Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) says Europe remains 'united' in its support for Ukraine, despite some discussion over the latest package of aid for Ukraine.
Marin explained it was vital that the decisions on sanctions and economic aid were unanimous, after Hungary had previously vetoed the deal.
"Europe is not showing division here, it remains united. That is hugely important," Marin said.
The Finnish premier was speaking in Brussels after a European Council meeting on Thursday
On the same trip, she had attended an ASEAN-EU summit on Wednesday.
EU member states also agreed on a ninth set of sanctions against Russia. Ambassadors from across the EU reached the decision on Thursday night.
The sanctions will target individuals and entities responsible for civilian attacks. The EU is also expanding sanctions to include Russian banks and exports.
EU-US trade war?
The European Council—the EU forum for member countries' heads of state and government—also adopted resolutions on energy and the economy, focusing on an ambitious green investment and industrial policy.
EU leaders also discussed how the bloc should respond to US business support for green investment—which amounts to roughly 400 billion euros for US firms and European leaders regard as potentially protectionist.
Leaders want concrete proposals from the EU Commission—the executive branch of the international organisation—on how to respond to the massive US subsidies. Marin said that the challenge ahead would be difficult.
"I myself have strong confidence in the Commission's ability to assess the best possible ways to ensure that we can make the internal market work between member states and ensure that we do not get into an unnecessary trade war with the US," Marin explained.
New investment fund addressed
The Commission has floated the idea of a separate sovereign fund to support European businesses and industry within the internal market.
According to Marin, the proposal was not discussed in any great depth.
"In my speech, I made the point that Finland is not ready for new financial instruments. We need to use existing funds as efficiently as possible," Marin noted.
Finland's feedback has been passed on to the Commission and Marin stressed that Finland is not alone in its view.
Energy prices remain high
The high price of energy was also on the agenda for the EU leaders, who stressed coordination between member states and the need to invest in storage capacity.
An agreement on a gas price cap is hoped for at next week's Council of Ministers meeting. Energy issues are also on the agenda domestically, as Parliament discusses an electricity price cap.
"Across Europe we see that energy prices are causing distress for ordinary people and businesses. In Finland, solutions are needed now," Marin said.
The past year overshadowed by war has been an example of European unity, Marin noted.
"When Russia invaded Ukraine we immediately imposed strong sanctions against Russia. We have been able to take very united decisions, with some exceptions," the PM pointed out.
