Prime Minister Katainen met Italian Prime Minister Monti in Rome
On Tuesday 17 April, Prime Minister Katainen met the head of Italy's technocrat government, Prime Minister Mario Monti, in Rome. The premiers discussed the stability of the EU economy and the EU's financial framework.
"Finland and Italy have very similar views on the way the EU should be developed", Prime Katainen said after the meeting.
The Premiers agreed that they will, in the near future, write a joint letter to the key EU institutions in which Finland and Italy urge the EU leaders to propose as soon as possible concrete ideas to strengthen the internal market and thus boost the EU's competitiveness. The EU leaders will also be encouraged to propose measures to tackle economic offences more effectively.
"Europe needs firewalls, but the development of a well-functioning internal market is essential. For example, the creation of a Digital Single Market for the EU would significantly benefit both Finland and Italy", Prime Ministers Katainen and Monti said.
Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb, who accompanied Prime Minister Katainen to Rome, had a meeting with his Italian counterpart, Minister for Europe, Enzo Moavero Milanesi.
On Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Katainen and Minister Stubb continued their trip to Ankara, Turkey to meet Prime Minister Erdoğan. In Turkey, the Ministers will be accompanied by a delegation of 40 Finnish business leaders.
Inquiries: Kari Mokko, Director of Government Communications, Government Communications Unit, tel. +358 40 751 3281