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Prime Minister Rinne spoke in Brussels about opportunities for EU-Asia cooperation and had several high-level meetings

Government Communications Department
Publication date 27.9.2019 19.23 | Published in English on 2.10.2019 at 10.29
Press release 483

On Friday 27 September, Prime Minister Antti Rinne attended the EU-Asia Connectivity Forum in Brussels where he, as the representative of the current Presidency of the Council of the EU, spoke about the importance of further developing the relations between Europe and Asia.

During his visit to Brussels Prime Minister Rinne also held bilateral discussions with the incoming Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenković, and Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans.

In his closing remarks to the Forum, Prime Minister Rinne stressed the need for a more effective and coherent foreign policy. Through partnerships the EU can strengthen the rule-based international order. Better contacts and connectivity between the EU and Asia enable us to respond to challenges created by climate change and promote sustainable solutions in the energy, digitalisation and transport sectors.

“The EU must adopt a long-term and strategic perspective. Asia will have an increasingly important role, both economically and politically. Finnish companies have a lot to gain from the EU’s connectivity policy,” Prime Minister Rinne says.

The topics discussed at the Prime Minister's bilateral meetings included more efficient measures to combat climate change and ways to create sustainable growth that promotes climate work.

“The EU’s climate leadership requires that we also lead by our example. The aim for Finland is to secure the commitment of EU Member States to the climate objectives. This is a high priority to protect the future of our children and grandchildren,” Prime Minister Rinne says.

With regard to UK’s withdrawal from the EU, there was a broad consensus that concrete proposals from the UK are needed fast if a no-deal Brexit is to be avoided. If no agreement is reached on further measures, what we will be facing on 31 October is a no-deal Brexit. Both Finland and the EU consider that the approval of the Brexit agreement negotiated earlier would be the best solution for all.

“We had very good talks with Michel Barnier. The EU27 are united and give their full support to the chief negotiator. We are ready to push forward with the dialogue, but this requires concrete, written proposals from the UK, and fast”, Prime Minister Rinne says.

The rule of law issues came up in the discussions as well. The aim for Finland during its Presidency is to promote the conditionality between adherence to the common values and EU funding.

“As the Presidency Finland will make it quite clear that the EU has zero tolerance for attacks to democracy and the rule of law. It is a question of the people of Europe, our citizens. We will defend them in all circumstances,” Prime Minister Rinne says.

Prime Minister Antti Rinne’s speech at the EU-Asia Connectivity Forum
Photos on the Government’s Flickr account

Inquiries: Jari Luoto, Under-Secretary of State for EU Affairs, tel. +358 50 468 5949, Pilvi-Elina Kupias, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 465 6395 Lauri Voionmaa, Special Adviser (International Affairs), tel. +358 50 421 0422 and Dimitri Qvintus, Special Adviser (Media Relations), tel. +358 50 477 7362, Prime Minister’s Office.

 
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