HELSINKI: Finland鈥檚 Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will host four high-ranking EU counterparts in late December for talks on security and immigration, the Finnish government said on Thursday.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will join the summit, which will take place in Saariselka in Finland鈥檚 far north on December 21 and 22.
Discussions will focus on 鈥渒ey issues facing Europe in a tense geopolitical climate,鈥� the government said in a statement.
Topics like 鈥淓uropean security, defense and preparedness, as well as migration, instrumentalization of migration and border security鈥� will be on the agenda.
鈥淭he summit will provide an opportunity to discuss issues confidentially and come up with ideas for new initiatives,鈥� the statement said.
Finland has accused Russia of orchestrating a surge of migrants after nearly 1,000 migrants without visas arrived at its 1,340-kilometer-long (830-mile) eastern border with Russia in the autumn of 2023.
Helsinki dubbed it a 鈥渉ybrid attack,鈥� but the Kremlin has denied the accusation.
鈥淓urope has to take greater responsibility for its own security,鈥� Orpo was quoted saying in the statement.
鈥淭his means that European countries have to be strong leaders, both in the EU and in NATO. Our greatest threat is Russia, which is trying to consolidate power and sow discord in Europe.鈥�