Director General Veli-Mikko Niemi, International Affairs, Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, at INVEST – Towards the Next Welfare State? EU side event, 4 Oct 2019, THL, Helsinki

1. FINLAND’S PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
VELI-MIKKO NIEMI @VMN1005
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND HEALTH

2. FINNISH PRESIDENCY: SUSTAINABLE
EUROPE – SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Our priorities are to:
• Strengthen common values and the rule of law
• Make the EU more competitive and socially inclusive
• Strengthen the EU’s position as a global leader in climate
action
• Protect the security of citizens comprehensively

3. PRIORITIES OF MINISTRY OF SOCIAL
AFFAIRS AND HEALTH
• Economy of Wellbeing
• Gender Equal Economies
• Silver Economy
• Digitalization and utilizing new
technologies as a cross-cutting theme

4. ECONOMY OF WELLBEING
• Human wellbeing and economic growth are closely intertwined and mutually
reinforcing
• Wellbeing of people creates economic growth, productivity and fiscal stability
• It also improves stability and security in society
• Economic growth creates possibilities to improve the wellbeing of people
• The aim is to strengthen the link between wellbeing and economic policies, as
well as gender equality and economic policies, in the decision-making
• Effective and efficient investments in social, health, employment, education
policies and gender balance create savings in the long run
• Human wellbeing is a value in itself and a key aim of the EU
• Recognising people’s wellbeing as a priority in the EU will increase EU’s
legitimacy in the eyes of its citizens

5. KEY LEGISLATIVE FILES
• Council Conclusions on
• Economy of Wellbeing (October EPSCO)
• Gender Equality in the EU: Gender Equal Economy; Beijing +25 (December
EPSCO)
• Enhancing the Implementation in Occupational Safety and Health in the EU
(December EU)
• Pending legal files
• Updating the Social Security Coordination Rules
• Equal Treatment Directive
• ”Women on Boards” Directive
• Health technology assessment
• Drinking water directive

6. COUNCIL CONCLUSIONS
• The Finnish Presidency aims to have adopted the following council
conclusions on Ministry of Social Affairs and Health’s sector:
• Council Conclusions on Economy of Wellbeing
• Concil Conclusions on Gender Equality in the EU: Gender Equal
Economy; Beijing +25
• Council Conclusions on Enhancing the Implementation of the
Occupational Safety and Health in the EU

7. COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS
• Website:eu2019.fi
• @EU2019FI Twitter
• @eu2019fi Instagram
• @eu2019fi YouTube (Presidency videos)
• @eu2019fi Flickr (Presidency photos)
Hashtag #EU2019FI #economyofwellbeing