The Finnish Presidency starts next Monday, just after the adoption of a new strategic agenda for Europe for 2019-2024.
We reported on the process leading to the new strategic agenda for the European Union (EU) in our Synopsis last month already (see SwissCore article). The European Council has now finally adopted it on 20 June. The strategic agenda sets the focus on four main priorities namely (i) protecting citizens and freedoms, (ii) developing a strong and vibrant economic base, (iii) building a climate-neutral, green, fair and social Europe, and (iv) promoting European interests and values on the global stage. Research and innovation will be at the centre of the second priority with the EU pledging to reduce fragmentation, increasing investments in digital technologies and artificial intelligence and strengthening European cohesion. Other relevant focuses are the Sustainable Development Goals and climate issues. Interestingly, compared to other European Council conclusions in the past year, education is less present in the document.
The strategic agenda serves as overarching policy document for the EU but will, of course, be strongly influenced by the next President of the European Commission (EC), which has not been appointed yet. The objective of the European Council remains to agree on a successful candidate at an extraordinary Summit convened for 30 June. It will be up to the new EC President and its College, under the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU, to translate the strategic agenda into concrete actions. A first step would be the adoption of the Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021 and 2027 and a successful roll out of the next generation of European programmes (see SwissCore articles on Finish Presidency for research and innovation and education). The coming months will be crucial in this respect.