Brussels, 22 January 2025
On Thursday and Friday 23 and 24 January, European Commission Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto will visit Finland to discuss the EU’s future Cohesion Policy and the RRF.
The Executive Vice-President will start the mission with a visit to the Eastern border zone at Nuijamaa border crossing, in the South Karelia region, accompanied by State Secretary Risto Artjoki. The visit will be the opportunity to discuss with the regional and local Mayors the challenges faced by Finland’s Eastern border regions, particularly since the closure of the borders due to the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine.
In Helsinki, Executive Vice-President Fitto will meet Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and the Minister for European Affairs Joakim Strand to discuss Finland’s priorities, including increased support to the Northern Sparsely Populated Areas to minimise their structural challenges. A meeting with local representatives hosted by Helsinki Mayor Juhana Vartiainen and joined by the Mayors of Espoo and Vantaa, Kai Mykkanen and Pekka Timomen, is expected to tackle the EU’s Urban Agenda and the role of cities in fostering sustainable development and innovation.
On Friday, Executive Vice-President Fitto will hold meetings with Agriculture Minister Sari Essayah and Economic Affairs Minister Wille Rydman to discuss the role of Cohesion Policy and the RFF in addressing challenges faced by border regions and vulnerable areas.
Source – EU Commission