Sipilä to attend European Council meeting

Prime Minister Juha Sipilä will attend the European Council meeting in Brussels on 19 and 20 October and the working breakfast and European Council (Article 50) meeting to be held in conjunction with this.

The themes of the first working session include migration, digital Europe and defence issues, said an official press release. Over their working dinner, the EU leaders will discuss foreign policy issues.

The working breakfast will focus on the future of Europe. On Friday, the leaders of the EU-27 will meet to discuss the Brexit process.

EU leaders will look at a number of the most pressing issues, including migration, defence, foreign affairs and digitalization, said an official press release from the European Council.

On migration, the European Council will take stock of the measures taken to control illegal migration flows on all routes.

Leaders are expected to decide on any additional measures needed to support frontline member states, and to strengthen cooperation with UNHCR and IOM as well as with countries of origin and transit.

In addition, the European Council will call for progress on the reform of the common European asylum system.