Helsinki, 17 February 2023
Prime Minister Sanna Marin visited Vienna on Friday 17 February. The programme of the visit included meetings with Austria’s Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen. The focus in the discussions was on the current challenges facing Europe, including support to Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s war of aggression, economic actions of the EU and migration.
Among the topics raised in the discussion was the importance of economic, military and political support to Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s aggression. Key elements of this support include EU sanctions against Russia and follow-up efforts to prevent the circumvention of these sanctions. Also on the agenda was how Russia will be brought to justice for its extensive war crimes in Ukraine.
“As the first anniversary of the war is getting closer, we must be determined in our support to Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s criminal war of aggression. Ukraine is defending its own territory, its own people and its own culture, in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter. At the same time, it defends the values of the whole free world. We must also give our full support to the efforts to achieve a just peace,” Prime Minister Marin said.
In the discussion on the EU’s economic actions and the State aid rules, Prime Minister Marin emphasised that short-term measures to response to the economic challenges should also support the EU’s competitiveness in the long term.
With respect to migration, Prime Minister Marin shares the concerns related to the growing numbers of unauthorised border crossings to the EU. The need to reach a common solution in the EU’s migration and asylum reform as soon as possible was discussed as well. In many EU countries close to the Western Balkans and especially in Austria the numbers of asylum seekers have increased significantly.
Other topics on the agenda included the role and future of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe OSCE and Finland’s Chairmanship of the OSCE in 2025.
Within the EU, Finland and Austria have similar views on economic and competitiveness policy and on numerous other issues. Both countries also emphasise the importance of the multilateral rules-based system in world politics.
This was Prime Minister Marin’s first visit to Austria.
Source – Finnish Government