During her visit to Lappeenranta, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, will be accompanied by Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo. The purpose of the visit is to understand the current situation on Finland’s eastern border and address concerns about illegal immigration. In particular, Orpo aims to discuss the vitality of Eastern Finland and its impact on the border region.
In recent months, Finland has taken steps to close land border crossings between itself and Russia due to an influx of third-country nationals without visas. Since August, over 1,300 individuals have arrived in Finland from Russia, prompting the government to enact new laws to address the situation. However, keeping the border crossings closed “for the time being” has sparked criticism from various parties, including constitutional law experts and the Border Guard.
Amidst these developments, Finnish officials are engaging in dialogue with von der Leyen about how they are dealing with illegal immigration at their eastern border. The proposed law to return immigrants without admitting them to the asylum process has raised concerns about its constitutionality and compliance with international obligations. Furthermore, discussions will shed light on strategies employed by Finnish officials to manage this complex situation effectively while maintaining cooperation with other EU member states and addressing security concerns at their external borders.
In conclusion, von der Leyen’s visit is an opportunity for Finland’s government to engage in constructive dialogue about managing illegal immigration at their eastern border while addressing broader issues related to Eastern Finland’s vitality and EU security concerns.
