The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence Simon Coveney is visiting Helsinki and Stockholm. During his visit, the Minister will meet with Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto, Finland’s Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen and Sweden’s Foreign Minister Ann Linde.
Minister Coveney will use this opportunity to discuss Russia’s War of Aggression against Ukraine, the Security situation in Europe, Ireland’s Presidency of the UN Security Council and Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The visit is also an opportunity to build on the strong framework provided by the Nordic Strategy through which Ireland aims to deepen its bilateral and multilateral engagement with the Nordic region including Finland and Sweden.
Minister Coveney said, “I am delighted to get an opportunity to visit with my counterparts in Helsinki and Stockholm. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is having a widespread effect globally and is a key issue for EU Member States. It is important that we continue to foster and develop our bilateral relations in order to meet the ongoing challenges we face together.”
The visit takes part in the year that Finland and Ireland celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations with Minister Coveney remarking that ‘Now, more than ever, the absolute necessity for strong bilateral ties is evident and I look forward to the continuation of the strong alliances that Ireland enjoys with Finland and Sweden’.
The Minister will also visit the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats in Helsinki and host a working dinner with representatives from a number of Swedish think tanks and academic institutions. In addition, a meeting with the Chairpersons of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committees in Parliament (Riksdag) is planned while in Stockholm.