Current issues
The EU will continue negotiations with Russia
The European Union will continue its negotiations on cooperation with Russia. The matter was decided at the General Affairs and External Relations Council of the EU in Brussels on Monday, 10 November. According to Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, the decision has great importance for the entire foreign policy of the European Union. Owing to the Georgian crisis, the EU Heads of State postponed the launching of partnership negotiations in early September.
20/20 – the series of ministers’ EU discussion forums reaches half way
The series of public discussions on the European Union: ‘20/20 - Ministers visiting Finnish regions’ will continue until December. Each of the 20 ministers will attend one of the discussion forums to be organised in the 20 Finnish regions. In the 11 forums already held, citizens have shown special interest in Finland’s position in the EU, relations between the EU and Russia, the Lisbon Treaty and Turkey’s EU candidacy.
Cabinet Committee on European Union Affairs
The Cabinet Committee on European Union Affairs usually meets on Friday mornings. After the Cabinet Committee meeting, the Government Communications Unit holds a weekly briefing for representatives of media on the issues discussed by the Cabinet Committee. The briefing material is made available on our website on Friday afternoon.
Recent material (in Finnish)
Programme of Prime Minister Vanhanen's second Cabinet, EU policy
"Finland is a proactive Member State of the European Union, functioning at the core of the Union’s reform process. A coherent, effective and open Union strengthens security, the economy, employment and wellbeing in Finland. The European Union is historically a community for the promotion of peace, stability and democracy."
