Minister Stubb to Athens and Brussels

On Wednesday 11 July, Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb will have meetings in Athens with the Prime Minister of Greece Antonis Samaras, Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos and Finance Minister Yiannis Stournaras. Discussions will focus on key EU and economic issues, especially the development of Economic and Monetary Union and the actions taken by the new Greek Government to improve the country’s economic situation and implement measures agreed in the international financing package. Representatives of the International Monetary Fund, the European Central Bank and the European Commission, i.e. the Troika, visited Athens during the week before.

On Thursday 12 July, Minister Stubb will continue his trip from Athens to Brussels to participate in bilateral negotiations with the Cypriot Presidency on the EU's Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020. The negotiations will be held between Minister Stubb and Andreas Mavroyiannis, Deputy Minister to the President for European Affairs. Finland is committed to reaching consensus on the MFF before the end of 2012.

Inquiries: Lauri Tierala, Political Adviser, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 6306 or +358 40 841 7141