On Tuesday 20 January, the Ecofin Council decided to initiate the excessive deficit procedure (EDP) against Finland, on the basis of the recommendation issued by the European Commission in December 2025 (see EUROPE 13772/4).
Helsinki will have to respect the following trajectory of net growth in annual public spending: 1.3% in 2026, 1.5% in 2027 and 1.8% in 2028. The aim is to reduce the national public deficit from 4.5% of Finnish GDP in 2025 to 2.7% in 2028.
The day before, on her arrival at the Eurogroup, the Finnish Finance Minister, Riikka Purra, had said that the opening of an EDP procedure against her country was “necessary” and would contribute “to the credibility of the EU’s fiscal rules”. She also stressed the Finnish government’s determination to “ensure the viability of public finances and to take the necessary measures to comply with the EU Council’s recommendation”.
The EU Council is asking Finland to present the measures needed to consolidate its public finances by the end of April.
See the EU Council’s recommendation: https://aeur.eu/f/kb6 (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)