EU strategic autonomy and war in Ukraine feature prominently in discussions between prime ministers of Finland and Spain

Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez met today in Helsinki. In their meeting, discussions focused on measures to strengthen the EU’s strategic economy and other major issues in EU policy, the war in Ukraine, and Finland’s deepening allyship as the country becomes a member of NATO.

Spain will hold the Presidency of the Council of the EU during the second half of 2023. Prime Minister Marin assured Prime Minister Sánchez of Finland’s full support for the Spanish Presidency, which will play a key role in finding EU-level solutions not only to strengthen strategic autonomy in the long term, but also on issues related to competitiveness, the energy market and migration. 
 
The EU’s commitment to supporting Ukraine was an important topic of discussion. Prime Minister Sánchez thanked Finland for its “sisu”, or determination, referring to the country’s resolute security policy and support for Ukraine since the start of Russia’s war of aggression. Prime Minister Marin, for her part, thanked Spain for its unwavering support for Finland’s NATO membership. 
 
Prime Minister Marin noted that Finland and Spain share many common objectives and are working together to strengthen the multilateral rules-based system and to promote human rights, gender equality and a just green transition, among other goals.
 
In recent years, the countries’ excellent relations have become even closer, expanding to include partnerships in research and industry. New cooperation has emerged in areas such as promoting green hydrogen production and developing smart cities. 
 
This was Prime Minister Sánchez’s first visit to Finland during his term of office. Prime Minister Marin visited Spain in January 2022.

Inquiries: Jari Luoto, State Under-Secretary for EU Affairs, tel. +358 50 468 5949, Saara Pokki, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 50 478 6363 and Rami Kurth, Communications Specialist (EU Affairs), tel. +358 50 465 7963, Prime Minister’s Office