Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has written a letter reminding President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen of Finland’s main positions on the Commission’s proposal for the next multiannual financial framework (MFF), said a government press release on Monday.
The Commission will present its key proposals for the forthcoming MFF package on Wednesday.
The multiannual financial framework will determine how much EU funding will be available in 2028–2034 and how the funds will be allocated.
“Finland has been working systematically to influence the Commission’s forthcoming proposal since spring 2024. I have highlighted Finland’s priorities at a number of meetings of heads of state and government, especially this past spring,” said Orpo.
In his letter, Prime Minister Orpo reminded the Commission President of Finland’s views at this most critical time, when the Commission is holding internal negotiations on the final details of the proposal.
“Finland’s priorities for exerting influence on EU policy include defence, support for Ukraine, financing the Common Agricultural Policy and strengthening competitiveness. In addition, Finland wants to see special funding allocated to the EU’s eastern border regions, taking into account Finland’s exceptional status as a country that shares a border with Russia,” he said.
“Finland takes a critical stance on the creation of new EU-level financial instruments, like the recovery instrument, that are financed by EU borrowing. We already decided on this in the Government Programme,” Orpo added.
The Commission’s proposal will be followed by a long negotiation process. Negotiations at the ministerial level will take place in the General Affairs Council, while the EU heads of state and government will agree on the package at a European Council meeting, although probably not until the first half of 2027.
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- Priorities for MFF
- EC President
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
