Finland on the EU maps

In my job as an EU consultant in Blic's Brussels office, I am constantly receiving maps of the EU Member States. Regardless of the topic covered, these maps often repeat the same theme. A recurring theme is the role of Finland in the maps, where only a small part of the country appears at the top of the map, as if cut out with a ruler. Whether it is a question of air quality measurements, the rise of the right-wing or satisfaction with life, I repeatedly find that even the latitude of my home town, Kuopio, is not considered necessary to be shown on the map as belonging to the EU. The representation does not comprehensively cover the entire territory of the Union, but emphasises Finland's geographical position as a peripheral region of the EU.

Maps help us make sense of the world. They shape our imagination and understanding of our environment, influencing how we see places and their meaning. Such cartographic choices can influence European identity and a sense of belonging. When Finland is repeatedly shown on the margins of maps, or even outside them, it can create a sense that the country is less part of a shared European identity. For southern Europeans, for example, Finland feels like a distant and exotic country, while for many Finns the common Europe is an integral part of our identity and everyday life.

The visual representations of maps are not neutral, but carry meanings that also guide political perceptions. In my opinion, the issue becomes particularly problematic because even the walls of the European Commission are often adorned with posters in which only a small part of Finland is shown at the top of the map. The authors of the maps (in this case, including the Commission) are quietly communicating what is important and essential to them, and what can be left aside. When maps show Finland on the margins of the Union, it can also influence political decision-making and how the needs and wishes of different regions are taken into account. It is no wonder, then, that the EU constantly seems to be making policy with the countries of Central Europe at the forefront and in their interests. Finland's wishes and interests are where the country is on the map: in the periphery.

This has implications for the role of Finnish lobbyists in Brussels. It underlines the role of actors like Blic in ensuring, through our clients, that the Finnish perspective is heard in EU decision-making. In addition, the early voting for the European elections, which started today, 29 May, and the official voting day on 9 June, will give Finns the right to send their MEPs to Brussels again, who will work in the European Parliament over the next five years to ensure that Finland as a whole is on the EU map.

Nelli Immonen

The author is a consultant at Blic and an expert on EU lobbying.