Prime Minister Rinne to attend EU summits in Brussels

Prime Minister Antti Rinne will participate in the European Council on 17 and 18 October, the European Council meeting without the UK (Article 50) and the Tripartite Social Summit on 16 October, all taking place in Brussels.

According to the Finnish Government, at the October European Council, Prime Minister Rinne will launch a debate on the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021–2027. As the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Finland is ready to finalise, on the basis of the discussions at this summit, a proposal that will guide future decision-making.

Prime Minister Rinne will also tell his European colleagues how Finland’s Presidency has launched the implementation of the EU Strategic Agenda for 2019–2024 adopted by EU leaders at the June European Council. The current situation in Turkey and Syria will also be on the agenda of this summit.

Brexit

The European Council (Art 50) will meet in EU27 format (without the UK) to discuss the state of play regarding Brexit. While the EU is still willing to look for solutions, a UK withdrawal without an agreement at the end of October remains an option.

Prime Minister Rinne will also attend the Tripartite Social Summit, which is a forum for dialogue between the EU institutions at president level and the European social partners at top management level. Its carries the theme ‘a competitive, fair and sustainable Europe’. Prime Minister Rinne will co-chair the European Summit with President of the European Council Donald Tusk and President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker.

Prime Minister Rinne’s delegation to the European Council will include Minister for European Affairs Tytti Tuppurainen, who is leading the negotiations on the multiannual financial framework. Minister of Employment Timo Harakka, in turn, will participate in the Tripartite Social Summit.