British News Agency

European Council President Antonio Costa said that during his visit to Finland, they discussed Europe’s security and defense preparedness as well as the strategic importance of the Arctic region.

Sharing details of the visit and talks, Costa said, “Thank you, Petteri Orpo, for hosting me during my visit to Rovaniemi as part of the Tour of Capitals. We discussed strengthening the EU’s security and defense preparedness with a 360-degree approach.”

Drawing attention to Finland’s initiative, Costa said, “Finland’s initiative to convene the first-ever European Arctic Summit highlighted the strategic importance of this region; thank you for this, dear Petteri.”

Emphasizing support for Ukraine, Costa said, “Europe’s security is inseparably linked to Ukraine’s security. We will continue to support Ukraine for as long as necessary.”

Costa concluded his statement by saying, “To respond to the new geopolitical reality, we need a new approach to the EU’s next long-term budget. We must reach an agreement by the end of this year.”