European Commission President Barroso in Finland for a visit

President of the Republic Tarja Halonen met visiting European Commission President José Manuel Barroso on Friday, 4 March 2005 at the Presidential Palace.

During lunch President Halonen and President Barroso discussed timely EU affairs and the Union's external relations, among other things. President Halonen emphasized the importance of a coherent Russia policy in the EU. She also noted that the EU and the United States should work closely together in crisis situations and also at the everyday level.

During his two-day visit to Finland, President Barroso also met Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen and Speaker of Parliament Paavo Lipponen and spoke at a seminar arranged in honour on Finland's 10th anniversary as a member of the EU.

More information about Barroso's visit on the Finnish Governments website