Current affairs

On 16 March 2020, the Government decided on additional measures to address the coronavirus outbreak in Finland. The aim of the measures is to protect the population and to safeguard the functioning of society and the economy. The measures will be in force until 13 April 2020. The Government has announced, in cooperation with the President of the Republic, that there is a state of emergency in the country as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

On the international women’s day we all have good reasons to celebrate the global progress on gender equality. Unfortunately, and to the surprise of many, this hard-earned progress is being openly challenged. We, the Nordic Prime Ministers wish to express our grave concern towards the current pushback against the rights of women and girls.

Key messages for preparation of the March European Council

The special meeting of the European Council that began on Thursday in Brussels did not reach an agreement on the forthcoming multiannual financial framework, that is, the long-term EU budget for 2021–2027. The negotiations will resume later.

On Thursday 6 February, Prime Minister Sanna Marin will meet President of the European Council Charles Michel, Executive Vice-President of the Commission Frans Timmermans and Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen in Brussels.

Minister of European Affairs and Ownership Steering Tytti Tuppurainen will attend the General Affairs Council on Tuesday 28 January in Brussels. At the meeting, the ministers will hear a presentation on the priorities of Croatia’s Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2020. The ministers will also hold a preliminary discussion on the Conference on the Future of Europe.

The UK will withdraw from the EU when the EU–UK withdrawal agreement enters into force on 1 February 2020. The withdrawal agreement dismantles all cooperation based on the UK’s EU membership in an orderly manner and provides for a transition period until the end of 2020, during which the relationship between the EU and the UK will continue under the current EU rules.

Prime Minister Sanna Marin emphasised at the World Economic Forum in Davos that the economic exploitation of the Arctic region for the production of fossil energy is short-sighted. According to the Prime Minister, the focus must instead be on combating climate change.

Finland’s Presidency of the Council accompanied the European Union on the path towards a new decade and a socially fair and environmentally sustainable future.

On Thursday 13 June, the Government nominated Member of Parliament, Master of Educational Science Jutta Urpilainen as Finland’s candidate for the next European Commission, to be appointed for the term 2019–2024.