Prime Ministers of Finland and the Czech Republic discussed the forthcoming financial framework

Prime Minister Juha Sipilä met the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Andrej Babiš in Helsinki on 21 May. The Prime Ministers discussed topical EU matters, such as the forthcoming multiannual financial framework, the development of the Economic and Monetary Union and the agenda of the June European Council.

“We had a good conversation about the EU’s forthcoming financial framework and concluded that Finland and the Czech Republic have a lot in common. Both countries support strong agricultural and cohesion policies and the advancing of digitalisation, innovation and economic growth. We also agreed that funding is a more effective means of achieving concrete results than bureaucracy,” Prime Minister Sipilä said.

“We talked about the EMU and migration, which will be key issues on the next European Council agenda. Common development efforts are needed on both issues. We also discussed the priorities of Finland’s forthcoming EU Presidency.”

In the morning, the Prime Ministers attended a Czech-Finnish Business Seminar, held to look at the cooperation between Czech and Finnish companies and their future prospects.

“We should increase business cooperation especially in the fields of transport, health, energy and the circular economy. I hope we can proceed quickly in these sectors and achieve some concrete results,” Prime Minister Sipilä said.

During his visit to Finland, Czech Republic signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Czech Republic becoming a participating country of the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats.

Inquiries: Kare Halonen, State Secretary for EU Affairs, tel. +358 295 160 319, Riikka Pakarinen, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 40 580 0833 and Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 0733, Prime Minister’s Office