Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs discusses economic and financial matters

In its meeting on Friday 8 March, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs received an overview of topical issues being dealt with in the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN). The Ministerial Committee also outlined Finland’s positions for two upcoming council meetings.

The overview of topical economic and financial issues in the EU highlighted the Union’s new fiscal policy rules, which the Council and the European Parliament agreed on in February 2024. The most significant changes concern the preventive arm of the stability and growth pact. 

The Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs also outlined Finland’s positions for the following upcoming meetings: 
•    Eurogroup (11 March ) and ECOFIN (12 March)
•    Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Employment and social policy) (11–12 March)

On 12 March, the Belgian Presidency will hold a joint meeting of economic and finance ministers and employment and social affairs ministers to discuss the links between social investment and reforms, economic growth, macroeconomic stability and social convergence. 

Items on the ECOFIN Council’s agenda include the recommendation on the discharge to be given to the Commission for the implementation of the 2022 budget, the mid-term evaluation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and the economic and financial impacts of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

The employment and social affairs ministers will discuss the proposal for a new directive aimed at improving conditions for platform workers. The meeting will include a policy debate on the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights in the context of the European Semester 2024 and the future social agenda. The ministers will also discuss the European Semester, the joint employment report and the sustainable growth report. 

Inquiries: Tuomas Tikkanen, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 40 523 5768, Jari Luoto, Director General, EU Affairs Department, tel. +358 50 468 5949, and Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 0733, Prime Minister’s Office

Agendas for the meetings of the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs and public documents discussed at the meetings are available on the Prime Minister’s Office website (in Finnish and Swedish).