Checks tightened for summit

HELSINKI: Finland will reinstate border controls for travellers from Schengen countries for four days during a summit in Helsinki between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the government said yesterday.

“The aim with this is to make sure that foreign nationals travelling to or from Finland fulfil the conditions for entry into or stay in the country as laid down by law and to identify persons who might pose a risk,” said the Ministry of the Interior.

Mr Trump and Mr Putin will meet in Helsinki on Monday, July 16 and several protests have been planned during their visit to Helsinki. The biggest one, billed as promoting the environment, peace, human rights and democracy, is scheduled for tomorrow, the day Mr Trump is expected to arrive.

“Internal border controls... will be targeted at passengers in accordance with the threat and risk assessments made jointly by the internal security authorities,” the ministry said.

The checks started from noon yesterday. The 26 European countries in the Schengen agreement allow free movement among them without identity checks.

Finland last reinstated border controls for travellers from Schengen countries in 2008 for a meeting of foreign ministers of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.