EU foreign affairs ministers discuss the global multilateral system

Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will attend EU foreign ministers’ informal video conference on Thursday 19 November 2020. The items on the agenda will include multilateral cooperation and an exchange of views with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Al-Malki.

The foreign ministers will have a discussion about multilateralism and debate how the EU could reinvigorate the rules-based international system. Finland considers it important that the EU play an active role in the matter. Such global challenges as arms control, climate change and pandemics call for global solutions and multilateral cooperation. Finland supports the reform of the UN and underlines the EU’s active role and unity.

At the meeting with Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs Riad Al-Malki, the foreign ministers will discuss Palestinian general elections and opportunities to revitalise the peace process between Palestine and Israel. Finland is of the opinion that the EU should stress the importance of the elections to the Palestinian Authority. Building settlements and the illegal actions linked to them are contrary to international law. In efforts to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict, it is essential that the negotiations leading to a two-state solution, which would be conducted in compliance with international law and prior agreements, be resumed. 

The ministers will also briefly deal with the US elections, but a more comprehensive discussion on transatlantic relations will be held in December. Additionally, Finland will report on the 2020 Afghanistan Conference, which it co-hosts with the Government of Afghanistan and the United Nations in Geneva on 23-24 November.

Inquiries:

Otto Turtonen, Special Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 50 514 5811
Matti Nissinen, European Correspondent, tel.  +358 295 351 780

The Foreign Ministry’s email addresses are of the format [email protected].