Plans for the construction of a fence along Finland's eastern border are progressing on schedule.
Trees have already been removed from 45 kilometres along the surveyed fenced area in southeast Finland. Construction of the actual fence will start in late August near the border crossing checkpoint of Nuijamaa. The first phase will cover an area of 70 kilometres.
Last year, a pilot fencing project also covered about three kilometres near a border crossing checkpoint in Imatra.
"This year, construction will start in eight areas," said Erkki Matilainen, project manager for the eastern border fence.
A lot of preparatory work has already been done, including consultations with hundreds of landowners.
"There has been a strong mutual understanding with landowners," Matilainen told Yle.
In addition, there are open tenders for supplying materials, electricity and telecommunications connections.
This year, a 25-metre-wide strip of trees will be cleared running about 120 kilometres along the border to facilitate border control.
Matilainen added that the recently approved amendments to Finland's border laws will not affect the fencing project.
Funding speeds up project
According to Matilainen, the entire project budget has already been allocated to the Border Guard.
"In the spring, the third phase received early funding," he told Yle.
In practice, this means that the construction projects in the second and third phases can be carried out together for some areas.
The first part of the fence will be completed in 2025 and the main part of the whole project by summer 2026.