Minister Strand to attend meeting of European affairs ministers in Warsaw
The Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union will organise an informal meeting of Ministers for European Affairs in Warsaw on 17–18 February. The ministers will discuss the EU’s next multiannual financial framework and exchange views on strengthening Europe’s crisis preparedness. They will also discuss hybrid threats and preparedness together with countries aspiring to join the EU. Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Joakim Strand will represent Finland at the meeting.
In Finland’s view, the financial framework must be kept at a reasonable level. The allocation of funds should also be more closely aligned with the EU’s strategic priorities – such as the comprehensive security and competitiveness of Europe – than is being done at present. Finland wants to see a financing solution that takes into account the situation at Finland’s eastern border and its overarching importance for the EU. Finland supports strong conditionality with respect to the use of EU funds, especially regarding the rule of law.
Finland advocates for a credible enlargement policy based on EU membership criteria, with special emphasis on the importance of democratic institutions and rule of law reforms. By supporting applicant countries and the EU’s enlargement, we can protect the EU’s neighbouring areas against Russia’s destabilising actions.
Finland emphasises the need to strengthen the EU’s resilience, i.e. comprehensive and wide-ranging preparedness for possible future crises and hybrid threats. Finland supports the drafting of the Preparedness Union Strategy and emphasises that raising the level of preparedness in the Member States and the EU as a whole should be the most important objective of strengthening comprehensive security at the EU level and developing the strategy for the preparedness union.
“In the current geopolitical situation, it is particularly important that we focus on making the EU stronger overall. A key element of this are financing solutions that support comprehensive security and competitiveness. Russia started the war of aggression against Ukraine, and it should not be rewarded for its illegal and brutal actions. The EU must still bolster its support for Ukraine. We must propose concrete solutions to achieve a just peace in Ukraine,” Minister Strand says.
The purpose of informal ministerial meetings is to foster free discussion on general issues. No decisions will be made.
Inquiries: Satu Keskinen, State Under-Secretary for EU Affairs, tel. +358 295 160 302, and Alexander Lång, Special Adviser, tel. +358 295 160 866, Prime Minister’s Office