Baltic States – CIS, Energy, Estonia, EU – Baltic States, Legislation, Security, Technology
International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics
Saturday, 20.04.2024, 06:10
Niinisto and Roivas stress the close relationship between Estonia, Finland
Print version |
|---|
| Photo: valitsus.ee |
Roivas and Niinisto spoke about bilateral relations, cooperation in information and communication technology, energy projects, security issues of the Baltic Sea region and the situation in Ukraine, as well as cultural cooperation related to the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Finland and Estonia, spokespeople for the Estonian government told BNS.
Speaking about security, Roivas emphasized that a strong and united common foreign and security policy of the EU and a decisive NATO are in the interest of Estonia. As regards the conflict in Ukraine, the prime minister said that the sanctions must continue as long as the Minsk agreements have not been fulfilled. He added that the alliance's response to the behavior of Russia is strengthening of deterrence. Roivas also invited to intensify security cooperation between the Nordic and the Baltic countries.
"NATO membership is a domestic issue of Finland that the people of Finland will decide about. At the same time, let me assure you that there's not the slightest doubt – Estonia is always ready to help Finland, for better or worse," Roivas said. He said Estonia will make no concessions when it comes to our region's security and if the situation requires, it will go to Finland's aid.
Other topics dealt with by Roivas and Niinisto included energy and infrastructure projects. The prime minister said he was glad that Estonia and Finland submitted together, in conformity with the timeline, an application for funding from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) to build the Balticconnector underwater gas pipeline and added that it is important that the interconnection was completed by the end of 2019.
The prime ministers of Estonia and Finland signed a joint declaration in Helsinki last week complete with a roadmap to bring cooperation between the countries in the digital field to a new level.
Roivas told Niinisto on Tuesday that getting cross-border national e-services off the ground has great potential in improving cooperation between Estonian and Finnish businesses, which not only will make a contribution to the economic growth of both countries but will make them frontrunners in Europe and the world in general.
«The Baltic Course» Is Sold and Stays in Business!
