European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans to visit Finland

Frans Timmermans, the First Vice-President of the European Commission, will be visiting Helsinki on 10 and 11 November. He will meet Prime Minister Juha Sipilä, the President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö, Minister of the Interior Paula Risikko and the Minister of Finance Petteri Orpo.

Timmermans’ mandate in the Commission includes better regulation policy, inter-institutional relations and rule of law. He also serves as Vice-President for the coordination of the work of the Commissioners of justice and migration. 

In their meeting, Prime Minister Sipilä and Vice-President Timmermans will discuss questions such as migration, trade policy, the EU budget and defence policy. They will also discuss the development of EU regulation and the Commission’s work programme for next year. Finland has advocated better regulation for a good while and supports the Commission’s deregulation work.

‘The Government assesses all EU regulation from the viewpoint of economic growth, competitiveness and employment. Jean-Claude Juncker’s Commission has a more ambitious and strategic approach to better and lighter EU regulation. At its best, EU regulation guarantees uniform procedures and equal opportunities for individuals and citizens by replacing national provisions with one common statute,’ says Prime Minister Sipilä. 

Finland will continue to chart problematic EU regulation and will make case-by-case proposals to the Commission to revoke, amend and reassess legal provisions and to retract legislative proposals.

Vice-President Timmermans will have discussions over dinner with Minister of Finance Orpo, covering questions such as the acceleration of economic growth and employment in Finland and in Europe.

In his meeting with Minister of the Interior Risikko, Vice-President Timmermans will discuss the Commission’s proposed reforms in the asylum system in the European Union.  They will also take part in a seminar jointly organised by the European Commission Representation in Finland and the Ministry of the Interior on resettlement and the reception of quota refugees. Resettlement is one legal pathway in migration that benefits those in a particularly vulnerable position. The Commission and Finland aim to step up resettlement in the European Union, so that more Member States are involved in it.

Inquiries on the meeting with the Prime Minister: Kare Halonen, State Secretary for EU Affairs, tel. +358 295 160 319 and Jari Haapiainen, Special Adviser (EU-affairs), tel. +358 295 160 406, Prime Minister's Office

Inquiries on the meeting with the Minister of the Interior: Tuuli Kainulainen, Senior Officer, tel. +358 295 488 248, Ministry of the Interior

Inquiries on the meeting with the Minister of Finance: Marketta Henriksson, Director, tel. +358 295 530 441, marketta.henriksson(at)vm.fi and Elisa Tarkiainen, Special Adviser, tel. +358 400 774 789, elisa.tarkiainen(at)vm.fi, Ministry of Finance

Inquiries on the Vice-President Timmermans’ programme: Pia Siitonen, Press Officer, tel. +358 40 535 5979, Representation of the European Commission in Finland