Finland, Italy for joint efforts to handle refugee crisis

President Sauli Niinistö and his visiting Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella on Wednesday emphasised making joint efforts by the European countries to handle the ongoing refugee crisis.

“Currently, the greatest pressure is directed towards the Mediterranean route via Italy, and Italy for years have been receiving a huge number of refugees,” Niinistö told a joint press conference after a meeting with Mattarella at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki.

The Finnish president expressed his gratitude to Italy for its work to curb immigration on behalf of the entire Europe.

“We are in agreement that conditions of the places where people are immigrating from should be improved. On the other hand, we must deliberate together how we can control the unmanageable migration,” said Niinistö.

Addressing the press conference, the Italian president said, “Italy values Finland’s message and hopes that [it] is heard internationally.”

The two presidents emphasised adhering to the regulations agreed upon. “Migration cannot be eradicated, however, Europe must be able to manage it together,” remarked Mattarella, referring to the refugee quota set by the European Commission for the EU member states.

He also thanked Finland for conscientiously implementing the agreement and accepting the agreed number of refugees.

During the meeting between the two presidents, it was strongly emphasised that EU must be able to safeguard the security of its citizens.

Counter-terrorism is one issue on which Europe and the international community need to cooperate closely to find solutions, said Niinistö.

Mattarella also expressed his condolences to the victims of the Turku terrorism attacks. On his part, Niinistö remembered the Italian citizen injured during the attack.

The discussion between Niinistö and Mattarella also focused on, among other things, Finland’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council and the Finnish president’s proposal to curb black carbon emissions.

The Italian president referred to Niinistö’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly in which he said, “We would lose the world, if we lose the Arctic region.”

“That is, right after the Paris Agreement further steps in the same direction must be taken,” said Mattarella.

“I was very pleased to have received a lot of support from the Arctic Council for our work,” said Niinistö.

The Italian president expressed his delight at visiting Finland, especially when the country is celebrating its independence centenary. “It is great to go for a state visit this year, when Finland is celebrating its hundred years of independence.”

Finland’s them​e for the centennial year, “Together, according to Mattarella, has always depicted what Finns do. He also pointed out that it has been a good guideline for the European Union and the international community, too.

Niinistö made a working visit to Italy in 2014, when he met with the then president Giorgio Napolitano. The last state visit from an Italian president to Finland was in 2008, when Napolitano met with the then president Tarja Halonen.