Minister Toivakka to General Affairs Council

(Translation. Originally published in Finnish on 9 February) The General Affairs Council will meet in Brussels on 10 February. Finland will be represented at the meeting by Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade Lenita Toivakka.

The meeting will discuss the European Commission’s proposal to revise the EU’s multiannual financial framework for 2014–2020, the work programme of the Latvian Presidency, a situation review of the fight against terrorism, and the agenda of the European Council in March. In addition, there will be a working lunch with Frans Timmermans, First Vice President of the European Commission, to discuss, among other things, the Commission’s work programme.  

The European Commission has said that it will withdraw 80 legislative initiatives that have stalled, have become out-dated or are not otherwise fit for purpose. The Commission has emphasised as a political priority the effectiveness of EU regulation and lightening the regulatory burden. It intends, among other things, to assess planned regulations better and to increase public consultation in connection with their preparation. 

“Smarter and lighter EU regulation has been one of Finland’s key objectives for the new Commission. We have emphasised that the EU must take more strongly into account the impact of new regulations on employment and businesses. It is good to see that the Juncker Commission has taken the matter seriously. Much remains to be done, of course,” says Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade Toivakka.

The Commission says that it has reviewed 450 pending proposals, and has taken the decision to withdraw or re-examine 80 of them. Finland considers this to be a good and practical step towards smarter EU regulation.

“Even more important than withdrawing individual legislative proposals is to improve the preparation of new proposals so that the need for the regulations as well as their effectiveness and impact on businesses and employment are assessed more closely than before. Our common goal is to boost Europe’s economy and employment,” says Toivakka.

Further information: Henrik Ruso, Adviser to the Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade, tel. +358 50 160 349, Prime Minister’s Office