European Council to focus on the world economic situation

Government Communications Unit
Press Release 306/2008

9 October 2008

On Thursday, 9 October 2008, the Government announced Finland's representation at the Brussels European Council that will take place on 15 and 16 October 2008. Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, assisted by Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb and Minister of Migration and European Affairs Astrid Thors, will represent Finland at the European Council. Minister of Finance Jyrki Katainen will attend when the meeting is dealing with matters concerning the Economic and Monetary Union.

The European Council is to focus on the current world economic situation and the financial crisis. The meeting will also discuss the effects of the oil price rise on the basis of the report prepared by the French Presidency.

Another central theme will be the EU climate and energy package. Information on the questions the Presidency wishes to focus on will be available later. The aim is to reach agreement on the package before the end of the year. Energy security will be addressed, too.

At the meeting, the Heads of State or Government are to consider the Irish analysis as well as the overview of the next steps of the Lisbon Treaty. The June European Council agreed to return to this matter at the October meeting.

The European Council is expected to adopt the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum. Consensus on the Pact was reached by the Justice and Home Affairs Council in September.

External relations themes will mainly be discussed at the Foreign Ministers' dinner. The situation in the Middle East will be addressed as well as the follow-up to the extraordinary meeting of the European Council held on 1 September, which focused on the situation in Georgia and the EU-Russia relations.

Further information: Jukka Salovaara, State Under-Secretary for EU Affairs, tel. +358 9 1602 2182 and Nina Hyvärinen, Counsellor, EU Affairs, tel. +358 9 1602 4089, Government Secretariat for EU Affairs