Finland’s Presidency of the Council accompanied the European Union on the path towards a new decade and a socially fair and environmentally sustainable future.

In its Presidency Programme, Finland promised to affirm common values and the rule of law as cornerstones of the Union. During our six months in charge, we did our best to honour this commitment.

One of the main objectives of Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union has been to improve the EU’s capabilities to counter hybrid threats and enhance resilience to ever-evolving security threats.

Fighting corruption is our joint responsibility. The European Union can set an example here. Finland’s Presidency has further strengthened the emphasis on the Council agenda on the fight against corruption.

Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union is drawing to a close. Our Presidency coincided with a challenging transition period for the European Parliament and European Commission. However, this actually turned out to be beneficial for discussing migration and asylum policy. The interim period provided a window of opportunity for debate ahead of the adoption of new legislative proposals by the new Commission next year.

Gender inequality is a reality in the EU in many areas of life. Statistics show persistent gender pay and pension gaps and a higher risk of poverty for women than for men. Single parents are particularly hard pressed financially.

Ten years ago, the EU reached a turning point in consolidating the legal status and increasing the importance of fundamental rights. While the importance of fundamental rights had already been gradually growing within the EU and in EU law, it was only in December 2009 that the Treaty of Lisbon gave the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union the same legal value as the EU Treaties. The Charter thus became legally binding, not only on the Union but also on the member states – including their courts and public authorities – within the scope of EU law.

Every year in Europe, around 120 000 workers develop cancer and 80 000 die as a result of exposure to cancer-causing chemicals at work. Cancer accounts for an estimated 53% of all work-related deaths in the European Union and other developed countries. The fight against work-related cancer has been intensified in Europe in recent years.

Since the Commission communication and the adoption of the legislative proposals, one thing has been made clear as regards the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform: improving the state of the environment and responding to climate change are key objectives. The Commission’s proposal for the post-2020 CAP addresses global challenges such as the loss of biodiversity and the increasing rate of climate change. During the negotiations on the reform, all member states have stressed the importance of the objectives.

The Paris Agreement on climate change sets strict targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Some countries have set even more ambitious targets – Finland, for example, aims to reach carbon neutrality by 2035. In mid-November, the SET Plan Conference will gather energy professionals in Helsinki to discuss energy and low-carbon technologies and how energy research and innovations can contribute to climate-friendly solutions.