Helsinki-Uusimaa Region and Brandenburg strengthen connections between Finland and Central Europe
Tuija Telén, Regional Mayor of the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region, Johanna Laisaari, Deputy Mayor for Urban Environment of the City of Helsinki, and Robert Crumbach, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Planning of the State of Brandenburg, met in Brussels on 28 September at the Helsinki EU Office to discuss how to strengthen cooperation and connectivity between the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region, Helsinki and Brandenburg.
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Region and Helsinki occupy a unique position on Europe’s transport map: three EU transport corridors converge in the region. Together, they connect Finland to Germany and further to Central and Southern Europe via Sweden, the Baltic States and Poland.
The Stockholm–Turku–Helsinki corridor provides a route to Germany and Italy through Scandinavia. The Tampere–Helsinki–Tallinn–Warsaw corridor links Finland to the Baltic States, Poland and the markets of Central Europe.
The connection between Helsinki and Tallinn is set to gain a new strategic role with the completion of Rail Baltica, bringing Finland closer than ever to the European railway network.
“The Helsinki-Tallinn Tunnel would strengthen Finland’s connection to Europe in an entirely new way. The tunnel would complement Rail Baltica and provide Finland with a direct link to the European rail network through Tallinn, the Baltic States and Poland. Its significance extends far beyond Helsinki and Finland,” says Johanna Laisaari, Deputy Mayor of Helsinki.
In the current security environment, strengthening connections between Northern and Central Europe is a matter of both competitiveness and security. The EU’s next long-term budget period presents a unique opportunity to advance these goals. Under the European Commission’s proposal, funding for transport infrastructure would increase from €25.8 billion to €51.5 billion for the period 2028-2034. Of this amount, €17.65 billion would be allocated to military mobility and dual-use infrastructure. The focus is on cross-border connections.
“Significantly more EU funding is expected to be directed towards Europe’s transport infrastructure during the next budget period. This presents an important opportunity for Finland to advance cross-border connectivity. We must be able to make use of this funding for projects that strengthen Finland’s connections to the rest of Europe,” says Tuija Telén, Regional Mayor of the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region.
For the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region, Brandenburg is a natural partner for EU advocacy and cooperation. Located on the Polish border, Brandenburg serves as a gateway to the markets of Central Europe and as a key hub for both north-south and east-west transport connections.
“Germany is Europe’s largest market, and efficient connections to Poland and onward to the Baltic States and Finland strengthen economic opportunities across the continent. We share a common interest in developing a transport network that better connects Central and Northern Europe,” says Robert Crumbach, Minister of Infrastructure of Brandenburg.
*Text has been translated using artificial intelligence