Finland and France to further deepen cooperation – Prime Minister Orpo meets with French President Macron

Finland and France to further deepen cooperation - Prime Minister Orpo meets with French President Macron

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on 3 June. Their discussions focused on bilateral relations, the defence industry, the situation in Ukraine and the EU's multiannual financial framework.

According to Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, Finland and France enjoy excellent relations. France has long been among Finland's ten most important trading partners. More than one hundred Finnish companies have subsidiaries in France.

"Our countries have opportunities to deepen their cooperation to a great extent in areas such as the clean transition, energy and digitalisation, as well as the defence industry. Finland's cutting-edge technology companies have a lot to offer to France," said Prime Minister Orpo.

Discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron also touched on the situation in Ukraine and the country's aspirations for EU membership. According to Prime Minister Orpo, Ukraine's place is in the European Union.

"It is time to move to the next phase of Ukraine's accession negotiations. This would send a strong message to the Ukrainians - their place is in the EU," said Prime Minister Orpo.

While in Paris, Prime Minister Orpo also met with Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Taras Kachka, who is the main negotiator for Ukraine's convergence with the EU.

Prime Minister opens OECD Ministerial Council Meeting

In Paris, Prime Minister Orpo delivered the opening address at the Ministerial Council Meeting of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Finland is chairing the Ministerial Council Meeting for the first time since 1984. The main theme of the meeting is industrial policy.

"With industrial policy, we can support renewal in key sectors, open markets, sustainable economic growth and wellbeing in society," said Prime Minister Orpo.

Also on Wednesday, Prime Minister Orpo and Minister of Finance Riikka Purra had a separate meeting with OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann. The Prime Minister noted that Finland highly values the OECD.

"The OECD is now more important than ever. The organisation plays an integral role in maintaining the rules-based international order and offers multilateral solutions to global challenges," Prime Minister Orpo emphasised.

In addition to Prime Minister Orpo and Minister Purra, Finland's delegation at the Ministerial Council Meeting includes Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio and Minister of Economic Affairs Sakari Puisto. The Finnish ministers will be chairing several sessions during the two-day meeting on 3-4 June.

The OECD produces research data and analyses about economic and social policy and offers recommendations, standards and best practices for policy-making that supports prosperity, equality, opportunities and wellbeing. It has 38 member countries, and the EU also participates in its work. The OECD was established in 1961.

Inquiries: Marja Koskela, Diplomatic Adviser to the Prime Minister, tel. +358 295 160 978, Kirsi Hölttä, Special Adviser (Communications), tel. +358 295 160 554, Elisa Tarkiainen, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 295 160 363, and Marko Ruonala, Chief Communications Specialist, tel. +358 50 522 8233, Prime Minister's Office