Aland Islands Dispute Over Sale of SNUS On Board Ships Threatens Finland's Ratification of the EU's Treaty of Lisbon (The Reform Treaty)..

March 14, 2008 - ( Aland Islands is an archipeligo - a group of more than 6000 islands in the eastern part of the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Finland. Although the islands have a certain form of autonomy they still form a province of Finand. Aland has approximately 25,000 inhabitants and the main language is Swedish.) Sales of SNUS is banned in all European Union (EU) countries accept in Sweden. The Lisbon Treaty signed by the Heads of State or Government of the 27 Member States in Lisbon on 13 December 2007 will provide the EU with modern institutions and optimised working methods to tackle both efficiently and effectively today's challenges in today's world. The treaty has to be ratified by all 27 EU members countries. The Aland Islands if not allowed by the EU to continue selling SNUS on board their ships they will make it harder for Finland to ratify the treaty. If not allowed, ships will instead choose ships to register in Sweden. Shipping accounts for 40% of the islands' economy. ( "Tiny Aland Islands Threaten to Reject Lisbon Treaty" by Slobhan Dowling, Spiegel Online, 3/13/2008) Related news briefs: Finnish Ferry Goes Swedish Over Snus Ban.. and EU Takes Finland to Court Again For NOT Banning the Use of Oral Tobacco..