Finland, Sweden discuss post-coronavirus EU trade policy

Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Tytti Tuppurainen on Friday discussed with her Swedish counterpart Hans Dahlgren about the trade policy and role of the European Union in the post-coronavirus situation.

The ministers of the two neighbouring countries participated in a series of discussions in a video seminar on ‘Can the EU emerge stronger from the COVID-19 crisis?’ organised by the Hanaholmen Cultural Centre on the management of the coronavirus crisis in Finland and Sweden, said a government press release.

In connection with the event, the ministers published a joint statement on the role of the single market in building the common wellbeing of the EU.

“A well-functioning single market is a guarantee of the EU’s prosperity, and its value for citizens and businesses has been proven during the recent crisis months. Securing and strengthening the single market should be at the heart of the EU’s recovery and long-term growth,” the ministers said in the statement.

They also emphasised the importance of EU’s trade policy in recovering from the COVID-19 crisis and warned against protectionism.

“A need to evaluate the EU’s trade policy after COVID-19 is something that should be looked at with patience and care, without jumping to conclusions. We must be pragmatic and not forget the vast benefits that have been brought by decades of free trade. The EU should always be a champion of free trade, not an instigator of trade wars,” the ministers added.