French Foreign Minister Barrot to visit Helsinki and meet Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen.

French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot will visit Helsinki and meet Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen on 14 September. During their discussions, the ministers will sign a document on a strategic partnership between Finland and France. They will also receive briefings on security in the Baltic Sea region.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot will discuss bilateral relations between Finland and France as well as current foreign and security policy matters. During the visit, the ministers will sign a document on a strategic partnership between Finland and France.

“France is a key partner and ally for Finland. Through this strategic partnership, we will strengthen and deepen the broad-based cooperation between our countries. The current geopolitical situation underscores the importance of close partnerships,” says Minister for Foreign Affairs Valtonen.

The strategic partnership provides a framework for existing cooperation between Finland and France. It promotes closer collaboration across a range of sectors, including security and defence, energy, environmental and climate issues, and science, innovation and technology. A key objective of the partnership is also to promote bilateral commercial cooperation between Finland and France.

During the visit, the ministers will also gain first-hand insight into security in the Baltic Sea region and the work of the Finnish Border Guard.

Minister Barrot will arrive in Helsinki from Rovaniemi, where he is taking part in the European Arctic Summit hosted by Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.