Minister of Economic Affairs Rydman to attend the 9th Cohesion Forum in Brussels

Minister of Economic Affairs Wille Rydman will attend the European Commission’s Cohesion Forum in Brussels on 11–12 April 2024. The 9th Cohesion Forum will discuss the importance of the European Union’s cohesion policy for the wellbeing of regions and their inhabitants.

Rydman will participate in a panel discussion on cohesion as an objective shared among all policies. The programming period of the EU’s regional and structural policy extends to 2027 and one goal is to highlight Finland’s objectives for the next programming period. Rydman’s key messages at the Forum will include a level playing field for all European regions, especially those on the external border, and respect for the Member States’ national policies.

“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has changed the operating environment in all of Europe. This change must also be reflected in the Union’s cohesion policy. The EU’s eastern border is particularly vulnerable and the Union’s cohesion programme must therefore put more emphasis on the eastern border regions,“ Rydman says.

The Minister will also highlight the objective set out in the Government Programme as regards competition policy and, in particular, state aid rules. “Europe’s most important economic asset is a well-functioning internal market. The current state aid competition jeopardises it. That is why Finland wants the EU to return to strict state aid rules as soon as possible. This is a key priority in our efforts to exert influence in the EU,” he adds.

The European Commission’s Cohesion Forum is organised every three years. Around a thousand representatives from EU institutions, national authorities and labour market and civil society organisations will attend this year’s Forum. The Forum will discuss the ways in which regional and structural policy can help improve the sustainability and competitiveness of European regions, while taking the green and digital transition into consideration.

Inquiries:

Teemu Hartikainen, Special Adviser to the Minister of Economic Affairs, tel. +358 295 047 296