we need a candidate who represents the next generation of Europe. As President of the European Commission Mr. Stubb would stand up for European values. He would strive for stronger, more united and focused European Union. Mr. Stubb is in his own league with his background. Ten years in academia and civil service, four years in the European Parliament, eight years in government as Prime-, Finance-, Foreign-, Trade and Europe Minister, and a year at the European Investment Bank have given him a wealth of executive and legislative experience to serve the European citizens. Most importantly, his background and experience has made him a true pro-European. Mr. Stubb is positive, inspiring and forward-looking politician. Europe and Europeans need someone like him to explain, why we need the EU and why we should love European integration.
Mr. Petteri Orpo President of Kansallinen Kokoomus, the National Coalition Party in Finland Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Finland