Ministers for European Affairs to discuss simplification of EU legislation

The EU General Affairs Council (GAC) will meet in Brussels on Tuesday 14 July. The main theme of the meeting will be the simplification of EU legislation. The Council will also hear a presentation on the priorities of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU. Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Joakim Strand will represent Finland at the meeting.

The General Affairs Council will hear a presentation from Ireland, which holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU in autumn 2026, on the priorities for its Presidency. The motto of the Irish Presidency is “strength with unity” and its three priority areas are competitiveness, values and security. At the General Affairs Council, Ireland will place a particular focus on ways to promote negotiations on the next Multiannual Financial Framework of the EU.

The Council will also discuss the state of play and future orientation of its work on the simplification of EU legislation. Finland supports the Commission’s goals of simplifying regulation and lightening the administrative burden. Finland's objective is to achieve lighter and better EU regulation that takes into account particular national characteristics and creates a more predictable operating environment for companies. 

“The EU must be able to respond to tougher global competition by strengthening the single market and improving the quality of legislation. A competitive Europe is built on open trade, on a well-functioning internal market and on decision-making that supports business growth instead of hampering it,” Minister Strand says.  

The Council is also to approve conclusions on the evaluation of its annual rule of law dialogue. Finland supports the adoption of the conclusions.   

Over an informal lunch, ministers will discuss the ‘One Europe, One Market’ roadmap with Enrico Letta. The roadmap includes concrete measures and deadlines to strengthen the EU's competitiveness by the end of 2027. 

In the General Affairs Council (GAC), the EU Member States are primarily represented by their ministers for European affairs. The tasks of the GAC include preparations for the European Council meetings. The GAC is also responsible for a number of cross-cutting policy areas, including negotiations on the multiannual financial framework and EU enlargement. Questions related to the rule of law are also an established part of the GAC’s agenda. 

Inquiries: Heli Siivola, Senior Specialist for EU Affairs, tel. +358 50 576 7745, Alexander Lång, Special Adviser, tel. +358 295 160 866, Prime Minister’s Office

The email addresses of the Finnish Government are in the format [email protected].