Prime Minister Orpo in Brussels: Finland supports Western Balkan partners on path to EU membership

The EU Member States and the Western Balkan countries deepened their cooperation at a summit in Brussels on Wednesday 13 December. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stressed that the partnership between the EU and the Western Balkans has become even more important for ensuring European security due to Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine.

“Finland supports the Western Balkan partners on their path to EU membership. We share the European Commission’s view that it is possible to speed up the enlargement of the Union,” said Prime Minister Orpo.
 
At the end of the meeting, the EU Member States issued a declaration confirming their commitment to the future of the Western Balkans in the EU. This naturally means that the countries must implement the reforms needed for membership, for example with regard to the rule of law. 
 
The EU and the Western Balkan countries aim to intensify their cooperation in a variety of ways. In Finland’s view, it is especially important to deepen cooperation in responding to hybrid threats, enhancing cyber security, protecting critical infrastructure and combating information influence activities.
 
“It is important to ensure that the foreign and security policy of the candidate countries is fully in line with that of the Union. This also applies to sanctions against Russia. Cooperation in this sector is particularly crucial in the current geopolitical context, as it will increase resilience and security in Europe,” said Prime Minister Orpo.
 
Inquiries: Tuomas Tikkanen, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 40 523 5768, and Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 07 33, Prime Minister’s Office.