Members of Jyrki Katainen’s six-party government will convene at the House of Estates from Monday for discussions on public finances and a budget framework to be implemented during the next government term beginning in 2015.
Ministers will be aiming for outline agreement on government’s programme of spending for the next four years, and will specifically be looking at targets for spending cuts and tax hikes. Government needs to trim billions of euros in an effort to reduce debt and balance state finances.
Last week Finance Minister Jutta Urpilainen revised publicly-debated savings targets, saying that no more than three billion euros would be needed.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen has been more reserved of late, saying that the precise target is not yet known.
"The debt reduction target would be between three and four billion euros," Katainen said last week.
The agenda Monday includes statements from subject matter experts, after which party leaders will hold discussions.