Ursula von der Leyen to Finland: Combating Illegal Immigration and Addressing Border Closures

Ursula von der Leyen, the chairman of the commission, is currently in Finland to understand the situation on Finland’s eastern border with Petteri Orpo. The land border crossings between Finland and Russia have been closed since the beginning of August, and over 1,300 third-country nationals without visas have arrived in Finland from Russia. There are suspicions that their entry was influenced by foreign authorities or other actors.

The Finnish government has taken measures to address this issue by closing the border crossings and working on a new law that would allow immigrants entering through the eastern border to be returned without being admitted to the asylum process. However, this draft law has faced criticism from constitutional law experts, the Border Guard, and others who argue that it violates the constitution, international obligations, and EU law.

The discussions in Lappeenranta will be crucial in addressing these challenges effectively. Ursula von der Leyen and Petteri Orpo will discuss ways in which Finland combats illegal immigration and issues related to Eastern Finland’s vitality during their stay in Lappeenranta. The land border crossings with Russia remain closed for now, but it is not clear when they will reopen.