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Preparation of EU matters Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) The EPSCO Council, which brings together ministers from all EU Member States, decides on EU cooperation in employment, social policy, health, consumer...

Barents Euro-Arctic Council The Barents Euro-Arctic Council (BEAC) works under the Trio Presidency of Finland, Sweden and Norway in 2024. Finland held the Presidency of the Council from 2021 to 2023. Finland also chaired the Joint Working Group on...

International cooperation on gender equality European Union Gender equality is promoted in the EU using legislation and gender equality policies. The promotion of equality between men and women and the elimination of discrimination are among the E...

International examples to help Finland create governance model for wellbeing economy 4.12.2025 8.46 The economy of wellbeing offers tools for policy makers to secure the preconditions for a good life both for the current population and future gene...

1.12.2025 | The EU ministers will attend the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council in Brussels on 1 and 2 December 2025. On both days, Finland will be represented by Minister of Social Affairs and Health Kaisa Juuso.

3.12.2024 | Resilience and the report on the future of European competitiveness are on the agenda at the Health Council meeting in Brussels on 3 December 2024. On Finland's initiative, the meeting will also discuss the health sector’s role as part of the preparedness union strategy. Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen will represent Finland at the meeting.

6.10.2025 | Preparedness and data-driven decision-making in the field of pharmaceuticals were the key topics of discussion at a conference organised by Finland in Helsinki on 30 September–1 October 2025 as part of its Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers.

5.12.2025 | 1 Classified as ECDC NORMAL Appendix 10 - Country follow-up to ECDC PHEPA recommendations Following the PHEPA mission conducted in your country, the final ECDC assessment report includes a series of recommendations aiming at supporting your countr...

15.11.2024 | The Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU will hold an informal meeting of the ministers responsible for demography in Budapest on 18 and 19 November 2024. The meeting will exchange views on the basis of background documents prepared by the presidency. No decisions will be made at the informal meeting. Director General Annakaisa Iivari will represent Finland at the meeting.

16.2.2023 | Mental health and the development of the EU’s social dimension are among the key themes to be discussed during the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU this year. These are also among the main topics when Minister of Social Affairs and Health Hanna Sarkkinen meets the Swedish Minister for Older People and Social Security Anna Tenje and Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health Jacob Forssmed in Stockholm on 16–17 February 2023.

5.12.2019 | The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) will meet for the last time during Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in Brussels on 9–10 December. Health ministers will meet on the first day, and ministers responsible for employment, social affairs and gender equality on the second day.

21.1.2021 | Finland holds the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2021. In connection with the Presidency, Finland launched a project at the start of the year entitled ‘World’s smoothest cross-border mobility and daily life through digitalisation'. Its aim is to improve the cross-border mobility and cross-border daily activities of people and businesses by promoting information exchange between public authorities in the Nordic countries.

24.10.2019 | The Council of the European Union adopted conclusions on the economy of wellbeing at the second Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council under Finland’s Presidency on 24 October. The meeting was chaired by Aino-Kaisa Pekonen, Minister of Social Affairs and Health, and Timo Harakka, Minister of Economic Affairs and Employment.

9.2.2022 | EU foreign and health ministers will convene for a joint ministerial conference in Lyon, France, on 9 February, and EU health ministers for an informal meeting in Grenoble on 10 February. At their joint conference, foreign and health ministers will discuss how to promote EU measures in the field of global health to support low- and middle-income countries. The meeting of health ministers will focus on the public health dimension of the European Health Union.

28.11.2019 | Experts from several European countries and organisations met in Helsinki to explore how to accelerate the fight against work-related cancer. The cooperation will be further strengthened by continuing the Roadmap on Carcinogens campaign, which aims to raise awareness about carcinogens and reduce exposure to them. An agreement on the continuation of the campaign was signed in Helsinki on 28 November 2019.

22.10.2019 | The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) will meet for the second time during Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in Luxembourg on 24 October.

13.1.2021 | The EU health ministers will hold an informal videoconference on Wednesday 13 January. The theme of the conference will be the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations in the EU Member States. Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services Krista Kiuru will represent Finland at the conference.

1.12.2020 | The health ministers of the European Union (EU) will hold an informal video conference on Wednesday 2 December to discuss the current COVID-19 situation and the EU Pharmaceutical Strategy. Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services Krista Kiuru will represent Finland at the conference.

20.11.2020 | The EU ministers responsible for gender equality will hold an informal videoconference on 20 November to discuss the combating of violence against women. The ministers will also present best practices on how to protect women from violence and support victims. Finland will be represented at the conference by Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality Thomas Blomqvist.

5.2.2020 | The ambassadors of the EU Member States today adopted a shared political agreement on the content of the new Drinking Water Directive. The new Drinking Water Directive is aimed at guaranteeing a higher quality of drinking water, enhancing the accessibility of water, increasing the communication of information about water management and improving the energy efficiency of water utilities in the entire Union.