ROME -- Finnish Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen met the head of Italy's technocrat government, Prime Minister Mario Monti, in Rome. The premiers discussed the stability of the EU economy and the EU's financial framework. Monti stressed the long-standing good relations between the two countries.

"Finland and Italy have very similar views on the way the EU should be developed," Prime Minister Katainen said in a statement after the meeting yesterday (Tuesday).

The PMs agreed that they will, in the near future, write a joint letter to the key EU institutions in which Finland and Italy urge the EU leaders to propose as soon as possible concrete ideas to strengthen the internal market and thus boost the EU's competitiveness. The EU leaders will also be encouraged to propose measures to tackle economic offences more effectively.

"Europe needs firewalls, but the development of a well-functioning internal market is essential. For example, the creation of a Digital Single Market for the EU would significantly benefit both Finland and Italy", both Prime Ministers said.

Premier Katainen was received at Quirinale by Italy’s President of the Republic, Giorgio Napolitano.

Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb, who accompanied Prime Minister Katainen to Rome, had a meeting with his Italian counterpart, Minister for Europe, Enzo Moavero Milanesi.

On the same evening, Prime Minister Katainen and Minister Stubb continued their trip to Ankara, Turkey to meet Prime Minister Erdoğan. In Turkey, the Ministers are accompanied by a delegation of 40 Finnish business leaders.