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Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs discussed Finland's EU Presidency and the European Council

Government Communications Department
Publication date 19.10.2016 9.19 | Published in English on 19.10.2016 at 16.27
Press release 445/2016

At its meeting on 19 October, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs discussed the European Council, which will convene later this week, and adopted the first guidelines concerning Finland's EU Presidency starting in July 2019.

The Ministerial Committee outlined that, for the sake of cost-efficiency, meetings to be held in Finland will be held in one venue like the previous Presidencies have done. The meetings will take place in Helsinki. It is likely that the informal meetings of EU Heads of State or Government and meetings of Heads of State or Government with third countries to be organised during the Presidency will take place in Brussels.

The October European Council (20–21 October) will discuss migration, trade issues and the Union's relations with Russia.

As for the Partnership Framework, cooperation with the countries of origin and transit must be continued in order to prevent people from leaving their home countries for Europe for economic reasons. Finland supports the goal that Partnership Agreements be prepared also with Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia.

Finland considers that the European Council should convey a strong message of how the ongoing free trade negotiations will be continued.  It is important for Finland that the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada will be signed in October 2016.

The European Council will also discuss Russia and the situation in Syria. Finland strongly condemns military action against civilians and civilian targets.

Inquiries: Kare Halonen, State Secretary, EU Affairs, tel. +358 295 160 319, Jari Haapiainen, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 295 160 406 and Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 0733, Prime Minister’s Office