Clean energy is one of the main themes of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s government program in Finland. The energy and climate policy actions for the coming years will be outlined in a comprehensive national strategy. The key objective is to establish a predictable and economically sustainable foundation for the significant investment efforts needed to advance both climate goals and our national economy.

The EU’s Competitiveness Council will meet in Brussels on 7–8 December 2023. Minister of Employment Arto Satonen will represent Finland in the meeting of ministers responsible for internal market and industry on 7 December. Meanwhile, Minister of Economic Affairs Wille Rydman will be Finland’s representative at the meeting of the ministers responsible for research and space on 8 December.

Minister of Economic Affairs Wille Rydman will attend the Space Summit 2023 in Spain’s Seville on 6–7 November 2023. The event will bring together European space operators. An informal meeting of the EU Competitiveness Council, an informal ministerial meeting of the European Space Agency (ESA) and an informal joint meeting of the EU and ESA will be held in connection with the summit.

On 18 April 2023, the European Parliament approved five legislative proposals that are part of the “Fit for 55” package. Parliament, the Commission and the Council representing the EU Member States had reached a preliminary agreement on the proposals at the end of 2022. The climate package aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the EU by at least 55 per cent by 2030, compared to 1990.

The European Space Agency (ESA) will launch its spacecraft Juice from French Guiana this week. The most likely launch date will be 13 April 2023. Juice will be the first spacecraft to ever orbit a moon of another planet. The spacecraft contains Finnish space technology and expertise.