Ministry of Transport and Communications publishes its priorities for next European parliamentary term

The Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications has outlined its priorities for influencing the five-year programme of the next European Commission. They are based on the Finnish Government’s common priorities, outlined in the Europe communication E 58/2023, and elaborate the common priorities on matters pertaining to the branch of government of the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications is active, proactive and solution-oriented in exerting influence in the EU. The Ministry has published non-papers on three key themes, as part of its efforts to exert advance influence on the five-year programme of the next European Commission. The themes are:

1.    a future-proof European transport system
2.    from a regulatory powerhouse to a superpower of digital growth
3.    strengthening the EU’s leadership in global digital affairs.

Cross-cutting themes included in all the Ministry’s priorities are technology neutrality, economic sustainability, safety and security, security of supply, and digitalisation promotion.

“Finland actively exerts advance influence in the EU. We are particularly active in the areas of EU policy where Finland is at the forefront, and our aim is to improve Finland’s international competitiveness through the EU,” says Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne.

A future-proof European transport system, as envisioned by Finland, will be built using the twin clean and digital transitions. The Commission should promote the digital transition at all levels of the transport system, from infrastructure and data to services.

Our second priority is to make the EU a more competitive and stronger market. The EU is a global leader in digital regulation. It has used digital regulation to speed up the digital transformation and to ensure respect for citizens’ rights and fair rules in the market. Finland wants the next Commission to especially strive to transform the EU from a regulatory powerhouse to a superpower of digital growth. The EU must attract investments and experts and lay the groundwork for utilising data and artificial intelligence. It should also invest heavily on cyber security.

“Economic growth and a well-functioning society are at the core of the digitalisation objectives. We must invest in critical communications infrastructure as it is crucial for the strategic competitiveness of Finland and the EU,” Minister Ranne says.

Our third priority, which we share with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, is to strengthen the EU’s leadership in global digital and technological affairs. The next Commission and the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy should publish a joint communication on digital diplomacy and partnerships. The communication should focus on promoting norms, standards and governance of digital technologies in line with European values and interests and on fostering secure digital infrastructure globally together with partner countries. 

Inquiries:

Silja Pasanen, Director of International Affairs Unit, tel. +358 295 342 059, [email protected] 
 

Correction 14.3.2024 at 12.48. Corrected the right term for the clean transition.