Current affairs

Topics on the agenda for the meeting include the EU’s COVID-19 response measures, the digital transformation, energy prices, migration, trade policy and a variety of external relations issues, such as the Eastern Partnership summit, the ASEM summit and the COP26 Climate Change Conference in Glasgow.

Belarus, Russia, COVID-19 ja climate policies were the main topics of discussion during the Special European Council meeting in Brussels. Finland was represented by Prime Minister Sanna Marin.

The European Commission issued a comprehensive communication on the reform of migration and asylum policy on 23 September. The communication was accompanied by five legislative proposals. The Government expressed its position on the Commission's proposals in its communications submitted to Parliament on 12 November.

Finland intends to propose the Saimaa ringed seal habitats in the Lake Saimaa archipelago as a new natural site to be inscribed on the UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites. Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Krista Mikkonen told about the process to update the tentative list at the World Heritage Forum on 11 November.

The carbon tariffs planned by the EU may curb carbon leakage, but on closer inspection, they can prove problematic in many ways. According to a study published on 29 October, the EU’s carbon tariff project will face challenges in the coming years.

Finland is among the 11 EU Member States that support the new climate target proposed by the European Commission, which aims to reduce emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030. The countries have issued a joint statement on the matter. Combating climate change is one of the topics on the agenda at the European Council meeting taking place on 15–16 October in Brussels.

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.