PRESS RELEASE
Brussels
2 July 2019
Commenting to mark the occasion the Finnish Interior Minister and Greens Vihreät - De Gröna chairperson Maria Ohisalo said:
“The slogan for Finland’s presidency that started this week is a ‘Sustainable Europe – Sustainable Future’ which I believe neatly states the goal of this coalition government. Sustainability has to form the basis of all EU action both within and beyond the EU of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Greens in Finland have consistently been a driving force for climate protection and will continue to be as part of the governing coalition.
“Among the Finnish presidency’s goals for the next six month period will be to strengthen common values and the rule of law, to make the EU more competitive and socially inclusive, to strengthen the EU’s position as a global leader in climate action and to protect the security of citizens. We look forward to a productive period working with our European counterparts to achieve these common goals as a means to promoting and preserving the wellbeing and prosperity of Europe’s citizens.”
The co-chairs of the European Green Party Monica Frassoni and Reinhard Bütikofer added:
“We are confident that the Finnish will be successful in fulfilling its pledge to put sustainability at the core of its mandate as it takes over the EU presidency for the next six months.
“Finland’s new coalition government that includes the Finnish Greens has already set the ambitious target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2035 and we hope it will encourage other governments to follow in their footsteps to tackle climate destruction and biodiversity loss and invest in our collective future.”
END
Paul Nolan, Press Officer
E paul.nolan@europeangreens.eu
M +32 475 94 69 81
T +32 2 626 07 26
European Green Party
Rue Wiertz 31, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
www.europeangreens.eu
