Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs outlines Finland’s positions for March European Council

Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs outlines Finland's positions for March European Council

In its meeting on Wednesday 18 March, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs outlined Finland's positions for the European Council meeting on 19-20 March and the Euro Summit to be held in connection with it. The ministerial committee also discussed the agenda for the next meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, which will focus on trade.

Items on the agenda for the March European Council include Ukraine, the Middle East, competitiveness and the single market, European defence and security, the next multiannual financial framework, migration and multilateral cooperation.

• Finland considers it important that the EU continue its strong, effective and united response to Russia's military attacks against Ukraine. Finland is strongly committed to supporting Ukraine and its reconstruction and is open to various funding solutions to support Ukraine and, in connection with it, to strengthen Europe's comprehensive security. Finland has also continued its strong support for Ukraine's EU integration. Finland agrees with the Commission's assessment that all clusters of negotiations could be opened for Ukraine by the end of 2025.
• Finland will continue its efforts to increase stability in the Middle East as part of the international community. The EU must promote peace, stability and the protection of civilians in the Middle East, while advancing efforts to return to a diplomatic solution together with its partners. If the conflict becomes prolonged, preparations must be made for possible consequences for the Union's internal security and the European economy.
• Strengthening competitiveness is a prerequisite for developing the EU's role as a global actor. Finland emphasises that the single market is still the foundation for the EU's competitiveness and growth. Rapid and continuous transformations in the external operating environment pose challenges for the EU's traditional strengths, especially the openness of the single market. We must respond to this with solutions that boost growth. The EU should improve its strategic competitiveness by removing the remaining barriers in the single market and further increasing investment in research, innovation and technological capabilities. EU emissions trading should remain at the heart of the EU's climate policy going forward.
• With regard to the next multiannual financial framework, which will serve as the EU's long-term financial plan for 2028-2034, Finland is of the view that the general priorities of the Commission's proposal are worthy of support. Finland emphasises the importance of allocating funds in ways that align more strongly than at present with the EU's key policy priorities, such as improving Europe's defence and competitiveness. However, Finland considers the overall level of the proposal too high. Finland is opposed to the proposed new loan-financed investment instruments that are based on joint debt, i.e. the crisis mechanism and Catalyst Europe. In Finland's view, particular attention should be paid to Finland's unique position as a Member State on the EU's eastern external border and a net contributor to the EU budget.
• Finland considers it necessary to rapidly strengthen Europe's defence capabilities, especially in view of the long-term threat posed by Russia. In strengthening European defence, it is essential to target the EU's support specifically at countries on the eastern frontline.
• Finland emphasises the importance of taking a comprehensive approach to migration issues in the EU, in which measures are promoted both within the EU and in relations with third countries.
• Finland is a strong advocate for the rules-based, multilateral system and cooperation and acts globally to strengthen international law, democracy and human rights.

The Euro Summit to be held in the margins of the European Council will focus on the state of the euro area economy, progress on the savings and investment union and the international role of the euro.

The Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs also outlined Finland's positions for the Foreign Affairs Council, which will convene in its Trade configuration. The meeting will take place in connection with the ministerial conference of the World Trade Organization on 26-29 March in Cameroon and will focus on the ministerial conference and its decisions.

Inquiries: Elisa Tarkiainen, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 295 160 363, Minna Kivimäki, State Secretary for EU Affairs, tel. +358 295 160 431 and Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 0733, Prime Minister's Office