Finland says yes to EU common border troops: Interior Minister

The Finnish Minister of Interior Petteri Orpo said that the intensification of cross-border cooperation and the establishment of the EU's common border troops are in the interest of Finland, reported the Finnish daily Turun Sanomat on Wednesday.

In the middle of December last year, the European Commission unveiled its plan to set up a joint border and coastguard force to control the Schengen external borders. The proposal has won wide support from the EU leaders.

It is proposed that the new troops will have at least 1,500 rapid response reservists, which can be sent to assist member states to make border controls. Finland's share would be about 40 to 50 border guards.

The Administration Committee of the Finnish Parliament started on Tuesday to process the government's bill on the issue.

The Finnish minister said that the refugee crisis in the EU might become formidable in the next few weeks or months.

If the flows of migrants from Turkey and Greece through the Western Balkan route calm down, he warned, it is crucial to be careful whether they would turn to seek new routes, for example, through the Middle East.

Since the beginning of 2015, a large influx of refugees has constantly flooded into Europe, making the EU states fall into an unprecedented refugee crisis. Endit