Prime Minister Orpo and European Commission President von der Leyen strengthen security in EU and Finland at Helsinki meeting

On Friday 29 August, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo hosted President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Helsinki and led discussions on European security, Finland’s role as a country on the external border of the EU and efforts to strengthen the EU’s defence. The meeting was held on the Border Guard patrol vessel Turva off the coast of Helsinki. In the discussions, Prime Minister Orpo highlighted Finland’s active contributions to supporting Ukraine, countering hybrid influence activities and protecting critical infrastructure, and called attention to the special needs arising from Finland’s long land border with Russia.

Commission President von der Leyen’s visit to Finland is part of her tour of the countries on the eastern border of the EU. Prime Minister Orpo thanked President von der Leyen for the Commission’s good understanding of the situation in Finland.

“This understanding can be seen in the Commission’s proposal for the EU’s next multiannual financial framework. The funding allocated to Finland for border control is being increased to EUR 1.6 billion, which is one billion more than at present. This increase is both necessary and very welcome. It is precisely this funding that we can use to support the vitality of Eastern and Northern Finland, as this is also a key component of our comprehensive security strategy and the security of our border regions,” Prime Minister Orpo said. 

“The threat posed by Putin’s Russia will not disappear even after the war in Ukraine is over. Putin cannot be trusted. Russia has already moved troops towards the eastern edge of Europe. Europe must respond to this and act with unity and determination to show that we take European defence seriously,” said Prime Minister Orpo.

During the visit, President von der Leyen was also briefed on how Finland monitors maritime traffic, including the movements of the Russian “shadow fleet”. In addition, the Border Guard gave a demonstration of their work aboard the patrol vessel Turva, showing how border guards can descend from a helicopter to seize the navigation bridge of a ship. 

While in Helsinki on Friday, President von der Leyen  also met with President of the Republic Alexander Stubb.  

Inquiries: Tuomas Tikkanen, Senior Adviser to the Prime Minister in European Affairs, tel. +358 40 523 5768 and Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 0733, Prime Minister’s Office