Removal of cross-border barriers on the agenda of Nordic meetings in Tornio

Press release 226/2016
5 December 2016

The last meetings of the Finnish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers will be held in Tornio on 7–8 December 2016. Removal of cross-border barriers to free movement is one of the central themes of the Finnish Presidency.

The Freedom of Movement Council is led by Risto E.J. Penttilä and Chief of the Secretariat for Nordic Cooperation Kari Kahiluoto chairs the Nordic Committee for Co-operation.

The meetings in Tornio will focus on the future of the removal of cross-border barriers to free movement. In addition, the participants in the meeting will be informed about the regional police cooperation, the development of cross-border barrier statistics, and the efforts of the Utbildning Nord vocational school to improve compatibility of education and training between the Nordic countries.

Free movement is a central value and goal in the Nordic cooperation. The Nordic countries have been engaged in work aiming at the removal of cross-border barriers to free movement for a long time and Finland wants to emphasise its importance by organising the last meetings during its Nordic Presidency in the only twin city in Finland, Tornio-Haaparanta.

Inquiries: Kari Kahiluoto, Chief of the Secretariat for Nordic Cooperation, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, tel. + 358 295 351 556

The Foreign Ministry’s email addresses are of the format [email protected]