EU budget must fund Finland's border security

The EPP is calling for the EU's long-term budget to reflect the growing security challenges at the EU's external borders. In Finland, which shares almost 1,400 km of border with Russia, Siegfried Mureșan MEP, EPP Group Vice-President and the European Parliament's chief negotiator on the next long-term EU budget (MFF), is underlining why stronger EU support is needed to respond to today’s security realities.

"The challenges Finland is facing at its border are a clear example of why Europe must work more closely together to address the Russian threat by strengthening its defence capabilities and border security. However, Europe must match these ambitions with the means to deliver. This is why we need a moderate 10% increase in the EU budget compared with what the European Commission proposed. But we also need to spend smarter and together: €1 invested in defence at European level can be far more effective than €3 spent separately by three Member States," said Mureșan.

"Europe's eastern flank is a frontline of defence for the whole of Europe, facing Russian attacks ranging from energy and data-network sabotage to GPS jamming, instrumentalised migration and drone incursions. We need faster implementation of Eastern Flank Watch to strengthen our surveillance and defence," says Aura Salla MEP, stressing that the long-term threat from Russia and economic challenges facing eastern border regions must also be reflected in the EU's next MFF.

"The Council, which brings together the heads of state or government of the EU Member States, correctly identifies the threats facing Europe. Unfortunately, so far, it has failed to provide the resources needed to address them. Division is costing us far too much and, in the face of Russia, we simply cannot afford it," concluded Mureșan.