Prime Minister Orpo meets Estonian President and Prime Minister in Tallinn

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo made his first bilateral visit abroad to Tallinn at the invitation of Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas. On 5 July, Prime Minister Orpo also met Estonian President Alar Karis.

The discussions in Tallinn focused on the relations between Finland and Estonia, cooperation between the two countries within NATO, the security situation in Europe and strong commitment to support Ukraine as long as necessary. The prime ministers also discussed a number of topical EU issues, such as boosting the EU defence industry, migration policy and the mid-term review of the EU's Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). Border security and closer cooperation in the energy sector were also on the agenda.

“Today, the relations between Finland and Estonia are stronger than ever before. Our relations with Estonia are close both at the official and personal level. Estonia and Finland have strong cultural ties. We share similar values, ideas and understanding of the surrounding reality. In future, we will work even more closely together as members of the same military alliance, NATO. We will strengthen security and wellbeing throughout the Baltic Sea Region when all the Nordic countries and Baltic States are in the same alliance,” Prime Minister Orpo said at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Kallas.

“Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine emphasises the need for stronger military-industrial cooperation. We must strengthen our defence cooperation, security of supply, logistics and energy self-sufficiency,” Prime Minister Orpo said.

Prime Minister Orpo also said that the main message of the Finnish Government is that Russia must leave Ukraine and that Finland will support Ukraine for as long as necessary. The Prime Minister also stressed the need to strengthen the EU and its competitiveness and to prepare for possible sudden changes at Finland's eastern border. 

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 0733, Prime Minister’s Office