Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo speaks to MEPs to outline his vision on Europe’s challenges and future. Before the debate, EP President Roberta Metsola holds a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Orpo, followed by a press point at 10.20 (still to be confirmed). Thirteen EU heads of state or government have discussed the future of the EU in the plenary in “This is Europe” debates. Opening statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

statement

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

EU - Finland (T)

This is Europe Debate (T)

ORPO, Antti Petteri

This is Europe - Debate with Petteri ORPO, Finnish Prime Minister: Opening statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/75423276/1710322964232_I254522Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Dear colleagues, I am delighted to announce that we have the Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo with us today. Dear Prime Minister, dear Petteri, welcome to the European Parliament. Thank you for accepting our invitation to address this House as part of our This is Europe series of debates. Finland is a nation I know well and one that I can say holds a very special place in my heart. But allow me on behalf now, of all the members of this House, to reiterate the European Parliament's appreciation for Finland's commitment to the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Over your 30 year membership, to our shared values, and particularly for your support to Ukraine and to our collective security. Thank you, Prime Minister, for your personal leadership and your resolve towards strengthening our European project for Finland's support to a free and democratic Ukraine, and to commend you on steering Finland towards NATO membership. Having a 1400 kilometre border with Russia and Finland is uniquely qualified to lead when it comes to Europe's security and defence. It also means that Finland has faced hybrid threats in recent weeks and months that have put pressure on our systems and we understand that our security architecture must be able to respond to the level of threat that our way of life is facing.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, So, Finland has benefited from close to €2 billion in Recovery and Resilience funds that will support Finland's economy in the digital and green transition and RepowerEU clean tech funds will continue to support Finland's innovation and businesses on the road to sustainable growth. This is important to underline, and it is important that, as I said in Helsinki last week, as many Finnish citizens as possible continue to help shape the future of Europe and go out to vote in the European Parliament elections on the night of June. So, Dear Prime Minister, dear Petteri, the floor is yours.

 Today I stand before you not just as the Prime Minister of Finland, but also a committed European, eager to serve Finland's vision for a resilient, competitive and secure Europe.

 Now we find ourselves at a key moment in history, one that calls for our courage, unity and determination. We have returned to the very fundaments of European integration, promoting peace and defending our values. The ongoing war in Ukraine is not just the conflict on our continent's borders. It is a stark reminder of fragility of our peace.

 We are living in the time where practically all policy fields are linked to our security, and without security, we cannot ensure the prosperous future for Europe.

 The escalation of state aid competition threatens the very core of our single market. Such competition can lead to a race to the bottom, where countries with deeper pockets can unfairly support their domestic industries. The principle of the single market is founded on equal opportunities for all, not a fragmented landscape. Walls are built on financial muscle, overshadows market dynamics. It is crucial that we restore the normal state aid rules.