Welcoming the Prime Minister of Finland Petter Orpo for a This is Europe debate, the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola reiterate Parliament’s appreciation for Finland’s commitment to the European Union, to our shared values and particularly for its support to Ukraine and to our collective security.
Dear colleagues,
I am delighted to announce that we have the Prime Minister of Finland, Petteri Orpo with us today.
Dear Prime Minister, Dear Petteri,
Welcome to the European Parliament. Thank you for accepting our invitation to address this House as part of our “This is Europe” series of debates.
Finland is a nation I know well and one that I can say holds a very special place in my heart. But allow me, now on behalf of all Members of this House, to reiterate the European Parliament’s appreciation for Finland’s commitment to the European Union - over your thirty year membership - to our shared values and particularly for your support to Ukraine and to our collective security.
Thank you Prime Minister for your personal leadership and your resolve towards strengthening our European project, for Finland’s support to a free and democratic Ukraine and to commend you on steering Finland towards NATO membership.
Having a 1,400 kilometre border with Russia, means that Finland is uniquely qualified to lead when it comes to Europe’s security and defence. It also means that Finland has faced hybrid threats in recent weeks and months that have put pressure on our systems.
We understand that our security architecture must be able to respond to the level of threat our way of life is facing.
Finland has benefitted from close to two billion euros in Recovery and Resilience funds that will support Finland’s economy in the digital and green transition and RePowerEU cleanTech funds will continue to support Finland’s innovation, and businesses on the road to sustainable growth. This is important to underline.
And it is important that, as I said in Helsinki last week, many Finnish citizens as possible continue to help shape the future of Europe and go out to vote in the European Parliament elections on the 9th of June.
Dear Prime Minister, dear Petteri, the floor is yours.
You can read the President's speech in Finnish here.