Council of the EU to approve conclusions on cohesion policy

The EU General Affairs Council will meet in Brussels on Tuesday 22 November. In the meeting, the Council will exchange views on the long-term impacts of cohesion policy on EU regions and approve conclusions on cohesion policy. Vesa Vuorenkoski, State Secretary to Minister Tytti Tuppurainen, will represent Finland at the meeting.

The aim of the EU’s cohesion policy is to narrow development gaps between regions and to provide a basis for prosperity and wellbeing for people in vulnerable positions. The overall objective is to ensure a better economic, social and regional balance in Europe.

The GAC will hold a policy debate on the long-term impacts of cohesion policy on the EU’s regions. Following the discussion, the Council will approve conclusions on cohesion policy. The conclusions reiterate the goals of cohesion policy. They emphasise the risks of increasing disparities in Europe due to crises and geopolitical developments. The Council also stresses the need to safeguard the Union’s budget in accordance with the rule of law mechanism and highlights the importance of preventing fraud and corruption. Finland is prepared to accept the Presidency’s proposals for the conclusions.

In Finland’s view, new EU financial instruments should only be established if it is not possible to respond to the current challenges using the existing permanent instruments.

In Finland’s view, the most important task of the EU’s common regional and structural policy is to reduce gaps between the Member States and their regions. Regional and structural policy must focus on reforms that support competitiveness, social inclusion and the green and digital transition. Structural policy should encourage the Member States to make structural reforms and support sectors undergoing structural changes. It is especially important to support the least developed regions in the EU. One key priority for Finland is support for Northern Sparsely Populated Areas.

In the General Affairs Council (GAC), the EU Member States are primarily represented by their ministers for European affairs. The tasks of the GAC include preparations for the European Council meetings. The GAC is also responsible for a number of cross-cutting policy areas, including negotiations on the multiannual financial framework and EU enlargement. Questions related to the rule of law are also an established part of the GAC’s agenda. 

Inquiries: Heli Siivola, Senior Specialist for EU Affairs, tel. +358 50 576 7745 and Emilia Tervonen, Special Adviser, tel. +358 50 516 1035, Prime Minister’s Office