EU competitiveness ministers to meet in Brussels on 22–23 May 2025

The EU’s Competitiveness Council will be held in Brussels on 22–23 May 2025. Finland will be represented by Minister of Employment Matias Marttinen (internal market and industrial policy matters) and Minister of Economic Affairs Wille Rydman (research, innovation and space matters).

In the internal market and industrial policy session, the Council will hold a policy debate on boosting competitiveness and the Council’s role as a filter of red tape. The discussion will focus on ways to ensure business-friendly regulations during the legislative process from its very beginning and the strategic goals of and future measures on public procurement. 

Finland’s position is based on a technology-neutral approach in which the clean transition is implemented cost-effectively and on market terms, creating a clear competitive advantage for the EU. Finland wants to see lighter and better EU regulation, and therefore supports the Commission’s goals of simplifying regulation and reducing the administrative burden. In addition, Finland welcomes the review of the effectiveness of EU regulation on public procurement.

Within legislative affairs, the ministers will seek to endorse a general approach on a public interface for declaration of posting of workers. The regulation aims to reduce the administrative burden on companies. Finland supports this objective. 

In the research and innovation session on 23 May, the Council is expected to adopt a recommendation on the European Research Area Policy Agenda for 2025–2027 and to approve conclusions on the use of artificial intelligence in science. Finland is ready to accept both of these. 

Moreover, the ministers will hold a policy debate on the mid-term evaluation of the Horizon Europe Framework Programme. As before, Finland’s priorities include a larger proportion of funding for research, development and innovation based on open competition and high quality. The Council’s lunch discussion will focus on research. 

As concerns space affairs, the ministers will approve Council conclusions on the use of satellite data from Earth observation constellations for civil protection and crisis management. Finally, the ministers will discuss the use of space-based data for enhancing resilience, security and crisis management in the EU. Finland considers it important to improve space capabilities for the use of security and defence operators already in the next few years. 

Inquiries: 
Hannele Timonen, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 7141 (internal market and industrial policy matters)
Riikka Astala, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel.  +358 29 504 7057 (research, innovation and space matters)