HELSINKI, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Jean-Claude Juncker, the outgoing president of the European Commission, on Friday said the process during the past week choosing the next president was not transparent, while the process when he was elected in 2014 was.

Juncker and Finnish Prime Minister Antti Rinne talked to the media in Helsinki during a visit to Finland on Friday. Finland took the half-a-year rotating presidency of the EU starting from July 1.

EU leaders on Tuesday agreed to name German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen to succeed Juncker as head of the European Commission. The unanimity was achieved after one of the longest summits in recent years.

Commenting on the Finnish presidency of the EU, Juncker said the EU needs "leadership and stability" and for that the EU would benefit from Finnish qualities. He mentioned the Finnish tradition of "talko" which means that community or a village work together.

On Friday morning, the commissioners met members of the Finnish government and discussed the presidency program. Rinne said the ways of linking the rule of law principle to the upcoming seven-year finance program MMF was discussed.

Also the ways of supporting the combat against climate change through the MMF had been talked about. Rinne mentioned that the EU should develop a policy of the Arctic as well.

Rinne described the exchanges between the Finnish government and the commission as "an open discussion". Enditem

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