EU competitiveness ministers to discuss regulatory simplification, e-commerce and AI factories
The EU’s Competitiveness Council will be held in Brussels on 8–9 December 2025. Finland will be represented by Minister of Employment Matias Marttinen (internal market and industrial policy matters) and Minister of Economic Affairs Sakari Puisto (research, innovation and space matters).
As concerns the internal market and industrial policy issues, the Council will discuss the simplification, implementation and enforcement of EU regulation. Simplifying rules and reducing the burden of current and new EU regulation are a key part of strengthening competitiveness in Europe. Finland emphasises the importance of consistency and a long-term perspective in the work on better regulation.
The Council will have an exchange of views on the removal of barriers in the internal market. Finland considers that a competitive and efficient internal market is a precondition for the long-term competitiveness and economic development in the EU. The Council will also discuss e-commerce and challenges related to product conformity and market surveillance.
“The rapid growth in online shopping and, especially, cheap imports from outside the EU have caused obvious challenges for the EU’s internal market, as regards both consumers and businesses. In order to ensure the quality of products, fair competition and environmental sustainability, effective EU-level solutions are necessary. We will also continue the debate on simplifying regulation. It is crucial we promote measures to reduce the administrative burden of SMEs, in particular,” says Minister of Employment Matias Marttinen.
Marttinen will also meet Sweden’s Minister for Energy, Business and Industry Ebba Busch and the Cypriot Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry Giorgos Papanastasiou.
Second day of meeting to focus on research and space
Within research and space matters, the Council will hold a debate on a set of proposals concerning the Horizon Europe research and innovation framework programme based on a progress report of the Danish Presidency. Finland welcomes the Commission’s proposal on Horizon Europe and considers the situation picture of the progress report to be accurate.
The Danish Presidency will also present a report on the progress of the proposed EU Space Act. In Finland’s view, the objective of promoting a competitive, safe and sustainable space sector is important; however, Finland has reservations about the proposed regulation.
“Promoting the competitiveness of the space sector is critical not only for our capabilities but also for the international competition of our companies. In regard to the proposed EU Space Act, it is essential that the regulation does not pose an unnecessary risk to the growth and operating conditions of our successful space sector. Regulation should only introduced when it is necessary and brings value added,” says Minister of Economic Affairs Sakari Puisto.
Based on the proposal of the Presidency, establishing and operating artificial intelligence giga factories will become a new objective and main focus of the European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking. In addition, RDI activities in quantum technology would be covered more extensively by the Joint Undertaking.
Inquiries:
Julia Kerkelä, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 047 307