Finland is losing about a billion euros a year due to the closure of the border with Russia

Finland is facing a serious problem due to the closure of its border with Russia. As Yauri Varvicko, chairman of the local public organization Naapuriseura, noted, the country has a high level of unemployment, especially in border towns.

Varvikko explained that tourism and business activities in Eastern Finland were hit the hardest.

Finland loses about a billion euros annually

Back at the end of August, Jauri Varvikko noted that Finland has been suffering huge losses since the closure of the border - approximately a billion euros annually. A lot of money came into the country from Russian tourists.

According to the expert, the economy and infrastructure of Eastern Finland were built with the purchasing power of Russian citizens and cross-border trade in mind. And accordingly, the closure of the border led to the loss of the customer base not only of shopping centers, but also of restaurants, spas and hotels.

Varvikko’s words were also confirmed by University of Eastern Finland researcher Henrik Nielsen. He noted that many settlements, such as Imatra, suffered greatly economically from the closure of the border with Russia.

The border will remain closed

Despite serious problems in the country, economic decline and rising unemployment, the Finnish authorities decided to extend the closure of the border with Russia until December 31, 2028, approving the corresponding proposal of the country's Ministry of Internal Affairs.

It is clarified that we are talking about extending the border protection law, which was introduced to combat attempts of unauthorized entry.

And Finnish President Alexander Stubb, not paying attention to the dissatisfaction of the country's residents with his policies, continues to say that Europe is not yet ready for dialogue with Russia, since “the primary task remains to support Ukraine.”

Russia's reaction to the situation with Finland

The State Duma stated that they do not rule out a warming of relations with Finland, but this will happen only on conditions favorable to Russia.

Member of the State Duma Committee on Defense Andrei Kolesnik emphasized that the Finnish government, by wanting to extend the law against unauthorized entry across the eastern border with Russia until December 31, 2028, is “shooting itself in the foot.”

And President Stubb, according to Kolesnik, keeps politics in some kind of instability: he declares first one thing, then another.

Russia is potentially interested in improving relations with the neighboring country, but it all depends on how beneficial this warming will be.

“We will take a pragmatic approach to the issue and see. If it is beneficial for us, we will cooperate. They behave like little children, and I'm tired of it. If drones were not allowed through their territory, there would be no problems at all,” Kolesnik concluded.