Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs discusses revision of Energy Taxation Directive
At its meeting on Friday 15 November, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs specified Finland’s positions on the revision of the Energy Taxation Directive. The Ministerial Committee also outlined Finland’s positions for next week’s council meetings.
In 2021, the European Commission issued a proposal for a revision of the Directive on the taxation of energy products and electricity. The aim is to strengthen the role of environmental regulation, promote a functional internal market and secure tax revenue. The Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs specified Finland’s earlier positions (U56/2021 vp) ahead of the next round of negotiations.
The Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs also outlined Finland’s positions for the following upcoming meetings:
• Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 18 November
• Foreign Affairs Council on 18 November
• Foreign Affairs Council (Defence) on 19 November
• General Affairs Council on 19 November
• Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) on 21 November
• Informal meeting of ministers responsible for demography on 18–19 November
The Agriculture and Fisheries Council will discuss fishing opportunities in the Atlantic and the North Sea in 2025 and 2026 and in the Mediterranean and Black Seas in 2025. The Council will also discuss the situation of agricultural markets, especially following the invasion of Ukraine.
The Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 18 November will focus on Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, EU-US relations, Georgia and the Horn of Africa. The defence segment of the Foreign Affairs Council will convene on 19 November to discuss the EU’s military support to Ukraine, current issues related to Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) and the EU Rapid Deployment Capacity, and defence readiness and preparedness. The Trade configuration meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on 21 November will discuss the future of EU trade policy, EU-US trade relations and the reform of the World Trade Organization.
The General Affairs Council will begin preparations for the December European Council. The GAC will also continue its annual rule of law dialogue with discussions on the rule of law situation in Austria, Malta, the Netherlands and Poland. In addition, the Council will receive an update on respect for the EU’s values in Hungary as part of the procedure under Article 7(1) of the Treaty on European Union.
The informal meeting of ministers responsible for demography will focus on two themes: intergenerational solidarity and support for young people as they transition to independent life.
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