Ministers of Schengen States with external land borders to visit Nuijamaa border crossing point with Minister of the Interior Räsänen

Led by Finnish Minister of the Interior Päivi Räsänen, the Home Affairs Ministers of Schengen States with eastern external land borders will visit the Nuijamaa border crossing point on Thursday 12 September. This visit is part of the first informal ministerial meeting between Schengen States with external land borders, opened today by Ms Räsänen at Helsinki-Vantaa airport. From the airport, the Ministers were taken to Nuijamaa by helicopters.

"During our meeting, we are going to exchange experiences on the challenges associated with the management of the external land borders, the growth of Eastern Mobility and our preparations for possible visa-free travel between the EU and Russia," said Ms Räsänen.

Schengen States with eastern external land borders (Finland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia) and the EU external borders agency Frontex convene in Lappeenranta on the invitation of Finland and Poland. The purpose of the meeting is to step up and expand cooperation and to look for ways to address the challenges shared by these countries.

"In preparing for the growth of Eastern Mobility and the possibility of visa-free travel, our goal is to enhance people-to-people contacts on both sides of the border and to secure the operating conditions for businesses without compromising Finland's or the EU's internal security," said Ms Räsänen.

According to Ms Räsänen, the Ministers responsible for border control, internal security and immigration in the Schengen area should ensure smooth cross-border and transit traffic at the EU's external borders while taking care that the EU requirements for border control are met. These topics will be discussed in further detail on Friday 13 September. In conclusion of the meeting, the Ministers will adopt a joint statement.

For further information, please contact Ms Katarine Lindstedt, Senior Adviser, tel. +358 71 878 8258, Mr Kalle Kekomäki, Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 71 878 8252