Today, the delegation of the National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) goes on a two-day working visit to Finland on the invitation of the Defence Committee of the Eduskunta (Parliament of Finland).

Chairman of the National Defence Committee Kalev Stoicescu said that Estonia and Finland were close neighbours, partners and allies, and that Finland’s accession to NATO had further strengthened the cooperation between the two countries. “Finland’s, as well as Sweden’s, accession to NATO has opened up new opportunities for defence and security cooperation that need to be used wisely and will significantly strengthen the security of the entire Baltic Sea region,” he stated.

The impacts of Finland’s accession to NATO and its contribution to collective defence, including the establishing of NATO Multi Corps Land Component Command in Mikkeli, will be discussed at the meetings held during the visit. Besides security and defence cooperation, defence spending and investments, developing of defence industry, supporting Ukraine and supporting regional security in a wider context will be spoken about at the meeting.

During the two days, the delegation of the National Defence Committee will meet with the Defence Committee of the Eduskunta, as well as with Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of Finland Esa Pulkkinen and Chief of Defence Command of Finland Lieutenant General Vesa Virtanen. The National Defence Committee delegation will also visit the Finnish naval base in Upinniemi, where cooperation with Estonia, and issues relating to coastal defence, mine laying and protection of critical underwater infrastructure will be discussed.

Besides the Chairman of the National Defence Committee, Deputy Chairman of the Committee Leo Kunnas and members of the Committee Enn Eesmaa, Raimond Kaljulaid, Anti Poolamets, Peeter Tali and Kristo Enn Vaga participate in the visit.

The National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu has regularly cooperated with the Defence Committee of the Eduskunta and held annual working meetings since 1993, which makes it the Committee with the longest bilateral cooperation relations in the Riigikogu.

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
+372 631 6356, +372 520 0323
[email protected]
Questions: [email protected]