Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs discusses EU defence and border security
In its meeting on Friday 27 February, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs discussed the EU’s defence and border security, the multiannual financial framework and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
Strengthening defence and border security is one of Finland’s three priorities for influencing EU policy in 2026. In the meeting, the Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs fleshed out Finland’s positions on this theme. It is important for Finland that the special needs of countries on the EU’s eastern flank are taken into account.
The ministerial committee also formulated positions on the future security strategy of the European Union, which the European Commission is expected to adopt this coming summer. The goal is for the new security strategy to respond to recent changes in the geostrategic and geopolitical climate. For Finland, it is especially important to ensure that the EU has a wide range of effective means at its disposal to mitigate and counter various kinds of threats.
In addition, the ministerial committee discussed the EU’s next multiannual financial framework, which will serve as the Union’s long-term financial plan for 2028–2034. Negotiations on the framework are being led by the Cyprus Presidency based on a proposal put forth by the Commission in July 2025.
The Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs also discussed two proposals for regulations on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) submitted by the Commission in December 2025. The first proposal concerns a temporary decarbonisation fund to support energy-intensive industries at risk of carbon leakage. The second proposal would extend the CBAM to downstream products and introduce further measures to prevent circumvention.
Inquiries: Elisa Tarkiainen, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 295 160 363, Minna Kivimäki, State Secretary for EU Affairs, tel. +358 295 160 431 and Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 0733, Prime Minister’s Office