Finnish and Czech Prime Ministers discussed digitalisation, new technologies and family policy
Prime Minister Juha Sipilä and Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Andrej Babiš agreed in Prague that digitalisation of the economy must be taken better into account when the EU strives to remove barriers to trade in the single market.
“Digitalisation is becoming an ever greater part for our lives, and its significance as a key to economic growth is increasing. We should bear this in mind when we develop the single market. This will be one of our priorities when Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union starts next July,” Prime Minister Sipilä said.
Climate change mitigation will be another key theme during Finland’s Presidency.
“We must cut emissions as well as introduce new technologies, such as carbon capture. Carbon dioxide could be captured from the air and used to make commercial products. In addition, carbon sink trading should be incorporated into the emissions trading system. Here, there is great potential for collaboration between Finnish and Czech universities and companies,” Sipilä said.
The prime ministers talked long about Finland’s school system and, in particular, our free school meals. Prime Minister Babiš showed also great interest in other Finnish family policy measures, such as child benefit.
Other topics on the agenda included defence cooperation, migration and the ongoing negotiations on the EU’s multiannual financial framework.
Inquiries: Riikka Pakarinen, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 40 580 0833 and Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 0733, Prime Minister’s Office