Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs discusses upcoming European Council meeting and Gulf Cooperation Council summit

In its meeting on Wednesday 16 October, the Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs outlined Finland’s positions for the October European Council on 17–18 October and the first-ever EU-Gulf Cooperation Council summit in Brussels on 16 October.

The main topics of the October European Council will be Ukraine, the Middle East, support for the rules-based international order, competitiveness and migration. Other items on the agenda include the situations in Moldova, Georgia, Sudan and Venezuela, preparations for the COP29 and COP16 meetings, hybrid threats and work to combat discrimination.
 
•    In Finland’s view, it is important that the EU continue, increase, speed up and intensify its strong political, economic, and military support and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.  Finland supports Ukraine’s initiative for a just and lasting peace. The EU must consistently ramp up sanctions against Russia and Belarus as Russia’s aggression continues. The EU and G7 must find a solution for using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine in line with international law.  Finland supports efforts to bring Russia and its representatives to justice for the illegal war of aggression and its impacts. In Finland’s view, the significant changes in the operating environment brought on by the war in Ukraine highlight a clear need to increase the capacity of the European defence industry.
 
•    Finland’s position is that the EU must promote peace, stability and the protection of civilians in the Middle East through all its actions. The EU must support diplomatic efforts towards a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza and a lasting two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 
 
•    Defending the rules-based international system and respecting international law are the cornerstones of Finland’s actions.
 
•    In Finland’s view, the EU’s strategic competitiveness should be based on further developing the Union’s strengths and implementing market-based solutions. A well-functioning single market based on free movement and an effective state aid and competition policy play a key role in promoting predictability and ensuring a favourable investment environment. Finland’s position is that the recovery instrument was an exceptional one-off solution that should not serve as a precedent.
 
•    With regard to migration issues in the EU, Finland emphasises the importance of taking a comprehensive approach in which measures are promoted both within the EU and in relations with third countries. 
 
The EU-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit will focus on deepening cooperation and on regional and international conflicts, especially in Ukraine and the Middle East.
 
•    In Finland’s view, cooperation between the EU and the Gulf States plays a key role in strengthening the EU’s global role and promoting the Union’s interests and values.
 
•    Finland emphasises the need to engage in dialogue with the GCC countries and to strengthen coordination on security issues. This is especially true when it comes to Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East and security issues in the Gulf and Red Sea region. 
 
•    Finland considers it important to establish strategic partnerships between the EU and the GCC, as well as between the EU and individual GCC members, as this will lead to stronger economic, commercial and investment relations in areas such as the clean transition and digitalisation. 
 
At the summit, Finland considers it important for the EU to announce its readiness to begin negotiations on bilateral strategic partnership agreements with each member of the GCC in 2025 and to highlight its will for a strategic EU-GCC dialogue. Finland also supports efforts to advance a regional free trade agreement between the EU and the GCC.

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
 
Agendas for the meetings of the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs and public documents discussed at the meetings are available on the Government website (in Finnish and Swedish).