Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs discusses roadmap for phasing out Russian energy imports, communication on artificial intelligence and migration
In its meeting on Friday 13 June, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs outlined Finland’s positions on the Commission’s plans to phase out energy imports from Russia, the Commission’s communication on artificial intelligence and its proposal regarding the Asylum Procedure Regulation. The Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs also discussed the EU–Mercosur Association Agreement.
The Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs discussed the Commission’s roadmap for phasing out energy imports from Russia. The REPowerEU roadmap published by the Commission in May 2025 sets out nine measures aimed at phasing out imports of Russian gas, oil and nuclear fuels and the raw materials used to produce them. Finland welcomes the roadmap as a step towards completely breaking away from Russian energy.
On 9 April 2025, the Commission issued a communication on the AI Continent Action Plan. The comprehensive, strategic action plan describes the current state of AI policy and outlines how the Commission will promote and develop AI policy in the EU during its term. Finland welcomes the fact that the Commission has put forth a comprehensive, wide-ranging communication on key policy measures related to AI. In Finland’s view, the EU must improve its AI development and utilisation capabilities, including by expanding the capacity of European data and computing infrastructure.
Finland believes that the AI gigafactories proposed by the Commission could play a key role in increasing Europe’s competitiveness. Finland aims to host one of the European AI gigafactories and to complete the related formalities by the set deadline.
On 20 May 2025, the Commission submitted a proposal on applying the concept of ‘safe third country’ in connection with the Asylum Procedure Relation. The proposal is part of the Pact on Migration and Asylum adopted in 2024, which will enter into force in summer 2026. The aim of the proposal is to improve legal safeguards, consistency and flexibility in the application of the concept of ‘safe third country’ within the Union.
On 6 December 2024, the European Commission and Mercosur (Mercado Común del Sur, or the common market in the South, which consists of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) announced that they had reached an agreement on the trade aspects of their Association Agreement. The parties reached an agreement on the other aspects related to political dialogue and cooperation in June 2020. The Ministerial Committee on EU Affairs held a more detailed discussion on the outcome of the negotiations and the next steps in the progress of the agreement. Finland supports the rapid conclusion and implementation of the agreement package. Finland welcomes the division of the agreement so that an interim agreement would be concluded for trade provisions falling within the exclusive competence of the EU so that these provisions can enter into force as soon as possible.
In addition, the ministerial committee outlined Finland’s positions for the following upcoming meetings:
- Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy) on 16 June
- Environment Council on 17 June
- Informal meeting of agriculture ministers on 15–17 June
The Energy Council will discuss the REPowerEU roadmap for phasing out Russian energy and will adopt conclusions on strengthening the Energy Union by improving energy security.
The Environment Council will adopt a general approach on the proposal for a regulation on circular economy requirements for vehicle design and the waste management of end-of-life vehicles (ELV). The ministers will also discuss international climate negotiations and the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) to be held in Brazil in November.
In their informal meeting, the agriculture ministers will discuss ‘Generational renewal as a basis for innovation and modernisation in agriculture’.
Inquiries: Juuso Kilpinen, Special Adviser for EU Affairs, tel. +358 50 322 9636, Jari Luoto, Director General, EU Affairs Department, tel. +358 50 468 5949 and Lauri Heikkinen, Senior Communications Specialist, tel. +358 46 923 5090, Prime Minister’s Office