Nordic prime ministers to meet in Paimio and Turku, Federal Chancellor of Germany also set to attend

Finland and Åland will host the informal summer meeting of the Nordic prime ministers in Paimio and Turku on Monday 26 May. Discussions will focus on two themes: competitiveness and strengthening comprehensive security.

The meeting, which will be co-hosted by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and Head of Government of Åland Katrin Sjögren, will be attended by Nordic Government Leaders: Kristrún Frostadóttir of Iceland, Jonas Gahr Støre of Norway, Ulf Kristersson of Sweden, Mette Frederiksen of Denmark, Aksel Vilhelmson Johannesen of the Faroe Islands and Jens-Frederik Nielsen of Greenland. Karen Ellemann, Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, will also take part in the discussions.

The prime ministers will discuss the themes of the meeting together and with representatives of the Nordic business community. 

At their working dinner at Turku Castle, the prime ministers will be joined by Federal Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz.

Prime Minister Orpo and Federal Chancellor Merz will continue their discussions in a separate bilateral meeting on Tuesday. Topics of discussion will include relations between Finland and Germany and topical EU and international issues.

The venue for the Nordic prime ministers’ meeting, Paimio Sanatorium, was designed by Alvar and Aino Aalto. The building is known as a global landmark of functionalist architecture. It was completed in 1933 for use as a tuberculosis hospital. Paimio Sanatorium has been nominated to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Turku Castle was founded in 1280 on the banks of the River Aura. It served as the administrative centre of Finland, which belonged to the Kingdom of Sweden and the historical province of Finland Proper, from the Middle Ages into the modern era. The current appearance of the stone castle dates back to different periods. Most of the castle’s vaulted rooms have been restored to their original character.

Inquiries: Marja Koskela, Diplomatic Adviser to the Prime Minister, tel. +358 295 160 978, Anne-Sofie Stude, Chief of the Secretariat for Nordic Cooperation, tel. +358 295 350 531, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 0733, Prime Minister’s Office