Prime Minister Orpo and Estonian Prime Minister Michal highlight security issues and deepening cooperation

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal met in Helsinki on 13–14 August. Their discussions focused on cooperation between Finland and Estonia, improving European security and defence, and other topical EU matters.

The prime ministers noted that their countries enjoy excellent bilateral relations. Along with their historical and cultural ties, Finland and Estonia are key trading partners and, with Finland’s accession to NATO, also military allies. At a practical level, smooth cooperation between the Finnish and Estonian police, customs and border authorities plays an integral role in countering hybrid actions and controlling the EU’s eastern border.

Prime Minister Orpo thanked Prime Minister Michal for the countries’ successful cooperation in the field of energy security.

“Our cooperation in repairing damaged transmission connections between our countries has been seamless. We also fully support the Baltic States in their efforts to phase out Russian electricity and join the Central European electricity system,” said Prime Minister Orpo.

Finland and Estonia are important partners in defence materiel production. In their discussions, the prime ministers highlighted the significance of the European defence industry for European security more broadly. 

“Russia’s illegal war of aggression in Ukraine has revealed a need for the defence industry to ramp up its production of wartime supplies. Finland has increased its ammunition production fivefold,” said Prime Minister Orpo.

The prime ministers’ discussions touched on a variety of topical EU issues, such as enlargement, competitiveness and preparedness.

“Helping Ukraine on its path to EU membership is a priority for Finland. At the same time, the EU enlargement process has to remain objective and merit-based, and applicant countries must genuinely meet all the criteria for membership,” Prime Minister Orpo said.

“An effective single market plays a key role in the EU’s economic success. To work effectively, the single market must be based on fair competition, market-based solutions and a level playing field,” noted Prime Minister Orpo.

Finland fully supports the Commission in preparing the EU strategy for a preparedness union. 

An important topic of the prime ministers’ discussions was comprehensive support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s brutal invasion.

“Russia’s ongoing war of aggression in Ukraine poses a major threat to global security. We must do everything in our power to prevent Russia from winning this war, and we must work to gather broad support for President Zelenskyy’s Ukraine peace plan,” Prime Minister Orpo stated.

Other items on the agenda included security in the Baltic Sea, border security and topical NATO issues.

“What we have been seeing at our eastern borders is not a question of migration or genuine asylum seekers; it is a hybrid attack on our security perpetrated by Russia. Russia’s goal is to undermine the unity of the EU and weaken the international rules-based system,” said Prime Minister Orpo.

Finland is pleased with the outcome of the NATO Summit in Washington, D.C. in July. The Alliance’s commitment to supporting Ukraine over the long term and ensuring its path to NATO membership were important decisions.

While in Helsinki, Prime Minister Michal also met with President of the Republic Alexander Stubb.

Inquiries: Marja Koskela, Diplomatic Adviser to the Prime Minister, tel. +358 295 160 978, Tuomas Tikkanen, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 40 523 5768 and Lauri Heikkinen, Senior Communications Specialist, tel. +358 46 923 5090, Prime Minister’s Office