Prime Minister Orpo to represent Finland at meetings in Brussels

Prime Minister Orpo to represent Finland at meetings in Brussels

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will attend the EU-Western Balkans summit in Brussels on Wednesday 17 December and the European Council meeting starting on Thursday 18 December.

At the European Council, discussions will focus especially on Ukraine. The EU leaders will discuss economic support for Ukraine and efforts to achieve peace. The December European Council will also discuss the EU's next multiannual financial framework or long-term budget for 2028-2034, as well as EU enlargement, the situation in the Middle East and security.

"The clear objective of this week's meeting is to agree on supporting Ukraine with a new reparations loan financed using frozen Russian assets. From Finland's point of view, there is only one moral solution - Russia must pay for the damage it has wrought. This way, we can ensure that Ukraine is able to defend itself against Russia's aggression," said Prime Minister Orpo.

The EU-Western Balkans summit will focus on developing cooperation between the EU and the countries in the region. The summit will provide an opportunity to strengthen the strategic partnership between the EU and the Western Balkans and reaffirm commitment to the countries' EU membership prospects. The EU wants to further engage its Western Balkans partners in taking concrete steps on the reforms needed for EU membership while promoting regional cooperation, reconciliation and good neighbourly relations.

More information on Finland's positions for the European Council meeting is available in the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs press release from 16 December.

Inquiries: Tuomas Tikkanen, Senior Adviser to the Prime Minister in European Affairs, tel. +358 40 523 5768, Juuso Kilpinen, Special Adviser for EU Affairs, tel. +358 50 322 9636 and Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 0733, Prime Minister's Office