The Cabinet Committee on EU Affairs discussed the forthcoming Finnish EU Presidency

Government Information Unit

Press release 292/2004
17 September 2004




On Friday, 17 September, the Cabinet Committee on EU Affairs discussed the preparation of the forthcoming Finnish EU Presidency. The six-month Presidency will begin on 1 July 2006. The Cabinet Committee discussed the number of meetings to be held in Finland, staff expenses, present allocations and possible items of the forthcoming agenda.

In line with the conclusions of the Helsinki European Council in 1999, Finland will aim at a very restricted number of informal ministerial and civil servant meetings. Finland will host seven informal ministerial meetings: namely the meetings of Ministers responsible for foreign affairs, agriculture, finance, justice and home affairs, competitiveness, the environment as well as employment, social and health issues. Moreover, five ministerial dinners will be organised in connection with Council meetings in Brussels. Finland will also host more than 20 civil servant meetings and conferences.

As regards third-country meetings, Finland will organise the ASEM Summit, the meeting of the ASEM Ministers of Economy plus EU-India and EU-Canada summits. The meeting of the EU and US foreign ministers will also take place in Finland. The EU summits with China, South Korea, Russia and Ukraine will take place either in Finland or Brussels.

Some 25 million euro will be allocated to staff costs for the period of 2005-2007. Approximately 50% of the aforementioned sum will be directed to expenses brought about by the establishment of an EU attaché programme, an EU Presidency Secretariat, a web editorial desk and the expenses of Finland's permanent representation to the EU. The remaining 50% will cover expected increases in the staff of ministries, overtime payment and reimbursement of travel expenses.

In addition, the EU Presidency is expected to generate further expenditure of some 35 million euro. This sum will consist, for the main part, of meeting expenses and, e.g., expenses brought about by Presidency training, the construction of the Presidency web site and the Prime Minister's official journeys.

The Council's three-year strategic programme, which also covers the Finnish EU Presidency, will provide guidelines for the drafting of the Presidency agenda. The Council will also draft annual working programmes. Finland will prepare its working programme in collaboration with Austria, the country holding the EU Presidency during the first half of 2006. Drafting of the programme will begin in spring 2005.


Further information: Antti Peltomäki, State Secretary for EU Affairs, tel. +358 9 1602 2180 and Kaisa Männistö, Senior Officer, tel. +358 9 1602 2192, Government Secretariat for EU Affairs