European Council to focus on high-level EU appointments and the future of the EU

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will attend the European Council in Brussels on 27–28 June. The meeting will focus on Ukraine, the Middle East, security and defence, competitiveness and high-level appointments to EU institutions. The EU leaders will also adopt the Council’s strategic agenda, which will guide the EU’s work over the next few years.

The strategic agenda is a programme that sets out the EU’s policy priorities and objectives for 2024–2029. It will also provide a foundation for the work of the new Commission. According to Prime Minister Orpo, the most important priorities for Finland are boosting competitiveness, strengthening comprehensive security in Europe and promoting the clean transition, including through the bioeconomy and the circular economy.

“Europe will be stronger if it is able to respond comprehensively to crises. We have to be prepared for all possible crises and hybrid threats,” says Prime Minister Orpo.

Ukraine will be another key topic of discussion. Ahead of the meeting, Prime Minister Orpo stressed the need for the EU to continue and strengthen its support to Ukraine. Ukraine’s power plants are especially at risk. “Ukraine is in urgent need of military assistance, for example when it comes to air defence, so that its vulnerable power plants are not destroyed over and over again,” Prime Minister Orpo said.

The European Council also aims to agree on high-level appointments to EU institutions. The EU leaders discussed the appointments at their informal meeting on 17 June. The appointments to be decided on include the candidate for the next President of the Commission, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the next President of the European Council. 

Inquiries: Tuomas Tikkanen, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 40 523 5768, Jari Luoto, Director General, EU Affairs Department, tel. +358 50 468 5949 and Marko Ruonala, Project Manager (Communications), tel. +358 50 522 8233, Prime Minister’s Office