Debate: Recent developments at the EU’s external border between Finland and Russia and the need to uphold EU law
Date: TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2023
Speaker: Ylva Johansson
Language: EN

Two years ago, in October, I stood before this House discussing with you Lukashenko’s brutal instrumentalisation of migrants. Now it is not Poland, Latvia, Lithuania under pressure, but Finland. Now people are not entering from Belarus, but from Russia itself. But it seems to be the same exploitation of vulnerable people. There seems to be the same accounts of people freezing at the border. We will meet it with the same answer: determination and unity, and solidarity with Finland, solidarity also with vulnerable people.  Let’s start with the facts. At the EU border with Finland, Russian border guards have been letting people through without Schengen visas or EU residence permits. People of 27 different nationalities, nearly 700 people since July. People who are being misled. People who are being used by Russia. Last Thursday, the Finnish Government notified us that they would close four out of nine border crossings with Russia, as of midnight last Friday until next February, at Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa, Imatra and Niirala, to protect public order and safeguard national security.  I visited Nuijamaa border crossing last year at the Finnish border, the longest border with Russia of any EU Member State. There, I could see for myself the Finnish commitment to protecting our EU borders and upholding EU values. And there I could not only see, but also feel just how close Russia is.  The Finnish Government has been clear that vulnerable people will get the help they need. The possibility to apply for international protection is guaranteed at two other border crossings, at Vartius and Salla, an important safeguard which will guarantee that access to protection will remain effective.  Since Saturday, arrivals have shifted to remaining crossing points as far north as Lapland. The Finnish Government said they will continuously assess the necessity and proportionality of these measures, and will act as the changing situation demands.  So what is behind Russia’s actions? Finnish intelligence reports that Russia sees Finland as a hostile state since it joined NATO in April. Let us remember that Finland joined NATO as a result of Russia’s unprovoked, full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year. Russia is now using any means available to destabilise our Union, our Member States and our neighbours. The goal? To break our united front against Russia’s war of aggression.  To Russia, we say: we will not let you divide us. To Finland, we say: the Finnish border is the EU’s border, the European Union is behind you, you can count on our full support to protect the EU border and uphold fundamental rights.  Last week, President von der Leyen expressed our support in a call with Prime Minister Petteri Orpo. The Commission is in constant contact with the Finnish authorities. Finland has now requested additional operational support from Frontex, up to 60 standing corps officers in the coming weeks. The situation is developing by the hour. The Commission and its agencies are ready to respond as the situation changes.  Honourable Members, let us remember how two years ago we all worked together, how we worked with third countries to stop people from being tricked into flying to Belarus. We can be proud of how we faced down Lukashenko by acting united. We must now live up to that responsibility and stand united with Finland. The numbers are not high, yet, but are dangerous. Russia wants to divide us as a Union. So we must act united as a Union.  So let this be a wakeup call. Yesterday, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania. Today, Finland. Tomorrow, another country could be next. We need to stop improvising. We need a clear EU framework in place. Two years ago, the Commission put forward a proposal to put in place a common EU framework, helping Member States deal with the challenge of instrumentalisation in a way that is compliant with the EU standards, to stop hostile states using our own values against us while remaining true to these values.  What’s happening now at the EU border in Finland proves how crucial it is for the EU to have common EU rules on tackling instrumentalisation. Rules that send a clear message: Europe is strong and united against any hybrid threat.  And we need an agreement on the pact. I am here in Strasbourg taking part in the negotiations on key files, including files where the issue of instrumentalisation will be discussed and where we need to make progress.  Our policy now has to be unity. We need to be united and agree on the pact to manage migration in an orderly way. And we need to be united in our support for Finland, for Ukraine and for all those under threat by Russia.