A competitive future for the European Union and a stable security environment depend on well-functioning transport connections. Cross-border transport corridors in Northern Europe directly contribute to achieving these key objectives of the Union. This was the central message in Brussels on 28 September, when Finland’s Growth Triangle, comprising Uusimaa, Southwest Finland and Pirkanmaa, hosted a joint event in connection with Connecting Europe Days.
Opening the event, Tuija Télen, Regional Mayor of the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council, and Johanna Laisaari, Deputy Mayor of the City of Helsinki, highlighted the importance of cross-border cooperation in advancing European transport projects. The joint event itself was a good example of such cooperation, with partners from both Stockholm and Tallinn participating as co-organisers. National perspectives need to be elevated to a new level and extended beyond national borders towards Europe, looking both southwards and westwards.
The event also featured contributions from both the European Parliament and the European Commission. Estonian Member of the European Parliament and former Prime Minister Jüri Ratas emphasised the importance of efficient transport connections in the EU’s northern regions for the functioning of the European Single Market.
“Tallinn should not be regarded merely as the end point of Rail Baltica. The connection must continue to Helsinki, Turku and onwards via Stockholm,” Ratas said, noting that these links also play a key role in strengthening Europe’s security.
Gabriele Giudice, a member of the Cabinet of European Commission Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto, stressed the importance of developing Northern European connections from both a comprehensive security and a competitiveness perspective. He also noted that various EU funding instruments will continue to support connectivity investments during future funding periods.
The closing remarks were delivered by Jyri Arponen, Regional Mayor of Southwest Finland. He emphasised the importance of cooperation between Europe’s northern regions.
“Population growth, expertise and research, development and innovation activities are increasingly concentrated in Finland’s Growth Triangle. The connections serving this area are critically important both nationally and across borders,” Arponen noted.
Finland’s Growth Triangle calls for the creation of a shared long-term vision for developing transport connections in Northern Europe. This would be in the interest of Europe as a whole.
