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Finland, Spain and Portugal intensify their bioeconomy cooperation

statsrådets kommunikationsavdelning
Publication date 4.10.2018 16.40 | Published in English on 5.10.2018 at 9.51
Press release 458/2018

A joint declaration on intensified cooperation on the bioeconomy between three countries was published, when Prime Minister Juha Sipilä met Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez in Madrid on Thursday 4 October. The development of bioeconomy cooperation was also one of the key issues on the agenda, when Prime Minister Sipilä met Prime Minister of Portugal António Costa in Lisbon on 2 October.

“To be able to respond to the global challenges of climate change and population growth we need to respect the sustainable limits of our planet and to develop new production methods,” said Prime Minister Sipilä.

Finland, Spain and Portugal consider that by promoting bioeconomy we can achieve the international climate and energy objectives set and prepare the way for carbon-neutral society. The declaration states that intensified bioeconomy cooperation between the northern and southern Europe is important also with a view to boosting employment and competitiveness. Spain, Portugal and Finland particularly intend to increase their cooperation in the fields of blue and circular bioeconomy, ecosystem services and R&D. 

“We began our meeting with Prime Minister of Spain Sánchez by discussing topical EU affairs, such as migration and the development of EMU and defence cooperation within the EU. I also informed him about the preparations for Finland’s Presidency of the European Union, which will begin in July”, Prime Minister Sipilä reported.

“The views of Finland and Spain have approached each other in many key EU issues, and it is important that we further deepen the partnership between our countries. The relationship with Spain is important for Finland also for the reason that Spain will become the fourth largest economy in the EU after the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union,” Prime Minister Sipilä pointed out.

Furthermore, the Prime Ministers Sipilä and Sánchez had a long discussion about the rights of girls and women, and committed themselves to promoting these at both the national and the EU level.

Prime Minister Juha Sipilä's visits to Portugal and Spain commenced the Prime Minister's tour of the EU member states in preparation for Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Declaration of Finland, Portugal and Spain on bioeconomy cooperation

Photos

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

 
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