PM stresses EU-Russia dialogue

Prime Minister Juha Sipilä on Thursday underscored the importance of dialogue in the context of the Ukrainian conflict overshadowing the relations between the European Union and Russia.

“The EU-Russia relations are overshadowed by the Ukrainian conflict and linked to a resolution to the conflict. Despite the current sanctions, the EU and Russia are neighbours and cooperation in various sectors is in the interest of both parties. Dialogue remains important,” Sipilä said during a meeting with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in St Petersburg.

The premiers also attended the opening of the Finnish-Russian culture forum held as part of Finland’s independence centenary celebrations, said a government press release.

Sipilä and Medvedev discussed key bilateral issues including the promotion of the countries’ economic relations.

“We took note of the positive development that has taken place in both trade and tourism between Finland and Russia since our previous meeting in Oulu last December. There is an upswing in the number of border crossings and visa applications. In terms of overnight stays, the number of Russian tourists in Finland has increased by 19 per cent,” said Sipilä.

The prime ministers also discussed environmental issues, such as the Krasnoi Bor hazardous waste landfill site and black carbon. The countries in the Arctic Council target to reduce black carbon emissions which contribute to climate change in the Arctic region.

Sipilä and Medvedev spoke at the opening of the Finnish-Russian culture forum. The theme of the 18th culture forum is ‘a hundred faces of culture’, which is the main event marking the centenary of Finland’s independence in Russia.

In St Petersburg, Sipilä also met Finnish and Russian business representatives at the Finland House, which is to be purchased by the State of Finland as per an agreement made by Sipilä and Medvedev last December. In their meeting with Prime Minister Sipilä, the business representatives talked about Russia as a market and their business prospects there.