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Prime Minister Sipilä addressed the European Parliament: Implementation of joint decisions is of great importance

Government Communications Department
Publication date 31.1.2019 12.03 | Published in English on 1.2.2019 at 9.27
Press release 56/2019
Prime Minister Sipilä addressed the European Parliament on 31 January
Prime Minister Sipilä addressed the European Parliament on 31 January

In a speech to the European Parliament on Thursday 31 January, Prime Minister Juha Sipilä emphasised the need to bring about European solutions together and to convert decisions into practical action in an efficient manner. According to Prime Minister Sipilä this will enable the European Union to meet the expectations of its citizens.

“Converting decisions on different matters into practical action is the best way to combat populism and to boost people’s trust in the EU. The EU can win public confidence by making decisions and efficiently following through on them, in the Member States as well as in Brussels,” said Sipilä.

In his speech, the Prime Minister stated that more efficient implementation is needed in areas such as the single market, the EU’s internal and external security, migration management and climate change mitigation. Prime Minister Sipilä also talked about Finland's Presidency of the Council of the EU, which is to start in July, and the key issues to be covered during the Presidency.

His speech was one of a series of speeches by the Heads of State or Government of the EU Member States, in which they express their views on the future of the EU. The European Parliament launched this series of talks after the Heads of State or Government decided to intensify the debate on Europe’s future in view of the challenges faced by the EU.

Inquiries: Kare Halonen, State Secretary for EU Affairs, tel. +358 295 160 319, Niina Nurkkala, Special Adviser (EU Affairs) tel. +358 50 347 2661, and Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 0733, Prime Minister's Office