Marin, Sánchez discuss Ukraine war, NATO, EU policy

Prime Minister Sanna Marin and her Spanish counterpart Pedro Sánchez on Friday met in Helsinki and discussed various issues including the Ukraine war and Finland´s NATO membership, said an official press release.

They focused on measures to strengthen the EU’s strategic economy and other major issues in EU policy and Finland’s deepening allyship as the country becomes a member of NATO.

Spain will hold the Presidency of the Council of the EU during the second half of 2023.

Marin assured Sánchez of Finland’s full support for the Spanish Presidency, which will play a key role in finding EU-level solutions not only to strengthen strategic autonomy in the long term, but also on issues related to competitiveness, the energy market and migration.

The EU’s commitment to supporting Ukraine was an important topic of discussion.

Sánchez thanked Finland for its “sisu”, or determination, referring to the country’s resolute security policy and support for Ukraine since the start of Russia’s war of aggression.

Marin, for her part, thanked Spain for its unwavering support for Finland’s NATO membership.

Marin noted that Finland and Spain share many common objectives and are working together to strengthen the multilateral rules-based system and to promote human rights, gender equality and a just green transition, among other goals.

In recent years, the countries’ excellent relations have become even closer, expanding to include partnerships in research and industry.

New cooperation has emerged in areas such as promoting green hydrogen production and developing smart cities.

It was Sánchez’s first visit to Finland during his term of office. Marin visited Spain in January 2022, the press release added.