State Secretary for European Affairs, Märt Volmer, told ERR on Tuesday that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Social Affairs were in constant communication with their Finnish counterparts. The Estonian Embassy in Helsinki has also been working on the issue, and there is a COVID-19 cooperation working group that meets once a week.
Volmer said Kallas will also address these issues during her visit: “Travel restrictions are definitely a topic of discussion. Information will be shared and it will be explained what the Estonian side can do to change the situation through additional confidence measures.”
He added: “The proposals are complex and affect different authorities in both countries. It will take time to discuss them. Unfortunately, the spread of the Estonian infection has increased.”
Volmer confirmed that the Estonian authorities are working to get Finland to ease current entry restrictions by February 25.
The current infection rate in Finland is 97 per 100,000 population, in Estonia over 600.
Earlier this year Finland introduced restrictions restricting entry only to essential workers from Estonia. Thousands of Estonians live and work in Finland and travel regularly between the two countries.
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