Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in The Netherlands

Finland is currently the Chairman of the Council of the European Union but what does it mean to the Embassy of Finland in the Hague as all the decisions are made in Brussels? This is a question that we have already heard a few times and here is the answer!

Traditionally the Embassy of the country of the Presidency in the Netherlands organizes meetings and events for the Ambassadors of other EU-countries, where the Presidency invites high level guest speakers as Dutch ministers, state secretaries or directors of international organizations. One of the crucial tasks of the Presidency is to coordinate the views of the EU countries into statements or lines to take before the meetings of the OPCW (Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons), the ICC (International Criminal Court) and possibly some other organizations, and to deliver the statement at the meeting on behalf of the EU. Coordination of the statements for the OPCW meetings is done together with the local representative of EU’s External Action Service, and the statement is a result of intensive writing, e-mailing and meetings with colleagues of the other EU-embassies.

 

During Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union the Embassy is planning to organize meetings eg with Minister of Foreign Affairs Stef Blok and Prime Minister Mark Rutte. We will organize a seminar that focuses on the rights of the LGTBI-people. We will discuss circular economy, climate, security policy related issues and international criminal justice with high level experts. As a rule, we won’t give any presents during our Presidency but instead Finnish government will offset air travel emissions with the amount of 500 000 euros.

 

Read more about Finland’s priorities for the Presidency: https://eu2019.fi/en/frontpage(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)