Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs discusses efforts to strengthen European defence
In its meeting on Friday 25 April, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs outlined Finland’s positions on several initiatives aiming to strengthen European defence. Other topics on the agenda included measures to improve the security of submarine cables and EU financing for transport projects in the next financial framework period.
The Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs outlined Finland’s views on the action plan for strengthening defence drawn up by the European Commission and the External Action Service, also known as the White Paper for European Defence. Finland supports the White Paper’s comprehensive view on how to develop a more capable European defence by 2030. Finland agrees with the White Paper’s assessment of changes in the security environment and emphasises that Russia will continue to pose a threat to European security for a long time to come. The EU Member States must take more responsibility for their security and must deepen cooperation at the EU level, which will also make the EU a stronger partner for NATO. In Finland’s view, the EU’s defence initiatives should pay particular attention to ground combat capabilities. Finland considers it essential to support defence investments and stresses the need to target support specifically at countries on the frontline. The Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs has already outlined Finland’s positions on the ReArm Europe defence investment plan, which is part of the White Paper.
In Friday’s meeting, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs discussed the part of the ReArm Europe plan concerning the use of existing EU instruments for defence investments. The Commission’s proposal would allow Member States to redirect their cohesion policy funds to investments in defence, for example to improve military mobility. The package of proposals is part of a broader mid-term review of EU cohesion policy during the current financial framework period. The Ministerial Committee decided, among other things, that Finland supports the Commission’s proposal to use cohesion funds to improve comprehensive security. Finland is also willing to support the Commission’s proposal for an exceptional increase in advance payments and EU contributions to accelerate the necessary investments in defence and security.
The Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs also discussed the joint communication by the Commission and the External Action Service on improving the security and resilience of submarine cables. As a rule, Finland supports the objectives of the communication and most of the measures to improve the security and resilience of submarine cables and strengthen international law in this respect. In Finland’s view, it is important for the action plan and the prioritisation of measures to take into account the special situation of the Baltic Sea region and the heightened risks in the area.
The Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs also specified the Government’s positions for influencing the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) with regard to EU financing for transport and military mobility.
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 Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 0733, Prime Minister’s Office