Finland, which took over the Presidency of the Council of the EU on 1 July, wants to make the Arctic a European priority for the next 6 months (EUROPE 12290/2).
“The importance of the Arctic region has increased due to climate change, increasing levels of economic activity, the opening of new transport links and the growing geopolitical importance of the region”, stresses the Presidency's programme, which also cites the region's growing importance for the EU's prosperity and security.
For Finland, climate change mitigation must be at the heart of the EU's Arctic policy. According to Finland, “the EU can make a valuable contribution to the Arctic region in the fields of research and innovation, environmental and climate action, including the fight against black carbon emissions, and sustainable economic activity in infrastructure, transport and energy”.
Another region highlighted by Helsinki is Africa, with “the search for a more equitable, mutually beneficial and global EU-Africa partnership”. According to the Presidency, a common objective should be an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable transformation to manage the external dimensions of climate change, population growth and migration. Africa must be the main recipient of EU development funding, Finland added. Finland makes the promotion of trade and investment, support for peace and security, sustainable development and climate action on the African continent a priority.
The Presidency also considers it necessary to make constant efforts to encourage partnership with the United States, “a cornerstone of security and prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic”. Over the next 6 months, the EU will continue its strategic and comprehensive reflection on its approach towards China and maintain its coherent and united policy towards Russia, the programme adds, adding that the Northern Dimension policy provides useful instruments for the selective policy towards Moscow.
Enlargement is a strategic investment for the EU
Considering that enlargement policy was a strategic investment for peace, stability and development in Europe, Finland recalls that commitment to fundamental European values is essential for all those who want to become members of the EU. “Finland will continue its work on a credible opportunity for enlargement for the Western Balkans, a region of high strategic value for the EU”, while “as a candidate country, Turkey remains a key partner of the EU in many areas”.
On the Eastern Partnership, the Presidency will focus on building more resilient societies. “In the EU's southern neighbourhood, it is important to strengthen EU support for UN-led mediation of conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa”, the Presidency stresses.
More generally, in the face of global change, “it is important that the EU uses all its external action instruments, such as diplomacy, crisis management operations, trade policy and development aid in a comprehensive and coherent way”. For the Presidency, the EU must defend multilateral solutions and strengthen its contribution to mediation and conflict prevention, “paying particular attention to the valuable roles that women and young people can play”. Respect for international law and the promotion of universal human rights, democracy and the rule of law must be at the heart of any EU external action.
Put an end to unanimity
Moreover, according to the Presidency, “the current complex international environment makes it particularly important to strengthen the unity, coherence and effectiveness of the EU's external action”. “Faster decision-making is needed to increase the EU's influence and effectiveness. The possibility of qualified majority voting in certain areas of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), as set out in the Lisbon Treaty, deserves further consideration”, Finland argues. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)