Finland Times

The Prime Minister, Juha Sipilä and his Polish counterpart Beata Szydło  on Thursday underscored the importance of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy and its development.

Both the Prime Ministers at a meeting in Warsaw also discussed the development of economic cooperation between Finland and Poland, said an official press release.

“Finland and Poland are united, for example, by the fact that we both acknowledge the importance of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy and its development. Work in relation to hybrid threats is also important to us both. We are pleased that Poland is interested in participating in the activities of the centre to counter hybrid threats," said Sipilä after a meeting with Szydło during his visit to Poland.

The Prime Ministers discussed current EU issues, such as the future of the EU, migration and Brexit, as well as the centre to counter hybrid threats to be established in Finland.

They also discussed the security situation in the Baltic Sea region.  

 “In my discussions with the Polish Prime Minister, I also raised the EU’s concern about Poland’s democratic development. For Finland, Poland is an important country, both bilaterally, in the Baltic Sea region, and in the EU. I stated that Finland hopes that Poland and the European Commission would reach a common understanding under the Rule of Law Framework adopted by the Commission. This would be important both for Poland and the EU. The issue of shared values is particularly important now when we must ensure the unity of the EU,” said Sipilä.

The Prime Minister during his visit opened an exhibition of Finnish architecture and design, one of the most significant international projects of the Finland 100 programme.

In his capacity as Chair of the Centenary Commission, Prime Minister Sipilä opened the exhibition, entitled “Echoes – 100 Years in Finnish Design and Architecture”, which not only presents world-famous Finnish architecture and design, but also, via them, the key strengths of Finnish society. The exhibition is being held in the Museum of the History of Polish Jews POLIN, designed by the Finnish architect Rainer Mahlamäki. The museum received the Finlandia Prize for Architecture in 2014 and was selected as the European Museum of the Year in 2016. In addition to Warsaw, the Echoes exhibition will also be displayed in Bratislava, Prague, Budapest and Berlin.

“The centenary of Finnish independence will be celebrated in countless events at home and abroad. It’s wonderful that Finland’s story will be told in thousands of different ways, and that old and new friends of Finland around the world can join in the celebrations. The magnificent exhibition now opening in Warsaw tells its own story of the quality, innovativeness, closeness to nature and practicality of Finnish design,” said Sipilä.

Sipilä also highlighted Finnish expertise at an energy sector innovation seminar, arranged by the Embassy of Finland in Warsaw, which was attended by the Polish Deputy Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki as well as Finnish and Polish business representatives. The participating Finnish companies included Fortum, Wärtsilä, UPM, Valmet, Stora Enso and Watrec.

During his working visit, Prime Minister Sipilä also held discussions with Ryszard Petru, leader of the opposition party Nowoczesna, the press release added.