Economy of wellbeing to be discussed during Director-General Bucher's visit to Helsinki

Finland is preparing for the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which will start in July. The visit of Director-General of the Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) Anne Bucher to Finland on Thursday 7 March is part of this preparation.

Director-General Anne Bucher and Minister of Social Affairs and Health Pirkko Mattila will speak in a seminar, which is held to present the plans of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health for the Finnish Presidency. Merja Mäkisalo-Ropponen, Vice-Chair of the Parliamentary Committee for the Future, and Elina Pylkkänen, Director of the Labour Institute for Economic Research, will also speak in the seminar in Helsinki.

Director-General Bucher will discuss the health-related themes of Finland's Presidency of the Council of the EU with Päivi Sillanaukee, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, and Jaana Husu-Kallio, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Economy of wellbeing reflects the relationship between wellbeing and economy

At the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, preparations are made for having the economy of wellbeing as one of the umbrella themes during the Finnish Presidency. The economy of wellbeing examines the two-way relationship between wellbeing and economy.

It focuses on the impacts of social, health, equality, education and employment policies on economic growth and stability and on how economic growth leads to human wellbeing. The principle of reciprocity impacts also stability and peace in society.

Finland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 July to 31 December 2019.

Inquiries

Noora Saarinen, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 163 039 (Economy of Wellbeing)
Elisa Palminen, Coordinator, tel. +358 295 163 465 (Media Inquiries for Ms. Anne Bucher)