Meeting of Ministers for European Affairs to prepare for December European Council

The EU General Affairs Council will meet in Brussels on 23 November. Minister for European Affairs Tytti Tuppurainen will represent Finland at the meeting.

At the meeting, the ministers will discuss the preparations for the European Council on 16–17 December, which will focus on the COVID-19 pandemic, crisis management and resilience, energy prices, security and defence, and external relations. In addition, the ministers will adopt Council conclusions on strengthening the EU’s resilience and crisis preparedness. 

Leading up to the meeting, Tuppurainen stressed the importance of safeguarding the EU’s decision-making capability in all circumstances.

“Strengthening the EU’s preparedness for crises requires long-term work and regular monitoring, which the General Affairs Council is expected to undertake. Our preparedness must cover all relevant policy sectors and a wide variety of crisis scenarios,” Minister Tuppurainen said.

“We must safeguard the functioning of the single market in times of crisis, and our operating practices at the internal and external borders must be clear before the crisis begins. We must work to strengthen the EU’s security of supply in a way that takes into account open world trade. It goes without saying that the rule of law and fundamental and human rights must also be respected in times of crisis,” Minister Tuppurainen said. 

During their meeting, the ministers will also discuss the enlargement of the EU and continue the country-specific discussions related to the Council’s rule of law dialogue. The agenda also includes a discussion on the status of relations between the EU and the UK. In addition, the Commission will present its work programme for 2022. 

Inquiries: Heli Siivola, Senior Specialist for EU Affairs, tel. +358 50 576 7745, and Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 07 33, Prime Minister’s Office