PM stresses to work together on climate issue with EU

Prime Minister Antti Rinne emphasized to work on climate issue together with the European Union.

“We are particularly keen to work with the Commission on climate issues. We consider it vital for the European Union to speak with one voice in international climate negotiations and to reach unanimity on the goal of making the EU climate neutral by 2050”, Rinne said at a meeting with the European Commission President Jean- Claude Junker in Helsinki.

Rinne held one to one meeting with Junker while the commissioners of the European Commission headed by Juncker met with the Finnish government led by Rinne in Helsinki on Thursday and Friday.

At their one-on-one meeting, Rinne and Juncker discussed the key priorities of Finland’s Presidency, including climate action, the multiannual financial framework, the EU-Africa partnership, the rule of law, growth and security, said a government press release.

“I personally thanked President Juncker and the whole Commission for their efforts to develop an Arctic strategy for the EU in response to the challenges and opportunities related to the area. Finland’s Presidency wishes to strengthen the EU’s Arctic policy and to make mitigation of climate change its top priority”, Rinne said.

The commissioners of the EU commission and the government met with the view to pave the way for the Finnish Government and the Commission to work together in promoting the priorities of Finland’s Presidency and the new strategic agenda of the European Union.

The strategic agenda, which sets out the EU’s priorities for the next five years, was adopted by the European Council in June. Finland will be the first presidency to incorporate the five-year agenda into the work of the Council of the EU.

“It is particularly important for the Presidency and the Commission to pull together at a time when we are defending the cornerstones of European integration: peace, security, stability, democracy and prosperity,” said the Prime Minister.