Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill on Security & Defence visit to Finland, Lithuania and Estonia

Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, will begin a three-day visit to Finland, Lithuania and Estonia on Wednesday. The visits stem from ongoing conversations the Minister is having with her European Union counterparts when it comes to common areas of security and defence.

Speaking ahead of the visit, Minister Carroll MacNeill said:

“Over the last number of years, we have witnessed the complexity and broadening of threats being faced across the globe – whether that be Russia’s illegal, full-scale invasion of Ukraine or the pervasive and sophisticated cyber and hybrid threats.

“This visit is a welcome opportunity to develop and strengthen Ireland’s relationships with like-minded countries on these increasingly important issues of security and defence. I welcome sharing perspectives and building on our already strong bilateral relationships with Finland, Lithuania and Estonia”.

Continuing the strong focus on security and defence issues, the Minister will also use this opportunity to visit and be briefed at the Belarusian – Lithuanian Border and at the Russian – Estonian Border. This first-hand insight at the EU Borders with Belarus and Russia will be vital in strengthening our understanding of the wide-ranging consequences in Europe of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

Throughout the visit, Minister Carroll MacNeill will visit expert centres on topics associated with cyber security, hybrid threats, security and defence issues. In particular, the Minister will meet with:

• In Helsinki, the National Cyber Security Centre and the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats.

• In Vilnius, the National Crisis Management Centre.

• In Tallinn, the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence.

The Minister will meet with her counterparts, the Finnish Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering, Mr. Joakim Strand, and Lithuanian Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Simonas Šatūnas to discuss these important matters and other EU matters of strategic importance to Ireland, including EU enlargement and reform.