Finnish EU presidency programme presented at EESC – sustainability and wellbeing top priorities

EESC plenary session - Day 2 -Aino-Kaisa PEKONEN, Finnish Minister for social affairs and health with President Luca JAHIER

The 18 July plenary session of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels played host to PR 35/2019, Finland's Minister of Social Affairs and Health, who presented the programme of the Finnish EU presidency. This includes a special focus on sustainability and the wellbeing of citizens. Minister Pekonen also listed enhancing the rule of law and EU values among its other priorities. 

Introducing Aino-Kaisa Pekonen's speech, EESC president Luca Jahier spoke of the main challenges the Finnish EU presidency would have to address by the end of the year, including the growth of populism, threats to the rule of law, climate change and global issues. The implementation of Agenda 2030, said Jahier, will need a holistic approach that requires economic and social challenges to be addressed together.

Minister Pekonen began her address by acknowledging the difficult challenges Europe would have to face in the near future and admitting that her country's presidency would be happening at an interesting point in time, with a number of issues that must be addressed. With this in mind, she announced: Finland wants to have an impact on the EU's future and this future should be socially, economically and ecologically sustainable.

The EU's global leadership in climate action was therefore a key priority for Finland's presidency. To this end, it expected to reach an agreement on the main elements of a long-term plan committing the EU to climate neutrality by the end of 2019, as requested by the European Council.

The Finnish presidency's priorities mean that all measures designed to fight climate change have to be socially sustainable. In the words of Minister Pekonen: One of the main objectives of the European Union is to promote the wellbeing of its citizens. As the general view is that the goal of economic growth has been more prominent, this ultimate goal sometimes seems forgotten, but these two objectives do not rule each other out and are mutually reinforcing.

Explaining this positive interaction, Aino-Kaisa Pekonen said that economic growth improved people's wellbeing; in turn, their health, ability to function and inclusion increase economic growth and stability. When this link between wellbeing and economy is understood in decision-making, it becomes easier to start investing in people's wellbeing and health.

She continued: The European social model is based on the principle that no one is left behind and that people feel safe and cared for. The Economy of Wellbeing underlines the fact that this is not only vital from a human perspective, but is also our comparative advantage amid global competition.

As defined by the Finnish presidency's priorities, the Economy of Wellbeing means that economic growth is pursued in line with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The EU must champion multilateralism and take the lead in solving global issues such as climate change, insisted the minister.

To achieve its goals, the Finnish presidency will strengthen dialogue not only with other global actors, but also within the EU with other institutions and partners, focusing particularly on civil society. Dialogue with social partners is one of the priorities of the Finnish presidency," Minister Pekonen concluded. "The EESC plays a key role and we are pleased that it is drafting key opinions that are in line with our proposals.

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PR 35/2019: Finnish EU presidency programme presented at EESC – sustainability and wellbeing top priorities