Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs discusses EU regional and structural policy funding

At its meeting on Friday 28 February, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs discussed Finland’s positions for influencing the EU’s regional and structural policy (cohesion policy) funding in the next multiannual financial framework (2028–). 

The Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs also outlined Finland’s positions for the following meetings:

1.    Competitiveness Council (Internal market and industry) on 12 March
2.    Justice and Home Affairs Council on 5 March and 7 March
3.    Informal meeting of telecommunications ministers on 4–5 March

There are four topics for discussion on the Competitiveness Council’s agenda: 1) moving towards a horizontal strategy for a modernised single market: the need for an action plan for services, 2) the Commission’s first omnibus simplification package 3) improving the competitiveness of European industry – the competitiveness compass and the clean industrial deal, and 4) a competitive and decarbonised EU industry.

The Home Affairs Council will hold its regular discussion on the overall state of the Schengen area and the implementation of the priorities of the 2024–2025 Schengen Council cycle. The ministers will also discuss the implementation of work to improve the interoperability of the EU’s IT systems. The home affairs ministers will also receive progress reports on the EU action plan for securing cables, the external dimension of migration and the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime.

On the day of the justice ministers’ meeting, the ministers will discuss the proposal for an insolvency directive, on which the Council adopted a partial general approach in December 2024. The Council will also approve conclusions on the annual report on the implementation of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (2024), which focuses on funding for the promotion, protection and realisation of fundamental rights.

The informal meeting of telecommunications ministers will focus on cybersecurity. The ministers will discuss the EU’s cooperation and response to large-scale incidents, civil-military cooperation on cybersecurity and investments in cybersecurity.
 
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 Lauri Heikkinen, Senior Communications Specialist, tel. +358 46 923 5090, 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.