The northern European cities of Helsinki and Tallinn have enjoyed close collaboration since 1992, and their current twin city status began in 2018, after a new agreement to this effect. The last update to this agreement took place in the spring of 2022. The cities are committed to continuing their joint work on several themes that benefit both capitals and complement each other.
”It is important that our fruitful cooperation with Tallinn continues seamlessly. I found it very interesting to meet the new Mayor of Tallinn Jevgeni Ossinovski and look forward to continuing our collaboration on themes that are central to our joint twin city development. We share the idea that our cities benefit from being so close, now and in the future,” Mayor Vartiainen said.
The mayors discussed enhancing the region’s visibility on the international arena, supporting Ukraine and the challenges presented to cities by new modes of transport such as drones.
Mayor Ossinovski said that he feels that the climate crisis is one of the greatest challenges that Tallinn and the entire country of Estonia is facing. He was interested in hearing about the City of Helsinki’s climate work, as was introduced by the city’s Climate Director Hanna Wesslin. Mayor Ossinovski also visited the city’s Urban Environment Division’s headquarters in the district of Kalasatama, where he was introduced to the activities of the city’s work in this area. In a meeting with the city’s Deputy Mayor for Education Johanna Laisaari, topical issues such as the recruitment of skilled workers and the use of mobile phones in the classroom were considered.
Two decades since Estonia joined EU
During his visit to Helsinki, Tallinn Mayor Ossinovski participated in an event arranged at the city’s Winter Garden. Here, Helsinki’s Deputy Mayor Anni Sinnemäki unveiled a commemorative plague associated with an oak tree that the Estonian government gifted to Helsinki 20 years ago, on the occasion of Estonian becoming a member state of the European Union.
Cooperation between the nations of Estonia and Finland reached a new level after Finland joined NATO in 2023.
