How was that possible, when Finland’s international position was so weak in the Cold War environment that we could not join the Marshall Plan and could not even join the U.N. until 1955. And even when Sweden became a member of the IMF as late as 1951? Thirdly, the North American contribution was strong when European integration was promoted after World War II.
The traditional rivalry between France and Germany had to be contained, and the West had to stand united in the ideological battle with the Eastern bloc. Finland very much stood at the sidelines when the Coal and Steel Community and later the European Economic Community, the EEC, was founded. Our economic relations with Western Europe were handled though the European Free Trade Association, EFTA.