European Union affairs

Council of the European Union
Preparation of matters by Coreper or Council working parties
Preparation of EU matters in Finland

1. Council of the European Union

In Council meetings, ministers from EU Member States discuss policy decisions and legislative proposals. The Council meets in 10 different configurations, depending on the subject under discussion. The Council adopts new EU legislation together with the European Parliament.

The presidency of the Council rotates among the Member States every six months, following a pre-established order.

Finland is represented by the Minister of Transport and Communications in the meetings of the Transport and Telecommunications Council. These ministerial meetings are held every six months, either in Brussels or Luxembourg.

In addition to the formal Council sessions, ministers also attend informal meetings hosted by the country holding the rotating presidency.

2. Preparation of matters by Coreper or Council working parties

EU transport and communications matters are prepared in working parties made up of public officials from Member States. Finland is represented in these groups by specialists based at Finland's Permanent Representation to the EU. Specialists from the Ministry of Transport and Communications or its branch of government also regularly take part.

Once the working groups have completed their discussions, the matters move on to Coreper I, the Committee of Permanent Representatives in its first configuration. Finland is represented in Coreper I by the Deputy Permanent Representative. After Coreper, the matters are forwarded to the Council of Ministers for decision-making.

3. Preparation of EU matters in Finland

The Ministry is responsible for monitoring and preparing EU transport and communications matters at the national level.

The minister leads the work on EU matters. Responsibility for each matter is assigned to a public official who guides and monitors its development throughout the process. The Ministry's International Affairs Unit ensures that EU-related work is carried out effectively and to a high standard.

Stakeholders are asked for their views when Finland is shaping its positions on the Commission’s proposals.

The Prime Minister's Office is responsible for Finland's general EU policy and for coordinating the preparation and consideration of EU-related matters in the ministries. The Government’s Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs makes the key policy decisions on EU affairs under the Prime Minister’s leadership.

Parliament plays an active role in preparing EU transport and communications matters. The Government submits communications to Parliament on the Commission's legislative proposals, and Parliament’s Grand Committee reviews the agendas of Council meetings.

Coordination of EU affairs

Finland’s system for coordinating EU affairs aims to ensure that Finland can present a coordinated position in line with Finland’s general EU policy on any issue under consideration in the European Union at any stage of the process. The Government Secretariat for EU Affairs is responsible for ensuring the coordination of EU affairs and the smooth functioning of the coordination system.

The system for coordinating EU affairs consists of:

competent ministries
sub-committees on EU affairs
Committee for EU Affairs
Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs.

Sub-committees on EU affairs

The Committee for EU Affairs has appointed 36 sector-specific sub-committees, which provide the foundation for public officials to prepare EU matters. The chairperson and secretary of each EU affairs sub-committee usually represent the competent ministry.

The sub-committees can convene in a restricted or extended composition. The restricted composition includes public officials from the competent ministries, and representatives of other ministries and government agencies. The extended composition also includes representatives of various interest groups and stakeholders. In addition, each sub-committee has representatives from the Government EU Affairs Department at the Prime Minister’s Office and the Government of Åland. The sub-committees meet as necessary.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications is responsible for two sub-committees.

The communications sub-committee (EU-19) has representatives from Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education and Culture, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Prime Minister’s Office, Government of Åland, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority, Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom, Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, Data and Marketing Association of Finland, Confederation of Finnish Industries, Finnish Federation for Communications and Teleinformatics FiCom, Finance Finland, Finnet Association, Finnish Commerce Federation, Finland Chamber of Commerce, Consumers’ Union of Finland, Association of Finnish Cities and Municipalities, Finnish Information Security Cluster, Threshold Association, Finnish Media Federation, Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired, Service Sector Employers Palta, RadioMedia, Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, Finnish Confederation of Professionals STTK, Finnish Centre for Open Systems and Solutions, Federation of Finnish Enterprises, and Technology Industries of Finland.

The transport sub-committee (EU-22) has representatives from Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of the Environment, Government of Åland, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom, Defence Command, Finnish Border Guard, Customs, Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, Finnish Transport Workers’ Union AKT, Finnish Central Organisation for Motor Trades and Repairs AKL, Employers’ Federation of Road Transport (ALT), Association of Automobile Industry in Finland, Bioenergy Association of Finland, Confederation of Finnish Industries, FinMobility, Confederation of Finnish Construction Industries, Contractors Association Infra/Confederation of Finnish Construction Industries, Finnish Association of People with Physical Disabilities, Intelligent Transportation Society of Finland, Finland Chamber of Commerce, Threshold Association, Liikennepalvelukauppiaat ry, Finnish Road Safety Council, Finnish Bus and Coach Association (LAL), Association of Logistics Enterprises, Finnish Marine Industries, Finnish Forest Industries, Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired, Service Sector Employers Palta, Rail Professionals JHL, Finnish Property Owners Rakli, Finnish Port Operators Association, Finnish Confederation of Professionals STTK, Finnish Biocycle and Biogas Association, Finnish Freight Forwarding and Logistics Association, Finnish Aeronautical Association, Finnish Transport and Logistics (SKAL), Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, Finnish Pilots’ Association, Finnish Seafarers’ Union, Finnish Public Transport Association, Finnish Ports Association, Finnish Road Association, Finnish Shipowners’ Association, Federation of Finnish Enterprises, Finnish Taxi Owners’ Federation, Technology Industries of Finland, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, General Industry Federation, and Association of Private Inspection Stations in Finland.

Contact information

Communications sub-committee (EU-19): Chaired by Silja Pasanen, Director of International Affairs Unit; Secretary: Emma-Leena Kemppainen, Senior Specialist.

Transport sub-committee (EU-22): Chaired by Silja Pasanen, Director of International Affairs Unit; Secretary: Noora Saarinen-Uutela, Senior Specialist.

Email addresses are in the format [email protected].