On Thursday 5 December, the finance ministers of EU member states will seek agreement on the coming years’ priorities in anti-money laundering, deepening of the capital markets union and climate change mitigation. The Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Ecofin) will be chaired by Finland’s Minister of Finance Mika Lintilä.

Finland wants to strengthen the development of data economy and harmonise the development work across different sectors. The key aims for data economy both in Europe and globally are a human-centred approach and sustainability.

On 18 November, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament reached agreement on an EU budget for 2020.

Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union is drawing towards its close. One of the main themes of our Presidency has been trust, and what we can do to strengthen it. Our discussions at EU level keep coming back to two different ways to promote trust – transparency and participation.

— Director-General Juha Sarkio

EU Member States and the European Parliament will seek agreement on the EU’s budget for 2020 on Friday 15 November. As the country holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Finland will strive for a balanced solution.

Finance ministers of as many as 50 countries are committed to the Helsinki principles.