Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs discusses safe countries of origin and critical medicines
In its meeting on Friday 6 June, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs outlined Finland’s positions on two proposals put forth by the Commission: one aiming to establish a common list of safe countries of origin and another to improve the availability, supply and production of critical medicines in the EU. In addition, the Ministerial Committee specified Finland’s positions on the last phase of negotiations on the EU pharmaceuticals package.
On 16 April 2025, the Commission submitted a proposal to amend the Asylum Procedure Regulation with regard to establishing a list of safe countries of origin at Union level. The Asylum Procedure Regulation is part of the Pact on Migration and Asylum adopted in 2024, which will enter into force in summer 2026. The aim of the proposal is to establish a list of safe countries of origin at Union level and to bring forward the application of the provisions of the Asylum Procedure Regulation concerning safe third countries and countries of origin, along with those concerning the accelerated procedure and the border procedure. Finland’s position on the Commission’s proposal will be made public after the government session.
On 11 March 2025, the Commission published a proposal for an act on critical medicines in the context of the European Health Union. The aim of the proposal is to improve the availability, supply and production of critical medicines in the EU. The proposal also includes measures to increase access to other medicines of common interest. The Member States will begin discussing the proposal in autumn 2025. Finland’s position on the Commission’s proposal will be made public after the government session.
The Commission issued its proposal for an EU pharmaceuticals package in April 2023. Finland’s outlined its positions on the proposal in a Union communication (U 56/2023 vp) and a follow-up Union communication (UJ 27/2024). It its meeting, the Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs further specified Finland’s position with regard to the emergency stockpiling of medicines, among other measures. In Finland’s view, it is important that the pharmaceuticals package supports a favourable operating environment for research and development and for investments in pharmaceuticals production while ensuring the competitiveness of the pharmaceuticals industry in the EU.
In addition, the Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs outlined Finland’s positions for the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 12–13 June. The justice ministers will adopt a general approach on a directive to harmonise certain aspects of insolvency law, which is one of the initiatives of the Capital Markets Union action plan. The ministers also plan to reach a partial general approach on the rights of adults in need of protection in cross-border situations.
The home affairs ministers will hold their regular discussion on the overall situation in the Schengen area. The ministers will also exchange views on the European internal security strategy (ProtectEU) presented by the Commission in April of this year. The future legal status of displaced persons from Ukraine will also be on the agenda. In addition, the ministers will adopt conclusions on the priorities of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) in 2026–2029.
Inquiries: Juuso Kilpinen, Special Adviser for EU Affairs, tel. +358 50 322 9636, Jari Luoto, Director General, EU Affairs Department, tel. +358 50 468 5949 and Lauri Heikkinen, Senior Communications Specialist, tel. +358 46 923 5090, Prime Minister’s Office