Prime Minister Marin to visit Western Balkans on Monday

Early next week, Prime Minister Sanna Marin will visit Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania and Croatia. The main topics on the agenda of the meeting with the state leaders are Finland’s application to join NATO, the impact of the application on strengthening NATO’s security, and NATO's future policies. Other topics to be discussed are the EU accession processes of Albania, North Macedonia and Montenegro.

The topics also include Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and its consequences, support for Ukraine, and bilateral relations. Besides NATO affairs and security policy, the topics to be discussed with the state leaders of Croatia include topical issues on the EU’s agenda and preparations for the European Council. The European Council and the meeting between the leaders of the EU and Western Balkans to be held in Brussels at the end of the week will be discussed in various connections.

On Monday 20 June, Prime Minister Marin will meet Montenegro's Prime Minister Dritan Abazović and President of the Parliament Danijela Đurović in Podgorica. In addition, Marin will have bilateral meetings with North Macedonia's Prime Minister Dimitra Kovačevski, President Stevo Pendarovski and President of the Assembly Talat Xhaferi in Skopje.

On Tuesday 21 June, Prime Minister Marin will travel to Tirana, Albania, where she will have a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Edi Rama. In Zagreb, Croatia, Marin will meet Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and President Zoran Milanović.

Inquiries: Jari Luoto, State Under-Secretary for European Affairs, tel. +358 50 468 5949; Lauri Voionmaa, Special Adviser (International Affairs), tel. +358 50 421 0422 and Päivi Paasikoski, Director of Government Communications, tel. +358 40 547 6279, Prime Minister's Office