Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs and former President Niinistö discuss EU preparedness
Finland's former President Sauli Niinistö and the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs discussed ways to improve European preparedness at the committee's meeting on Friday 7 February. Other topics on the agenda included the informal meeting of EU development ministers.
President Niinistö and the Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs discussed ways to improve civil and military preparedness in the EU on the basis of President Niinistö's report, which lays the groundwork for the European Commission's proposal to draw up a strategy for the so-called preparedness union. The Commission is expected to publish the strategy in March or April. The strategy was originally proposed by the Finnish Government, which has emphasised better preparedness in the EU as part of strengthening European comprehensive security.
At the beginning of the meeting, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo told the committee about the discussions between the EU heads of state or government in the retreat held in Brussels on Monday 3 February. Key topics on the retreat agenda included strengthening the EU's defence, the relationship between the EU and the United States, support for Ukraine, and defence cooperation with key partners.
The Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs outlined Finland's objectives for the informal meeting of EU ministers for development policy to be held in Warsaw on 10 and 11 February. The meeting will focus on improving the efficiency of the Foreign Affairs Council's work in the development format, and building resilience in partner countries.
Inquiries: Tuomas Tikkanen, Senior Adviser to the Prime Minister in European Affairs, tel. +358 40 523 5768, Juuso Kilpinen, Special Adviser for EU Affairs, tel. +358 295 160 444, Jari Luoto, Director General, EU Affairs Department, tel. +358 50 468 5949, and Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 0733, Prime Minister’s Office
The agenda for the meeting of the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs is available (in Finnish) on the Government website.