Current issues
EU Heads of State or Government agreed on President of the Commission, financial supervision and guarantees for Ireland
At its meeting in Brussels on 18 and 19 June, the European Council unanimously elected José Manual Barroso as the candidate for the post of President of the European Commission. The final decision concerning the President lies with the European Parliament which can either approve of reject the candidate. The EU Heads of State or Government decided on the formulations of the guarantees for Ireland on the Lisbon Treaty and on new structures and practises for the EU's financial supervision.
New Russian draft decree would hinder trade between all EU member states and Russia
On Thursday 11 June in Luxembourg, Finnish Minister of Transport Anu Vehviläinen informed EU transport ministers about the effects that the decree would have on freight traffic from the EU to Russia. The Federal Customs Service of Russia is preparing a draft decree for the Russian government that will shift the transport of containers 20 feet or larger arriving in Rus-sia to sea or rail modes.
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."
