Finnish PM Katainen: Europe must agree on concrete steps to boost growth and jobs

Government Communications Department
Press Release
6.6.2014 14.20

Finland's Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen urges his fellow EU leaders to make economic growth and new jobs Europe's top priority and agree on concrete measures to pursue it. Member States are in the process of setting EU's strategic guidelines for the next years, to be concluded by the June European Council.

- There is broad consensus to focus on economic growth and new jobs. The June European Council should make that EU's clear top priority. But we must go one step further and agree on concrete measures to accelerate growth, Katainen said on Friday after briefing the Finnish Parliament on the outcome of the May EU Summit.

- New jobs cannot be created without economic growth, and growth cannot be generated unless Europe is fit for global competition. We must forcefully drive every effort to make Europe's economies more dynamic, innovative and borderless, Katainen said.

- We need a well-functioning internal market, also for energy, clean technologies and the digital economy. We need comprehensive trade and investment agreements with Europe's global partners. We should make more effective European investments in innovation. And we must make sure EU regulation boosts businesses and economic activity, and don't hold them back by unnecessary administrative burden, Katainen said.

- Work to improve the Economic and Monetary Union should continue with emphasis on completing what is already in the works and what best promotes necessary structural reforms in Member States. And we need a much more determined effort to improve Europe's energy independence, Katainen said.

Inquiries: Pasi Rajala, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister (EU Affairs), tel. +358 295 160 311