Today, 4 September, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna met Mayor of Tallinn Peeter Raudsepp to discuss the Tallinn–Helsinki tunnel project and its strategic implications for Estonia, Finland and the
wider Nordic-Baltic region.
The Foreign Minister stressed that the tunnel is not merely an economic project but a strategically important transport link that would improve mobility between Estonia and Finland, strengthen the region’s connections with the rest of Europe and enhance the protection of critical maritime infrastructure. “In the current security environment, strengthening connectivity and mobility is essential,” Tsahkna said. “The Tallinn–Helsinki tunnel would be a natural extension of the Rail Baltica rail network, connecting northern and southern Europe and providing a resilient transport link across the continent.”
According to Tsahkna, given the growing importance of Nordic-Baltic cooperation, there is a particular need to strengthen connections that would lay the foundations for closer cooperation in other areas, from trade to innovation. “Together, the NB8 countries constitute the world’s tenth-largest economic region and are global leaders in education and innovation. The potential of our region is enormous.”
“A fixed link between Tallinn and Helsinki, together with the Fehmarnbelt tunnel between Germany and Denmark, would increase the competitiveness and security of the entire Nordic-Baltic region,” Tsahkna said. “We must therefore establish the necessary planning groups so that preparations for the construction of the tunnel can begin as soon as possible.”
The meeting also covered the 2027 Ukraine Recovery Conference, which will be held in Tallinn at the end of January. The Foreign Minister stressed that, at a time when Russia is intensifying its attacks against Ukraine and non-military provocations against Western Allies are also increasing, it is essential to keep the focus on Ukraine, Europe’s main line of defence, throughout the year.
“The aim of the Recovery Conference is to mobilise support for Ukraine in both the short and long term, helping the country restore critical infrastructure, strengthen its resilience and democracy, and accelerate its integration with Europe,” Tsahkna said. “Our aim is for the conference to move from agreements to concrete projects and action. We are working closely with the City of Tallinn, Ukraine, our NB8 partners and international Allies to ensure that the conference delivers maximum impact and lays a strong foundation for Ukraine’s long-term reconstruction.”
At the meeting, the Foreign Minister presented the Mayor with a letter of appreciation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to recognise the city’s contribution to the redesign of Iceland Square.
Additional information
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