MFA: Minister Skinnari to visit Germany

Minister Skinnari will participate in the informal conference of the EU trade ministers. The main topics to be discussed are the direction of the EU’s trade policy on the basis of the consultation paper drawn up by the European Commission ‘A renewed trade policy for a stronger Europe’, and the situation of the European steel industry. 

Bernd Lange, Chair of the International Trade Committee of the European Parliament, will also be present at the pre-conference dinner. The topic to be discussed at lunch is the situation with respect to the election of a new Director-General to the World Trade Organization WTO.

Minister Skinnari considers the discussion on the EU’s trade policy as strategically well-timed. “Now is the time to think how we can use trade policy both to help bring the economy back on the growth path and to promote sustainable development. It is most important the EU will remain open to international trade and investments,” Minister Skinnari says.

During the visit Minister Skinnari will meet several German business leaders to discuss ways to further promote trade between Finland and Germany. The key topics include the targeting of the recovery funds to support economic growth in Europe in the energy, circular economy, bioeconomy, digitalisation, transport and health sectors and the opportunities to increase cooperation in these between Finnish and German operators.

Inquiries: Ilkka-Pekka Similä, Director General, tel. +358 50 336 3856 and Christian Heikkinen, tel. +358 50 447 7692

The email addresses of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs are in the format firstname.lastname@formin.fi.