Minister of the Interior Ohisalo to attend the first meeting of EU home affairs ministers during German Presidency

The EU home affairs ministers will meet at the first informal meeting of Interior Ministers during Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 7 July. The meeting will be held as a video conference. The Ministers will discuss the development of European law enforcement cooperation and search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea. Finland will be represented by Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo.

The development of law enforcement cooperation, especially in police matters, is one of the priorities of Germany’s Presidency. Finland also considers it important to develop law enforcement cooperation in the EU, because a rapidly changing internal security environment and new threats are a challenge to the whole of Europe.

“For example, we must move forward from the challenges posed by national decision-making and legislation and identify and correct obstacles to operational cooperation between law enforcement authorities, especially in border areas, such as incompatible radio frequencies and language barriers," says Minister Ohisalo.

“It is also very important to discuss ways in which equality, fundamental and human rights and anti-racism measures can be promoted in police cooperation at the EU level,” she adds.

Search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean will be another topic of the meeting. The aim is to discuss support for the Mediterranean countries in the coming summer months, when migration in the region is expected to pick up again. 

Finland is committed to seeking common European solutions to immigration and asylum policy and we expect a comprehensive reform package from the Commission soon. It is important that EU Member States facing migratory pressures are not left alone. Finland is now participating in support measures by accepting vulnerable asylum seekers based on the Government decision in February,” Ohisalo says.

Inquiries:

Laura Yli-Vakkuri, Director General, tel. +358 40 720 2216, laura.yli-vakkuri@intermin.fi 
Jarno Lappalainen, Special Adviser to the Minister, tel. +358 40 053 6973, jarno.lappalainen@vnk.fi