Skip to content
Media
Valtioneuvoston kanslia frontpage

EU leaders adopt declaration on social issues and speak with Indian Prime Minister

Government Communications Department
Publication date 8.5.2021 17.18 | Published in English on 11.5.2021 at 13.12
Press release 299/2021

On Saturday 8 May, Prime Minister Sanna Marin and the other European Council members took part in an informal social summit. At the meeting hosted by the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU, the leaders adopted the Porto Declaration emphasising the importance of social issues for the economic recovery of the Union. The EU leaders also had a discussion via videoconference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The COVID-19 pandemic featured prominently in the discussions at the social summit. The EU leaders emphasised that efforts to boost the economy must also be in line with the goal of building a socially sustainable and equal Europe.

Also on Saturday, Porto hosted the EU-India Leaders’ Meeting, which aimed to strengthen the EU-India Strategic Partnership. Due to the rapidly deteriorating COVID-19 situation in India, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the meeting via remote connection, and the COVID-19 pandemic played a key role in the discussions. The EU has responded to India’s request for emergency assistance, and Finland, for example, is delivering oxygen concentrators to the country. Finland is also supporting India in the fight against the COVID-19 with EUR one million in humanitarian aid. 

In her speech, Prime Minister Marin emphasised that overcoming the pandemic is an international challenge in which cooperation between the EU and India is essential. 

“We must work to develop global health security and learn to anticipate health threats better, also taking into account the challenges posed by climate change,” Prime Minister Marin said.

She also emphasised that investments aiming to boost the economy should focus on the digital and green transition. India plays a key role in achieving global climate goals, and cooperation with India must be strengthened in areas such as renewable energy and the circular economy. 

Prime Minister Marin also stressed the importance of human rights as a basis for cooperation and the need to strengthen social and gender equality and the position of women and girls.

Inquiries: Jari Luoto, State Under-Secretary for European Affairs, tel. +358 50 468 5949, Tuulia Pitkänen, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 295 160 231, and Anne Sjöholm. Head of Communications for EU Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 0733, Prime Minister’s Office