Speech by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo at the Annual Meeting of Heads of Mission in Helsinki on 26 August 2024

Speech by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo at the Annual Meeting of Heads of Mission in Helsinki on 26 August 2024. Speech to be checked against delivery.

Distinguished Ambassadors, dear colleagues at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, 

You are frontline players in a changed world. On our watch, many things we thought were in the past just a few short years ago have happened and are happening. Unfortunately, things we thought were in the past are very much a reality today.

Last Saturday, Ukraine celebrated its third independence day in the shadow of Russia’s full-scale war of aggression. All of us here in this room have a deep respect for the perseverance and determination of the Ukrainian people. We will make sure Ukraine is not left to fight on its own. 

Russia has extended its hostile hybrid and sabotage operations across Europe. Russia has also been ruthless in painting a false image of Finland.

The security situation in our neighbourhood has changed – perhaps forever.

At the same time, the major global challenges we face – climate change and widespread migration motivated by a variety of factors – have not gone away. Great power politics, the quest for world domination and the situation in the Middle East create unpredictability, which is reflected in the global economy – and also in Finland. 

Faced with these challenges, we have chosen an active approach. We exert influence in those areas where we can make a difference. We are a small country, but what we lack in size, we make up for in determination. We have experience, vision and a healthy amount of self-esteem – we can’t change everything, but we make a strong impact where we can. 

We use the opportunities we get to punch above our weight. If necessary, we make our views known even when advocating for them is difficult. But we are also able to make pragmatic compromises when the time comes. 

All of this has an impact on our security, our finances and our opportunities for economic growth. 
We have an opportunity to bring about real change. We have to use that opportunity to exert influence and find new ways to do things. This is true at the national level, with our partners and allies, and in the EU. 

The new European Commission has a great deal of work ahead of it. And precisely those things we've been pushing for are on the agenda. I’ll say a bit more on that in a moment.

Dear friends,

When I think about our opportunities in these times, I look to the West. 

Our nearest neighbour is Sweden, with whom we have worked closely for a long time. This is easy, because we generally have very similar objectives. Our governments will discuss opportunities to further deepen our cooperation when they convene for a joint session on 16 September, this time in Stockholm.

But we have close cooperation with the other Nordic countries, too. The fact that we are now all members of NATO has even further intensified it. We will have an important role to play in developing this cooperation next year, when it is Finland’s turn to hold the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers.

In the Baltic Sea region, cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic countries comes naturally, as Estonian Prime Minister Michal and I noted a couple of weeks ago in the sauna at Kesäranta. We share the same security environment. 

I also count Poland as one of our Baltic partners. Under Prime Minister Tusk’s leadership, Poland has taken on a central role in EU affairs. We have advocated together on issues of great significance for the EU’s eastern border regions. 

In Brussels, we work together with our most important community of values, the EU. And through Brussels, we set our sights even further west. 

The United Kingdom is a key ally and strategic partner for us. It is important that we intensify our cooperation in security and defence, but in other areas as well.

Across the Atlantic, we are looking to the United States and Canada, with whom NATO membership opens up new opportunities for us. An excellent example of this is the new Finnish-US-Canadian Icebreaker Collaboration Effort, also known as the ICE Pact.

Like Ambassador Hautala, I believe that regardless of who wins in the US presidential elections in November, our bilateral cooperation with the United States will continue to be close, wide-ranging and mutually beneficial. 

Dear listeners,

We have clear objectives that we are promoting together with partners who share our values. Given this, it is natural that we are investing in and deepening our relations even further. In other words, when developing the Foreign Service and Team Finland’s activities, we need to have the courage to make choices. 

I encourage the Foreign Service to consider whether the resources of our network of diplomatic missions are being put to the right use. Are we in the right place with regard to our priorities? Where we have significant commercial or investment opportunities? Unfortunately, I can’t promise additional resources for doing new things, but if we look at our network of missions – including Business Finland – with an open mind, we may be able to get more out of the resources we have. 
Of course, this does not mean limiting our scope or our activities. There are opportunities elsewhere, and as Heads of Mission you are at the forefront of exploring these opportunities for us. 

Your responsibility will continue to grow as Business Finland’s foreign functions are integrated into the Foreign Service. As country managers, you have already worn the “export hat” from time to time, but I now urge all of you to put it on – every single morning. 

Dear listeners,

When it comes to EU policy, this autumn will be crucial. A strong EU is in Finland’s interest. 
This is why we drafted Finland’s EU policy priorities for the upcoming term, 2024–2029, back in January. Based on these, we have exerted and will continue to exert strong and active influence on the EU’s strategic agenda and the programme of the next Commission. When I look at the main outlines of the new Commission’s programme, I am happy to say that our efforts have been successful. 

However, our work is not over. Now is the time to influence the Commission’s work programme and composition. In a few weeks’ time, I will meet with Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels. Our advocacy work will continue.

To reiterate, the most important things for us are: 

• Strengthening the EU’s strategic competitiveness,
• Improving comprehensive security
• Supporting Ukraine
• Promoting the energy transition, circular economy and bioeconomy, and
• Advancing research, innovation and digitalisation

With regard to our Government’s views, I would also like to point out that we strongly advocate for Finland in our EU policy. 

Distinguished Heads of Mission,

We are doing everything we can in Finland, but Finland cannot truly soar without a well-functioning European market.

The competitiveness section of the Commission’s programme contains many entries that we welcome, but at the same time there are some things to keep our eye on. An open, well-functioning and competitive single market is essential for Finland. That is why we joined the EU in the first place. 

The EU must be able to do better in the competition for investments, labour, raw materials and technology. The EU’s long-term competitiveness must be built on its strengths. 

Over the past few years, flexibilities in the EU state aid rules have distorted competition between the Member States. The biggest players are trampling the rest. State aid does not guarantee that the best technologies and innovations will be selected as the winners. That is why market-based solutions and fair competition are so important.

The EU must remain open to trade and investments. Existing trade partnerships should be assessed and strengthened, while new ones should be forged in order to diversify our supply chains. Trade agreements should focus on what is essential.

It is clear that if Europe does not regain its competitiveness, we will fall behind globally. This, in turn, has an impact on our security and our ability to make our voices heard around the world. 

Dear friends,

The threat posed by Russia has made a strong European defence industry a necessity. Europe has no time to waste in increasing its defence materiel production. We urgently need weapons for Ukraine, but we also need our own stockpiles as a deterrent. 

Finland has been slightly better prepared than the rest of Europe – and that is a good thing, as it is also reflected in Finnish defence industry exports. Both the number of export permits granted and the total value of exports increased significantly in 2023, and the same trend is continuing this year. 

Personally, I see defence exports as a great opportunity that we should seize. This new situation also requires new operating models and ways of thinking. 

Along with defence policy, this is increasingly a question of traditional industrial policy. This is about the economy and employment. Opportunities related to dual-use technologies are increasing, and it is becoming more challenging to distinguish between the development of civil and defence technologies. On the contrary, I would even see them as a continuum.

Now is not the time to get stuck in the weeds. We have world-class companies like Iceye and Patria. We have top-level expertise, of which the multi-role corvettes now being built in Rauma are a great example. 

This is what I have also told our companies. We have to seize the opportunities that come along, otherwise they will pass us by. This is what cooperation between the state and businesses is all about. We open doors and seek solutions together. 

Dear Heads of Mission,

I would like to say a few words about the situation at our eastern border and the instrumentalised migration perpetrated by Russia starting last autumn. 

The decisions made by the Government to deal with the situation – closing the eastern border in the autumn and drafting the Border Security Act in the spring – were absolutely necessary. 

I am grateful for the support we have received from the EU during this time. In the December Council conclusions, this phenomenon was recognised as a hybrid attack not only against Finland but against the EU as a whole. Our goal is to find solutions at the EU level. But that takes time. This why we decided to first draw up the Border Security Act at the national level. 

Lively discussions swirled around the Border Security Act, both in the public and in Parliament. This is how it should be in a democratic country.

For me, what’s important is that a state governed by the rule of law has the right and the duty to defend itself. In this respect, we took a legislative path, in line with the principle of the rule of law. Political parties were kept up to date in Parliament throughout the process, and the Act was submitted to Parliament so that it could be discussed without delay and with the seriousness it merited. This exceptive act was not adopted lightly.

It was adopted in Parliament by a large, five-sixths majority. 

Concerns were raised in the public about whether the Border Security Act would undermine our rule of law. No, that is not what the Act did. I have had several discussions on the matter with my colleagues and with other governments and heads of state. They all understand that Finland had to take responsibility for its security and that of Europe.

I still hope there will be no need to introduce the exceptive act. But we have it now, if the day should come when it is needed. And, as I said, our efforts to establish legislation at the European level will continue. 

Dear listeners,

Our Government has been in office for more than a year now. At last year’s meeting, I went through some parts of the Government Programme. 

I am proud to say that during the past year, our Government has demonstrated its ability to function and get things done. We have implemented the Government Programme in a systematic and determined manner. 

We have also shown that we are capable of responding to new situations. This past year, we have seen many serious developments in the realm of foreign and security policy. We have responded to Russia’s provocations calmly. We have shown that we will not be intimidated.

Finland’s economy is still on a weak footing. Our goal is to stabilise the general government debt ratio before the end of the government term. Our decisions have not been easy, and the savings needed are not small. Quite the opposite: the scale is, unfortunately, historic.

At the same time, we have not lost sight of the core themes of our Government Programme. We have continued to invest in education, security and the future. We have strengthened our defence – and thereby European security – and have continued our support for Ukraine. We will increase annual public R&D investments by one billion during the parliamentary term. And we will increase funding for comprehensive schools – which we are known for around the world – by EUR 200 million. 

We are moving forward on labour market reform and eliminating incentive traps. Why is this so important? Because we have to get the economy back on its feet. Once we are back on solid footing, it will be easier for us to catch up once growth gets back on track.

The Government has also invested in measures to boost growth. Savings and tax increases will not be enough to lift Finland up. 

In the spring spending limits session, we decided on a new tax credit for major industrial investments. We want more factories in this country: battery factories, production of bio-based products, low-carbon steel plants. We will make sure that power grids do not become a bottleneck for investments anywhere in Finland. The Government is committed to ensuring the investment capacity of Fingrid and Gasgrid through good ownership steering and, if necessary, through recapitalisation. 

These are the big tools that will help us attract new investments to Finland. I hope you will keep them in mind and bring them up where you are stationed. 

The fact is that we need even more courageous, open-minded and concrete drivers of growth. I have already promised to launch an initiative to explore new ways to increase Finland’s attractiveness and boost investments. 

Distinguished Ambassadors, I hope you will contribute to this work. Concrete proposals are welcome. 

Dear friends,

It is also clear that we need more international experts to build Finland’s future success. An immigration debate that mixes apples and oranges does not serve Finland’s interests. I hope this will now be clear to everyone: 

Yes, the Government is tightening its humanitarian immigration policy. 

Yes, we are tightening the requirements for Finnish citizenship.

Yes, we are increasing work-based immigration.

The fact is that Finland will not close its doors to skilled and hard-working people. The only way we can compete and succeed is by investing in knowledge and human capital. 

Many of you are familiar with the Talent Boost programme. Our priority countries for labour recruitment are India, Brazil, Vietnam and the Philippines. All of us here are working together to implement the key elements of the programme. 

“The Attractiveness of Finland – promoting availability of talents and country branding” is a great example of this work. In a fairly recent issue, the Economist analysed an extensive survey of experts’ willingness to relocate: it was gratifying to see that foreign talents find Finland attractive.

Another key element is smooth and well-managed residence permit processes. Over the past year, we have invested in streamlining permit processes and shortening processing times for residence permits. In May of this year, the average processing time for residence permits for employed persons was 27 days, whereas one year earlier it could take as long as 80 days. 

The third key element is retention. One area where we have a lot to do is the employment of higher education students in Finland. As a concrete measure to improve retention among this group, we will make it possible for persons who have completed a Master’s degree in Finland and have sufficient skills in Finnish or Swedish to obtain a permanent residence permit.
We need to work together so there is no room for false impressions.  

Esteemed Heads of Mission,

I would like to thank you all for the work you have done and continue to do for Finland every day. Your work, and the work of the staff at your missions, is of great importance to our country. 

I would like to thank the Ambassadors who are now leaving their posts – I cannot mention all of you by name, but I would like to express my special thanks to Ambassador Helansteel in Moscow, Ambassador Lehtovirta in Kyiv and Ambassador Peltokoski in Ramallah, who have been working under particularly challenging circumstances. 

Best of luck to our new Ambassadors. And to all of you: let us work together to build an even better Finland where people can achieve their full potential. And let us never give up hope.