Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs outlines Finland’s positions for upcoming EU meetings

At its meeting on Wednesday 23 March, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs discussed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the March European Council and the Euro Summit, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping, and legally binding nature restoration targets.

After a briefing on the current situation, the Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs discussed the consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine will feature prominently at the European Council in Brussels on 24–25 March. The EU leaders will also meet with US President Joe Biden, who will be visiting Brussels, and will prepare for the EU-China Summit on 1 April. Finland is responding to Russia’s actions as part of the EU and is prepared to impose further sanctions. Transatlantic coordination plays a key role. With regard to China, on the other hand, it is important to stress the country’s responsibility to exert influence on Russia. Support to Ukraine must be increased.
 
Other topics on the agenda for the March European Council are security and defence, energy, economic issues, COVID-19, external relations and the appointment of the next President of the European Council. The Euro Summit, to be held in inclusive format, will discuss the economic situation and review progress on the banking union and capital markets union.

With regard to security and defence, the European Council will reaffirm the statements enshrined in the Versailles Declaration and hold a strategic debate on the matter. The current security policy situation in Europe highlights the need to strengthen the EU’s role as a security provider. The European Council will also endorse the Strategic Compass outlining the objectives for EU security and defence cooperation over the next 5–10 years. Finland stresses the role of solidarity and mutual assistance between EU Member States under Article 42.7 and emphasises the importance of military security of supply, military mobility and preparedness for cyber and hybrid threats.

The European Council will also discuss ways to phase out the EU’s dependency on gas, oil and coal imported from Russia. Finland advocates for phasing out fossil fuels and increasing the share of energy from emission-free sources in the energy mix. Action must not be taken that would disrupt the Emissions Trading Scheme or the electricity market. Finland welcomes the development of the internal gas market. EU-level measures concerning gas stockpiles must take into account preparedness measures taken in the Member States and also enable the use of alternative fuels for gas in ensuring preparedness. 

In addition, the Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs outlined Finland’s positions on measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping in the long term (2030–2050). The Marine Environment Protection Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is set to decide on these measures in June. Finland supports measures to incentivise the shift towards low-carbon and carbon-free fuels that are sufficient to meet the targets set in the Paris Agreement. Finland primarily supports a payment scheme determined based on the carbon content of shipping fuels, in which the payments would be collected in an international fund to support the development of emission-reducing technology, particularly for winter conditions. The payments themselves would also take into account the special circumstances of winter navigation.
 
The Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs also outlined Finland’s position on the Commission’s proposal for a directive aimed at improving the energy efficiency of buildings. The aim is to increase and improve repair construction and to deepen knowledge on the energy efficiency and sustainability of buildings. Another aim is to ensure that all buildings comply with the climate neutrality target for 2050. Buildings account for 40 per cent of the EU’s energy consumption and for 36 per cent of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. Finland’s positions will be published after the government session.

The Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs was also briefed on the European Commission's proposal for legally binding EU nature restoration targets. The proposal is part of the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy.
 
The Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs also outlined Finland’s positions for the following meetings:

•    Extraordinary Justice and Home Affairs Council (28 March)
•    Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Health) (29 March)

The extraordinary Justice and Home Affairs Council will discuss European coordination for the reception of people fleeing the war in Ukraine. Items on the agenda include material and financial support for Member States, the monitoring and coordination of travel within the EU, the reception of refugees from Moldova, and external border control and security issues.
 
The ministers for health will discuss COVID-19 vaccine solidarity, European cooperation in the field of rare diseases and the long-term symptoms of the COVID-19.
 
Inquiries: Jari Luoto, State Under-Secretary for European Affairs, tel. +358 50 468 5949, and Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 0733, Prime Minister’s Office