European Council in Brussels on 21 March 2003

Government Information Unit Ministry for Foreign Affairs

On 13 March 2003 the Government made a decision on Finland's representation at the Brussels European Council to be held on 21 March 2003. Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen, accompanied by Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, will attend the European Council meeting. Finance Minister Sauli Niinistö will attend when the meeting is dealing with matters concerning Economic and Monetary Union. The President of the Republic, Tarja Halonen, will attend the European Council when the meeting is dealing with matters within her purview. The main theme of the meeting is the follow-up to the Lisbon European Council held in spring 2000.

The Brussels European Council is the third European Council spring meeting to examine progress achieved in the implementation of the Lisbon strategy and consider ways of improving the implementation. The Lisbon strategy aims at turning the European Union into the most competitive economy in the world in ten years.

The European Commission has prepared the Brussels meeting a synthesis report, published in January 2003, on the implementation of the strategy. In addition, preparations for the meeting have been made in various Council formations. The General Affairs Council carries the overall responsibility for the preparation of the European Council meeting and the conclusions to be adopted at the end of the meeting. The objective is to achieve concrete results that advance economic growth, employment and productivity while respecting the demands of sustainable development.

Finland places particular emphasis on the implementation of the agreed objectives and full use of the existing broad economic guidelines, employment guidelines and internal market strategy. Finland also considers it important to improve regulation and the use of impact assessments, to strengthen cooperation in the biotechnology sector and finalise the relating legislative package and to find ways to answer the topical challenges experienced in the telecommunications field.

The European Council will also hear a progress report on work in the European Convention from its President, Mr Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, with particular emphasis on issues relating to the EU institutions.

External relations are not on the meeting agenda but the topical situation in Iraq is likely to be discussed.

The Greek Presidency will not make a preparatory tour of the EU capitals before the meeting.

Further information: Antti Peltomäki, State Under-Secretary, Government Secretariat for EU Affairs, tel. +358 9 1602 2182