Ministers Haatainen and Lintilä to discuss EU competitiveness with the Commission’s Executive Vice-President Vestager
The European Commission’s Executive Vice-President and Commissioner in charge of competition and digital policy Margrethe Vestager will visit Helsinki on Friday 29 October. She will discuss current issues related to competition and state aid, the implementation of EU industrial strategy and digitalisation with Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen and Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä.
The Minister of Economic Affairs and the Minister of Employment will meet EU Commissioner Margrethe Vestager in Helsinki on Friday. The meeting will focus on promoting competitiveness of the EU’s internal market and industry, which must be based on equal operating conditions for business operators. As concerns industrial policy, it is essential to consider the EU’s comprehensive industrial strategy and the importance of SMEs in promoting competitiveness.
Finland takes a strict position on EU competition and state aid policy
Minister of Employment Haatainen and Vestager will discuss the EU’s competition and state aid policy and the Commission’s ongoing assessment of competition policy.
“It is important for us that the regulation of the EU’s competition and state aid policy remains strict so that the internal market functions well and on an equal basis. While applying less stringent state aid rules is justified for certain strategic projects important to the EU, it should not be expanded to a more general use,” says Haatainen.
Many EU countries have recently proposed relaxing the Union’s rules on competition and state aid policy, but Finland takes a strict position. State aid rules must guarantee a level playing field for companies operating in the EU and ensure that the internal market remains open to competition. Finland also hopes that any temporary state aid introduced during the coronavirus epidemic will be discontinued as soon as the economic and pandemic situation so permits. Competition and state aid regulation must in its part also support the Union's objectives on green and digital transition
Industrial strategy should focus on ensuring the EU’s global competitiveness
Minister of Economic Affairs Lintilä and Vestager will discuss the EU’s updated industrial strategy, competitiveness, the digital economy and emerging technologies. Different sectors must be well represented in the industrial strategy, which must focus on ensuring the EU’s competitiveness globally.
“Sustainable bioeconomy solutions must be part of the EU’s industrial strategy. Bio-based materials and products support sustainable growth, competitiveness and the EU’s transition towards a climate-neutral economy,” Lintilä says.
Inquiries:
Piritta Jokelainen, Special Adviser to the Minister of Employment, tel. +358 295 047 353
Jenny Hasu, Special Adviser to the Minister of Economic Affairs, tel. +358 295 047 213
Nina Alatalo, Adviser to the Minister of Economic Affairs (EU affairs), tel. +358 295 047 171
Leila Vilhunen, Adviser to the Minister of Employment (EU affairs), tel. +358 295 047 120