Government of Finland

03/18/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/18/2026 04:18

Competitiveness, economy and security on agenda at European Council – Prime Minister Orpo to represent Finland

Competitiveness, economy and security on agenda at European Council - Prime Minister Orpo to represent Finland

Government Communications Department
Publication date 18.3.2026 11.09 | Published in English on 18.3.2026 at 12.09
Type:Press release
Kuva: EU

The EU heads of state and government will meet for the European Council in Brussels on Thursday 19 March. Discussions at the meeting will focus on recent developments in the Middle East, the situation in Ukraine, European competitiveness and the single market, defence and security, and the EU's multiannual financial framework financial Framework for 2028−2034. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will represent Finland at the meeting.

"The geopolitical situation underlines the need for determined measures to strengthen the EU's security, economy and autonomy. Ukraine needs continuous additional support and swift decisions from the EU. This is about the security of Europe as a whole. We need to further strengthen the EU's competitiveness and single market, especially the savings and investment union and the service market, and we must continue implementing the measures we have already agreed on," said Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.

The EU leaders will discuss the situation in Ukraine together with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The European Council will continue the discussions started at the informal meeting in Alden Biesen on 12 February on the EU's competitiveness and the single market.

At the Euro Summit to be held in the margins of the meeting, the EU leaders will be joined by President of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde for a discussion on the current state of the economy. Over a working lunch with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the leaders will exchange views on multilateral cooperation and global crises.

More information on Finland's positions for the European Council provided in the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs press release on 18 March.

Inquiries: Elisa Tarkiainen, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister in EU Affairs, tel. +358 50 595 7751, Minna Kivimäki, State Secretary for EU Affairs, tel. +358 295 160 431 and Marko Ruonala, Chief Communications Specialist, tel. +358 50 522 8233, Prime Minister's Office

Government of Finland published this content on March 18, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 18, 2026 at 10:18 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]