Baltic parliamentarians visit the Finnish-Russian border and emphasize the need for a common EU approach to border protection

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The eastern border of the European Union is a shared responsibility that requires increased awareness, a tighter focus, as well as better and closer cooperation of all the democratic countries of the Baltic Sea region, as well as other countries of the European Union. This is especially relevant in light of Russian aggression and growing security threats. A joint approach to the coordination of border protection is urgently needed, says Jānis Vucāns, head of the Baltic Assembly delegation.

Members of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BJPK) from Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden visited the border crossing point in Vartius on the Finnish-Russian border these days. It is the easternmost border crossing point in the European Union.

Andris Kulbergs, head of the Energy Supply Security, Self-sufficiency, Resilience and Connectivity Working Group of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference, is visiting Finland together with J.Vucanas. This working group has previously deliberated together with Finnish security experts on the protection of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, especially in the energy sector.

Parliamentarians from the Baltic States, visiting the border, emphasize the need for a more comprehensive approach to security, preparedness, cooperation and prevention of hybrid threats at local, national and regional levels in the Baltic Sea region.

We believe that governments should make it a priority to develop a coherent strategy to more effectively defend our common border, communities and their infrastructure. The European Union should consider border security in the east and allocate the necessary resources to strengthen cooperation and readiness in the Baltic Sea region, informs J. Vucāns.

J. Vucāns also emphasizes that the Finnish border guard demonstrably demonstrates a proactive approach in protecting the country’s borders, emphasizing the importance of regional cooperation in combating international challenges. We also got an insight into the role of the Kainu military brigade in preparing to train personnel to form units for the defense of the northern parts of Finland.

BJPK was founded in 1991 at the initiative of Finland with the aim of promoting a common identity in the Baltic Sea region through closer cooperation between the countries and municipalities of the region. The national and regional parliaments of the countries around the Baltic Sea (except Russia and its regional parliaments), as well as the Baltic Assembly, the European Parliament and the Nordic Council, are represented in this organization.

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Saeima Press Service