Finland calls on the EU to help stop the influx of migrants from Russia

Finland calls on the EU to help stop the influx of migrants from Russia

Kyiv  •  UNN

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Finland is calling on the EU to take action to help stem the flow of migrants arriving through Russia, accusing Moscow of using migration flows as a weapon.

The European Union should take measures to help Finland stop the influx of migrants from Russia, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said on Friday. This was reported by Reuters, according to UNN.

The European Union should take steps to help Finland stop the influx of migrants coming through Russia,

- Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said on Friday.

Details

Last year, Finland closed its own border with Russia amid rising numbers of arrivals from countries such as Syria and Somalia and accused Moscow of using migrant flows as a weapon against itself and the EU as a whole.

"We are preparing our own legislation, but we also need measures at the EU level," the Finnish Prime Minister said after visiting the country's border with Russia together with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The head of the European Commission said that the EU is working closely with the countries of origin of migrants who came to Finland and agreed with the position of the Finnish government.

We see that one state is using poor people to put pressure on another state, and this is an obvious security problem,

- She said.

Ursula von der Leyen also added that the measures taken to combat migrants from Russia should find a balance between protecting border security and international obligations.

Recall

Finland has closed several water crossings on the border with Russia, including the Saimaa Canal, Haapasaari and Santio checkpoints, after rejecting Russian complaints about the decision to close the border.