Finland Times

 

The patrol ship Merikarhu (Sea Bear) is scheduled to coordinate in a border security mission with the European border control agency Frontex. File Photo Lehtikuva.

The Finnish Border Guard is preparing to send a patrol ship to the Mediterranean early next year to help combat illegal entry into EU territory, Border Guard sources said.

 

The patrol ship Merikarhu (Sea Bear) is scheduled to join in a border security mission with the European border control agency Frontex. 

 

The mission is to combat illegal entry into Greece, where many entrants first enter the EU.

 

The interior ministers of EU countries on October 8 agreed that the EU’s southern borders should be sent additional assistance to combat uncontrolled immigration.

 

Interior minister Petteri Orpo. File Photo Lehtikuva.

After the meeting, Interior Minister Petteri Orpo said Finland will participate by sending additional aid and that the matter is being arranged with the Border Guard.

 

“By participating in activities in the Mediterranean Sea, Finland is supporting the Greek authorities’ operations and demonstrating solidarity at this time with a member country under the toughest pressure,” the Border Guard said in a release.

 

Finland is participating in the Frontex border control operations with a crewed patrol boat and one surveillance airplane. In addition, Finland has sent military officers to participate in operations against Mediterranean Sea human traffickers. The operation is headquartered in Rome.

 

Border Guard patrol team in water. File Photo Lehtikuva.

EU countries are also expected to add staff to their border guards with Greece and Italy. Frontex has requested several hundred new employees from EU member countries to man the bloc’s southern borders.

 

According to Orpo, sending additional personnel cannot come at the expense of the intensive monitoring of northern Finland. 

 

He said that assistance could also be provided by sending equipment.