Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs discuss topics on agenda at three councils
The Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs, meeting on Friday 20 September, outlined Finland's positions for the meetings of three councils to be held next week.
The Agriculture and Fisheries Council (23 September) will discuss the second year of implementation of the strategic plans of the Common Agricultural Policy. In this debate, Finland emphasises the need to simplify the support schemes. The Council will also discuss the agricultural market situation, in particular following the invasion of Ukraine. Finland's view is that the security of supply in the food sector and the food security of the population must be ensured in all situations. On Finland's initiative, the items on the other business agenda will include a discussion on the regulation on monitoring the state of forests. Negotiations on the regulation are underway.
This will be the first meeting of the General Affairs Council (24 September) during the Hungarian Presidency. Hungary will present the priorities of its term of office, which began in July. The Council will begin preparations for the October European Council and discuss the rule of law situation in the Member States, making use of the European Commission's Rule of Law Report 2024. For the first time, the report covers developments in four candidate countries, Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. The Council will hold a separate discussion with the candidate country representatives on the general trend of the rule of law in these countries. However, the individual situation of each country will continue to be covered by the accession negotiations.
The ministers of the Competitiveness Council (26 September) internal market and industry configuration will discuss the future of European competitiveness and how to respond to the challenges facing industry and businesses in the single market. The second debate will focus on the state aid framework and how it supports EU policy objectives. In Finland’s view, strategic competitiveness should be based on further developing the Union’s strengths and implementing market-based solutions. Finland calls attention to the harmful effects of competition for state aid and the risks it poses for the unity of Europe and the functioning of the single market.
In addition, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs was briefed by Ville Itälä, Director-General of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), on the activities and scope of the Office.
Inquiries: Elisa Tarkiainen, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 50 433 4533, 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
Agendas for the meetings of the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs and public documents discussed at the meetings are available on the Prime Minister’s Office website (in Finnish).