Minister Soini to the General Affairs Council 

Government Communications Department
Press release 607/2015
16.11.2015

Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini will attend the meeting of the EU General Affairs Council in Brussels on Tuesday 17 September. The agenda highlights will include, among other things, preparation for the December European Council and the Commission's work programme. In addition, the Ministers will exchange views on how to promote and safeguard the rule of law.    

The General Affairs Council will take note of the annotated draft agenda of the December European Council. The December Council meeting will focus on taking stock of its decisions taken in response to the migration crisis, the follow-up to the five Presidents' report on completing the Economic and Monetary Union, addressing the completion of the European single market, and the UK relations with the EU.

The Council will also hold a dialogue on the rule of law. Finland has actively contributed to the strengthening of the rule of law in the Union and deems it very important that the Council and the Member States commit to a regular review of the implementation of the rule of law in the Union. 

In addition, the Council will be presented the Commission work programme for 2016, and a presentation of the annual growth report and the 2016 European Semester roadmap. The General Affairs Council will hear about progress in the interinstitutional agreement on better regulation. 

The second day of the meeting will be dedicated to issues related to EU cohesion policy. 

Inquiries: Riikka Taivassalo, Special Adviser (Press Relations), tel. +358 46 923 4581 and Henrik Ruso, Specialist for EU Affairs, tel. +358 295 160 349, Prime Minister’s Office