Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs focuses on preparing for the European Council

Government Communications Department
Publication date 14.10.2020 11.44 | Published in English on 14.10.2020 at 16.15
Press release 646/2020

In its meeting on Wednesday 14 October, the Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs outlined Finland’s positions for the European Council meeting to take place in Brussels on 15–16 October and for the upcoming meetings of several Councils of Ministers. The Ministerial Committee also discussed the reform of the EU’s immigration and asylum policy and the forthcoming Government Report on EU Policy.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs addressed issues related to the climate and forests. The discussion was part of an orientation to broad EU policy issues as the Government prepares its Report on EU Policy to be submitted to Parliament early in 2021. The discussion began with an introduction by Elina Bardram, Head of the International Unit of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Climate Action.

The topics on the agenda for the October European Council are the COVID-19 pandemic, the future relationship between the EU and the UK, climate change and external relations.

  • Finland supports measures aimed at improving the epidemiological situation with regard to COVID-19 in Europe and would like to see close cooperation in the development and distribution of a vaccine.
  • In Finland’s view, the EU should remain united as it continues its discussions with the UK.
  • Finland supports the Commission’s proposal to raise the EU’s 2030 emissions reduction target from at least 40 per cent to at least 55 per cent compared to the 1990 levels. Finland emphasises that the target must be in line with the climate neutrality target agreed for 2050. In Finland's view, it is important that decisions on raising the EU’s 2030 target be made as soon as possible so that the EU can report its increased target to the UN by the end of the year.
  • Finland considers it important to develop the EU-Africa partnership and, in particular, to strengthen political and economic relations

The Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs made further specifications to Finland’s positions outlined in June concerning the reform of the EU’s immigration and asylum policy. At the end of September, the European Commission issued a comprehensive communication covering all areas of the policy and relaunching the reform of the Common European Asylum System.

The Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs also outlined Finland’s positions for the following meetings:

  • Agriculture and Fisheries Council (19–20 October)
  • Environment Council (23 October)
  • Videoconference of competitiveness ministers (23 October).

The Agriculture and Fisheries Council will aim to reach a general approach on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, adopt conclusions on the Field aims to reach the Council's general approach on the reform of the common agricultural policy, adopt conclusions on the Farm-to-Fork strategy and decide on fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea for 2021.

The Environment Council will adopt conclusions on the Convention on Biological Diversity and discuss the European Climate Law.

The competitiveness ministers will meet in an industrial composition to discuss the key role of European industry in advancing digital and sustainable innovations and as a basis for strategic sovereignty.

Inquiries: Jari Luoto, State Under-Secretary for European Affairs, tel. +358 50 468 5949, Tuulia Pitkänen, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 295 160 231, Kare Halonen, State Secretary for EU Affairs, tel. +358 295 160 319, and Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 0733, Prime Minister’s Office