Finnish ministers to boycott EU meetings hosted by Hungary

The Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs on Thursday decided that Finland would refrain from participating in the meetings at the political level until further notice, said a government press release.

Finland will not send ministers or political state secretaries to the meetings, although it will be represented at the official level.

The decision was taken in response to the actions taken by Hungary during its Presidency.

Finland’s most important priority is supporting Ukraine, and the decision made on Thursday was a continuation of the one made regarding the July meetings.

Finland took the decision together with the Nordic and Baltic countries.

The committee discussed Finland’s participation in informal ministerial meetings during the Hungarian EU Council Presidency, efforts to advance Finland’s EU policy priorities and two upcoming informal council meetings.

The two informal meetings will be held exceptionally in Brussels next week: the informal meeting of foreign ministers on August 29 and the informal meeting of defence ministers on August 30.

Both will focus on the EU’s support to Ukraine. Finland is in favour of efforts to increase military support to Ukraine, for example through the Peace Facility, with additional proceeds from frozen Russian assets.

The foreign ministers will also discuss the situation in the Middle East, while the defence ministers will discuss the EU’s military crisis management and defence preparedness.