Ministers for European affairs to discuss rule of law situation in EU and hear about priorities for Hungary’s EU Council Presidency

The EU General Affairs Council (GAC) will meet on Tuesday 24 September in Brussels. Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Joakim Strand will represent Finland at the meeting. Items on the agenda include the rule of law in the EU, the priorities of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU and preparations for the October meeting of the European Council.

As part of the GAC’s annual rule of law dialogue, the ministers will discuss the rule of law in the EU Member States based on the Commission’s 2024 Rule of Law Report. Finland aims to promote the rule of law and the fight against corruption in the EU, and considers the Commission’s annual Rule of Law Report an important tool for this work. Finland shares the Commission’s view that the Rule of Law Report and the resulting dialogue have promoted positive development with regard to the rule of law in the Member States. That said, some Member States still face systemic problems in this area. It is important to ensure that funding from the EU budget is closely linked to respecting the rule of law, preventing the misuse of funds and combating corruption.

For the first time, this year’s Rule of Law Report will also address the situations in four candidate countries: Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. The ministers from the Member States will hold a separate discussion on the general direction of the rule of law in these candidate countries together with their ministers. Finland welcomes the inclusion of the candidate countries in the EU Rule of Law Report and believes that experience with the EU’s rule of law instruments can help strengthen the candidate countries’ commitment to common values. 

“The importance of the rule of law can never be overemphasised. Without a well-functioning rule of law, we cannot build a competitive economy. This is true in Finland, in the EU and throughout the single market,” says Minister Strand.

As this is the first General Affairs Council during Hungary’s Presidency of the Council of the EU, Hungary will present the priorities for its Presidency in the public session. It is good that European competitiveness, security and defence are high on the Presidency’s agenda. Finland stresses that the EU must continue its strong political, economic and military support to Ukraine for as long as necessary. Finland also points out that the Member State holding the Presidency must respect the Council’s common views and positions and must act accordingly, paying particular attention to unity within the EU.

The GAC will also begin preparations for the October European Council, which will focus on Ukraine, the Middle East and competitiveness. With regard to competitiveness, the European Council will review Mario Draghi’s report on the future of European competitiveness and will hold its first debate on the subject. 

In the General Affairs Council (GAC), the EU Member States are primarily represented by their ministers for European affairs. The tasks of the GAC include preparations for the European Council meetings. The GAC is also responsible for a number of cross-cutting policy areas, including negotiations on the multiannual financial framework and EU enlargement. Questions related to the rule of law are also an established part of the GAC’s agenda. 

Inquiries: Alexander Lång, Special Adviser, tel. +358 295 160 866 and Heli Siivola, Senior Specialist for EU Affairs, tel. +358 50 576 7745, Prime Minister’s Office