EU General Affairs Council to discuss rule of law issues and priorities for Poland’s EU Council Presidency

The EU General Affairs Council (GAC) will meet on Tuesday 28 January in Brussels. In the meeting, the GAC will continue its annual rule of law dialogue with country-specific discussions on the rule of law situation in Hungary, Portugal, Romania and Slovenia. The Council will also discuss the priorities for Poland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU. Finland’s Permanent Representative to the European Union, Jori Arvonen, will represent Finland at the meeting.

The General Affairs Council will hear a presentation from Poland, which holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU in spring 2025, on the priorities for its Presidency. During its Presidency, Poland will focus on strengthening the seven dimensions of European security: 1) defence and security; 2) protection of people and borders; 3) resistance to foreign interference and disinformation; 4) ensuring security and freedom of business; 5) the energy transition; 6) competitive and resilient agriculture; and 7) health security.

The Council will also continue its annual rule of law dialogue with discussions on the rule of law situation in Hungary, Portugal, Romania and Slovenia. Finland’s long-standing policy on rule of law issues aims to promote the rule of law and the fight against corruption in the EU. Finland considers the Commission’s annual Rule of Law Report an important tool for this work in the Union. Finland shares the Commission’s view that the Rule of Law Report and the resulting dialogue have promoted positive development with regard to the rule of law in the Member States. However, Finland notes with concern that some Member States still have systemic problems in this area.

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

Inquiries: Heli Siivola, Senior Specialist for EU Affairs, tel. +358 50 576 7745, Prime Minister’s Office and Johanna Kaprio-Papageorgiou, Press Counsellor (media interviews), tel. +32 470 20 61 52, Finland’s Permanent Representation to the EU