Skip to content
Media
Valtioneuvosto frontpage

European Council discussed financial framework and implementation of Strategic Agenda

Government Communications Department
Publication date 18.10.2019 16.53 | Published in English on 18.10.2019 at 18.51
Press release 548/2019

On the second day of the October European Council, Prime Minister Antti Rinne gave an introduction to two key issues: the next multiannual financial framework and the practical implementation of the Strategic Agenda.

Prime Minister Rinne presented to EU leaders how Finland, as the country holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU, has worked to implement thPrime Minister Rinne presented to EU leaders how Finland, as the country holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU, has worked to implement the EU Strategic Agenda for 2019–2024 adopted in June. Addressing the European Council, Prime Minister Rinne focused on four areas in which the citizens expect results and where further efforts are expected from the next Commission: safeguarding the rule of law, countering hybrid threats, sustainable growth, and the EU as a global leader in climate action.

The Finnish Presidency will take forward the negotiations on the financial framework for 2021–2027 so that the European Council could reach agreement on the matter by the end of the year, as agreed at the June European Council.

Prime Minister Rinne presented the Presidency’s views on key issues to the European Council. These include the overall level of the financial framework, the appropriations allocated to key policy areas, conditionalities and the financing of the framework.

The task of the Presidency is to seek compromises that are ultimately acceptable to all Member States. As regards the overall level of the financial framework, the Presidency’s starting point falls within a range that is lower than the level proposed by the European Commission. Funding for key policy areas should be taken in a more balanced direction, where the relative contributions of agriculture and cohesion policy would be increased through reallocations.

The establishment of a new rule of law mechanism as part of the financial framework package is a key objective for the Finnish Presidency. Ambiguities relating to certain details of the mechanism have been removed during the preparation process and the scope of application has been clarified.

With regard to the ‘new own resources’ that have been proposed to finance the future financial framework, the Presidency stressed Member States’ support for a charge that would be based on the amount of non-recyclable plastic packaging waste. There is no significant support from the Member States for other new own resources proposed by the Commission.

The European Council invited the Presidency to submit a finalised proposal on the multiannual financial framework before the December European Council.

“Today we presented the figures that had been requested so that we can initiate concrete negotiations. Today’s debate was a good start. The Finnish Presidency is actively seeking a solution that the Member States can accept. We should remember that this is a matter requiring unanimity,” Prime Minister Rinne said.

The European Council condemned Turkey’s unilateral military action in North East Syria and stated that it “causes unacceptable human suffering, undermines the fight against Daʼesh and threatens heavily European security”. The EU also urges Turkey to end its military action, to withdraw its forces and to respect international humanitarian law. The European Council also discussed Turkeyʼs illegal drilling activities in Cyprusʼ Exclusive Economic Zone and reaffirmed its solidarity with Cyprus.

The European Council welcomed the outcome of the UN Climate Action Summit 2019 on ambition, action and solidarity. EU leaders felt that the existential threat posed by climate change requires enhanced ambition and increased climate action by the EU and at global level. The EU will continue to lead the way in a socially fair and just green transition in the implementation of the Paris Agreement. The European Council recalls will finalise its guidance on the EUʼs long-term strategy on climate change at its December meeting with a view to the adoption and submission of the strategy to the UNFCCC in early 2020.

The European Council also decided to return to the issue of enlargement at its December meeting.

During the two-day European Council, Prime Minister Rinne had bilateral meetings with President of France Emmanuel Macron, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.

Inquiries: Jari Luoto, State Under-Secretary for European Affairs, tel. +358 50 468 5949, Pilvi-Elina Kupias, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 295 160 995, Dimitri Qvintus, Special Adviser (Media Relations), tel. +358 50 574 0956, and Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU and International Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 0733, Prime Minister’s Officee EU Strategic Agenda for 2019–2024 adopted in June. Addressing the European Council, Prime Minister Rinne focused on four areas in which the citizens expect results and where further efforts are expected from the next Commission: safeguarding the rule of law, countering hybrid threats, sustainable growth, and the EU as a global leader in climate action.

The Finnish Presidency will take forward the negotiations on the financial framework for 2021–2027 so that the European Council could reach agreement on the matter by the end of the year, as agreed at the June European Council.

Prime Minister Rinne presented the Presidency’s views on key issues to the European Council. These include the overall level of the financial framework, the appropriations allocated to key policy areas, conditionalities and the financing of the framework.

The task of the Presidency is to seek compromises that are ultimately acceptable to all Member States. As regards the overall level of the financial framework, the Presidency’s starting point falls within a range that is lower than the level proposed by the European Commission. Funding for key policy areas should be taken in a more balanced direction, where the relative contributions of agriculture and cohesion policy would be increased through reallocations.

The establishment of a new rule of law mechanism as part of the financial framework package is a key objective for the Finnish Presidency. Ambiguities relating to certain details of the mechanism have been removed during the preparation process and the scope of application has been clarified.

With regard to the ‘new own resources’ that have been proposed to finance the future financial framework, the Presidency stressed Member States’ support for a charge that would be based on the amount of non-recyclable plastic packaging waste. There is no significant support from the Member States for other new own resources proposed by the Commission.

The European Council invited the Presidency to submit a finalised proposal on the multiannual financial framework before the December European Council.

“Today we presented the figures that had been requested so that we can initiate concrete negotiations. Today’s debate was a good start. The Finnish Presidency is actively seeking a solution that the Member States can accept. We should remember that this is a matter requiring unanimity,” Prime Minister Rinne said.

The European Council condemned Turkey’s unilateral military action in North East Syria and stated that it “causes unacceptable human suffering, undermines the fight against Daʼesh and threatens heavily European security”. The EU also urges Turkey to end its military action, to withdraw its forces and to respect international humanitarian law. The European Council also discussed Turkeyʼs illegal drilling activities in Cyprusʼ Exclusive Economic Zone and reaffirmed its solidarity with Cyprus.

The European Council welcomed the outcome of the UN Climate Action Summit 2019 on ambition, action and solidarity. EU leaders felt that the existential threat posed by climate change requires enhanced ambition and increased climate action by the EU and at global level. The EU will continue to lead the way in a socially fair and just green transition in the implementation of the Paris Agreement. The European Council recalls will finalise its guidance on the EUʼs long-term strategy on climate change at its December meeting with a view to the adoption and submission of the strategy to the UNFCCC in early 2020.

The European Council also decided to return to the issue of enlargement at a later date.

During the two-day European Council, Prime Minister Rinne had bilateral meetings with President of France Emmanuel Macron, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.

Inquiries: Jari Luoto, State Under-Secretary for European Affairs, tel. +358 50 468 5949, Pilvi-Elina Kupias, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 295 160 995, Dimitri Qvintus, Special Adviser (Media Relations), tel. +358 50 574 0956, and Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU and International Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 0733, Prime Minister’s Office

One sentence in the press release was rewritten on 28 October as follows:
The European Council also decided to return to the issue of enlargement at its December meeting at a later date.

 
Back to top