Current affairs

On Wednesday 16 July, the European Council convened in Brussels to discuss the situation in Ukraine and in the Middle East. The European Council stresses its support for a peaceful settlement of the crisis in Ukraine and condemns the illegal activities by armed militants in Eastern Ukraine.

On Thursday 10 July, the Finnish Government nominated Jyrki Katainen as its candidate for the next European Commission.

Representatives from environmental organizations, policy and businesses gathered at Finland’s Permanent Representation to the European Union on 3 July 2014 to attend the event Water Stewardship: Local Actions Driving Global Impacts. Water stewardship is increasingly championed by companies seeking an in depth understanding of water use throughout their value chain. The event showcased real world stories from companies on their journey towards water stewardship.

On Friday 27 June, the European Council outlined its priorities for the forthcoming years in Brussels. In Finland's view, competitiveness which bolsters growth and jobs must be the EU's top priority. Therefore, it will be necessary to open up markets more effectively and more widely, and to ensure the achievement of the four basic freedoms and active trade policies.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has elaborated its own Roadmap to Bioeconomy 2020 in line with the Finnish Bioeconomy Strategy published as a Government Resolution in May 2014. The Roadmap recognizes the potential of bioeconomy as the engine of sustainable growth. Economic growth, new business activities and more jobs can be achieved by increasing the sustainable use of natural resources.

“European economy has gone through a three-phased crisis: first a banking crisis, then a sovereign debt crisis, now a growth crisis. The situation is still very fragile

On Tuesday 24 June, the President of the Republic appointed Finland’s 73rd Government. At the same time, the President of the Republic released the ministers of Jyrki Katainen’s Government from their duties. The Government headed by Prime Minister Alexander Stubb consists of 17 ministers.

The Government decided on 18 June to nominate Jyrki Katainen as Finland's candidate for the period of 1 July-31 October 2014 in the European Commission.

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.

On 24-25 March 2014, the Government agreed on the central government spending limits and the general government fiscal plan for 2015-2018. The objective of the fiscal and economic policy of Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen's Government is to strengthen the financial foundation of the welfare society and conditions for growth to ensure that public finances are on a sustainable basis.