Reefs lurk under the surface as the Finnish sun shines

It is the start of the Finnish presidency or, if you prefer, the Finnish at the start of their presidency. Reporters - perhaps still nursing fond memories of Helsinki's last turn at the EU helm, with its refreshing transparency and available-at-all-hours political leaders - seem generally enthusiastic about the next six months.

"The sun shone on the sea and sunny laughter came from the tieless, relaxed European commissioners and Finnish ministers," as they reviewed the incoming presidency's agenda on a boat trip, writes Finland's Swedish-language daily, Hufvudstadsbladet. "But as any boatman knows, a flat sunny sea means that the seabed and reefs under the surface can't be seen. The EU will have to navigate past those in order to move on." Ah, summer...

The Guardian is more contemplative. "Finland has three major contributions to make," the paper writes. "Its own traditions mean it is deeply committed to transparency. Its successful economy, high on competitiveness and educational performance, should be a beacon to some underperforming economies in western Europe. And lastly, Finland's geographic position and historical experience should facilitate the difficult task of dealing with Moscow - vital for an EU so dependent on Russian energy.

The paper's editors, however, probably won't be raising a glass of claret to Finland's plans to harmonise tax rates (translation: raise them) on alcohol. Agence France Presse reports: "Finland...levies some of the highest alcohol taxes in the world. The country has suffered from steadily rising alcohol imports particularly since neighbouring Estonia joined the EU in 2004, where prices are considerably lower."

Even a provincial American paper finds the launch of the Finnish presidency interesting - from a techie point of view. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette picks up an Associated Press dispatch from Europe on the Finns' love of communications gadgetry. "Don't call me, I'll text message you," the AP reports. "These were the new rules of diplomatic engagement set down by Finland's foreign minister at the start of his country's European Union presidency on Saturday.

"Government ministers, including Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, have special phones equipped to handle e-mails, said his spokeswoman Sanna Kangasharju. 'The prime minister prefers text messages. He doesn't like voice mail especially when he is in a meeting.'"

Two Swiss papers look at the implications of an all-European World Cup semi-final round. Tribune De Geneve sees it as "grist to the mill of those who claim that a World Cup in its decisive phase is a European championship sprinkled with a bit of Brazil and Argentina".

Le Temps agrees, saying "the 2006 World Cup has just cruelly refuted the extension of football's reach".

The paper sees the absence of Argentina and Brazil from the semi-finals as proof of a tactical advantage for defensive play in the big games.

"Seen from this point of view, when only the result counts, regardless of how unimpressive the show is, European teams have the edge over their traditional south American rivals," it says.

• Craig Winnker is editor of TCSDaily.com

It is the start of the Finnish presidency or, if you prefer, the Finnish at the start of their presidency. Reporters - perhaps still nursing fond memories of Helsinki's last turn at the EU helm, with its refreshing transparency and available-at-all-hours political leaders - seem generally enthusiastic about the next six months.