Sipilä, Bettel discuss MFF, EU’s climate objectives

Prime Minister Juha Sipilä and his Luxembourg counterpart Xavier Bettel on Tuesday shared views on the process to finalise the Multiannual Financial Framework and the Union’s climate objectives.

The Prime Ministers held bilateral talks at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence Kesäranta in Helsinki where they discussed Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU and topical EU affairs, such as preparations for Brexit and finalising the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), i.e. the EU’s long-term budget, said an official press release.

“Sustainable growth, developing the EU’s common security and defence cooperation, and measures to mitigate climate change must be in a key position on the EU agenda for the coming years. It is also important that we continue the dialogue to make sure that rule of law prevails in all Member States”, Sipilä said.

“As the next Presidency of the Council of the EU Finland is committed to making serious efforts to complete the MFF. Surely we will find a financing solutions that is fair and equal, taking account of both the new and more traditional priorities and the reduced total level of the MFF resulting from Brexit”, the Prime Minister said.

Sipilä thanked Bettel for Luxembourg’s contribution to the joint letter drafted on Finland’s initiative and signed by 17 EU countries, stressing the importance of further developing the EU’s Single Market. The letter was sent to the President of the European Council Donald Tusk at the end of February.

The meeting was part of a series of meetings by Sipilä leading up to July Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The aim for Prime Minister Sipilä is to meet leaders of all EU countries before Finland’s Presidency, which will start in July.