Finland and Estonia to increase digital cooperation

On Tuesday 10 May, Prime Minister Juha Sipilä and Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas agreed to promote digital cooperation between their two countries. The premiers signed a joint declaration on cross-border data exchange and digital services.

"The bilateral relations between our countries are excellent and we have close cooperation in several sectors of society. I am very pleased that Finland and Estonia can conduct pioneering work in the field of data exchange," says Prime Minister Sipilä.

Collaboration will be promoted, for example, with an exchange of population registry data, in a manner comparable to the existing practices between the authorities of Finland and other Nordic countries. More people move between Finland and Estonia than between Finland and other Nordic countries.

"Good cooperation and timely exchange of data help streamline public administration services and improve everyday life of authorities, businesses and citizens," says Sipilä.

"Finland has actively supported the development of the EU Digital Single Market and emphasised that all new legislation must be compatible with digital operating environments. One of the Government's key projects is to create a favourable operating environment for digital services, Industrial Internet applications and new business models."

The premiers also discussed the development of transport services and energy sector cooperation. The objective is to develop digital services relating to traffic between Helsinki and Tallinn as well as cooperation with regard to ticket and payment systems. In the energy sector, the planned gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia is an important project in terms of the development of the regional energy infrastructure and security.

The premiers also discussed the migration situation, development of economic and monetary union and other EU affairs.

Inquiries: Kare Halonen, State Secretary, EU Affairs, tel. +358 295 160 315 and Jari Haapiainen, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 295 160 406, Prime Minister’s Office