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Ministers for European Affairs to prepare for December European Council and receive progress reports on the situation in Poland and in Hungary

Government Communications Department
Publication date 13.12.2021 14.53
Press release 726/2021

The EU General Affairs Council will meet in Brussels on 14 December. Minister for European Affairs Tytti Tuppurainen will represent Finland at the meeting.

The meeting will prepare the European Council to be held on 16–17 December. The topics on the European Council agenda will include the COVID-19 pandemic, crisis management and resilience, energy prices, external relations, and the strategic compass, i.e. the evaluation and steering process for the EU’s security and defence cooperation. The ministers will discuss the European Council’s draft conclusions. 

The Council will receive progress reports on the procedures under Article 7 of the EU Treaty with regard to Poland and Hungary (adherence to the Union’s common values). Finland will continue to exert influence to ensure that the EU’s common values are strictly adhered to. Democracy, the rule of law and fundamental and human rights are the foundation for all activities of the EU.

Combating antisemitism will also be on the agenda. The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights will present its recent report on the matter. 
    
The meeting will continue discussion on the enlargement of the EU. Ministers will aim to approve the conclusions on enlargement and stabilisation and association process. 

Other items on the agenda will be the Conference on the Future of Europe, the European Semester for economic policy coordination and the EU’s legislative priorities for 2022. 

In addition, the forthcoming Presidency trio (France, the Czech Republic and Sweden) will present the Council’s programme for the next 18 months.  

Inquiries: Heli Siivola, Senior Specialist for EU Affairs, tel. +358 50 576 7745, Saara Pokkki, Special Adviser, tel. +358 50 478 6363, and Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 0733, Prime Minister’s Office