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Minister Tuppurainen to attend General Affairs Council

Government Communications Department
Publication date 27.1.2020 14.56
Press release 33/2020

Minister of European Affairs and Ownership Steering Tytti Tuppurainen will attend the General Affairs Council on Tuesday 28 January in Brussels. At the meeting, the ministers will hear a presentation on the priorities of Croatia’s Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2020. The ministers will also hold a preliminary discussion on the Conference on the Future of Europe.

The motto of Croatia’s Presidency is “A strong Europe in a world of challenges”. The programme for the period has four priorities: a Europe that develops, a Europe that connects, a Europe that protects and an influential Europe.

According to the policy guidelines presented by Commission President von der Leyen in July 2019, a two-year Conference on the Future of Europe will be launched in 2020. The conference will bring together citizens, especially young people, and representatives of EU institutions.

In December 2019, the European Council invited the Croatian Presidency of the Council of the EU to work on defining the Council's position on the content, scope, composition and operating practices of the conference. Finland has stressed the importance of focusing on the implementation of the EU Strategic Programme for 2019–2024 and on policy issues important to citizens.

In the General Affairs Council (GAC), the EU Member States are primarily represented by their own ministers of European affairs. The tasks of the Council 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 relating to the rule of law are also an established part of the Council’s agenda.

Inquiries: Heli Siivola, Senior Specialist for EU Affairs, tel. +358 295 160 476 and Pilvi-Elina Kupias, Special Adviser, tel. +358 295 160 995, Prime Minister's Office

 
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