Foreign Minister Soini to General Affairs Council meeting

Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini will attend the meeting of the General Affairs Council in Brussels on Tuesday 15 December.

At the meeting, Ministers will focus on preparations for the European Council on 17 and 18 December. The European Council will discuss the implementation of decisions taken in response to the migration crisis, terrorism, the completion of Europe's Economic and Monetary Union and of the European Single Market, the energy union, and the UK relations with the EU. Finland is in favour of clear and concrete policies to better manage migratory flows.

Ministers will also discuss the interinstitutional agreement between the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union on better regulation to improve EU legislation. In addition, the General Affairs Council will adopt conclusions on enlargement and the stabilisation and association process.

Furthermore, Ministers will endorse the 18-month programme of the Council drawn up by the Netherlands, Slovakia and Malta and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Council, High Representative Federica Mogherini. The Commission will also present its Annual Growth Survey for 2016 at the meeting. 

Inquiries: Riikka Taivassalo, Special Adviser (Press Relations), tel. +358 46 923 4581, and Henrik Ruso, Specialist for EU Affairs, tel. +358 295 160 349, Prime Minister’s Office