EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos to visit Helsinki

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos will visit Helsinki on Friday 18 September and meet Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen.

They will discuss the EU's enlargement policy in general and the accession process of Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans. Finland supports the European integration of the EU's neighbourhood and the development of democracy and the rule of law in these countries, which is particularly important in the current challenging geopolitical situation.

“I value the opportunity to discuss the next steps in EU enlargement with Commissioner Kos. Close cooperation between the Member States and the Commission is essential for building a more stable and secure Europe,” says Minister for Foreign Affairs Valtonen.

During her visit, Commissioner Kos will also meet Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Joakim Strand and attend an event at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs marking 30 years of the European Commission’s TAIEX programme. Through the programme, Finnish public authorities and experts, together with their counterparts from other EU Member States, can support administrative development and the strengthening of institutions in the EU’s partner countries. These are also an important part of preparation by EU candidate countries. Finland is a long-standing contributor to TAIEX missions.