Finse minister-president op bezoek in Polen (en)

Donald Tusk i and Jyrki Katainen i discuss anti-crisis measures in the EU and Multiannual Financial Framework for the years 2014 - 2020 .

This is the first bilateral working visit of Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen to Poland. Previously, the head of the Finnish government had visited Poland for the Eastern Partnership summit.

The two prime ministers’ talks on Monday focused on EU issues. Donald Tusk and Jyrki Katainen discussed current anti-crisis measures in the EU and the euro area, the Multiannual Financial Framework negotiations and the future of the Eastern Partnership.

‘Poland and Finland share a common stance on many issues concerning the future of Europe,’ said Prime Minister Tusk. The head of the Polish government pointed out that both countries have a common position on the intergovernmental agreement after the last summit of the Council of Europe as well as on the Multiannual Financial Framework.

‘We are convinced that the downturn hinders the substantial growth of the European budget, but we also believe that the European budget as well as other formats of European cooperation and other European institutions need protection, especially at the time of crisis, when some question the sense of the European community,’ said the Polish premier.

‘What brings our region together is the belief that one may cope with the crisis thanks to certain values distinct for communities living in the region,’ Prime Minister Tusk stressed.

‘I would like to thank you for a good presidency,’ Prime Minister Katainen said. ‘I can say with full conviction that the Polish Presidency was very well implemented, and extremely important issues acquired a whole new dimension. There was an excellent and strong approach to the Presidency - not only in terms of content, but also the way and the style in which the European Union was championed,’ the Finnish premier stressed.

‘Poland and Finland share a common approach to the European Union - it should be a Union driven by rules and principles. A Union which is home to strong institutions, especially the Commission, thus a closer Union, more integrated, strongly driven by principles, a Union which focuses on competitiveness on the single market,’ he added.

The heads of the Polish and the Finnish government have issued a joint communiqué on enhancement of cooperation between both states. ‘Natural key areas of joint interest include the economy, energy, information and telecommunication technologies, environmental protection, education and EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood,’ reads the joint communiqué. Prime Ministers Tusk and Katainen agreed that next year will bring a series of bilateral meetings at the ministerial level which will be reviewed by heads of governments in the future.