“The tunnel project is a large-scale initiative that is important not only for Estonia and Finland but for all of Northern Europe, which, among other things, requires close cooperation between the city of Tallinn and the government of Estonia. Next week, I will meet with Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna to share information about the meeting that took place in Helsinki and discuss the next steps,” said Mayor Raudsepp. The Tallinn-Helsinki tunnel will help fill a significant gap in the European Union's transport network, improving connectivity between the regions of Northern Europe and the Baltic. The project also has considerable potential in terms of security, including enhancing the reliability of communication channels and expanding military mobility capabilities. Additionally, it will serve as a logical continuation of the Rail Baltic project. Raudsepp added that from Tallinn's perspective, it is important to align the tunnel project with the city's current activities: “The goal of the city administration is to ensure that the possible construction of the tunnel is taken into account in the overall planning of Tallinn. The overall plan will be ready no later than 2029, and together with the next period of European Union funding, we must anticipate further steps.” During the visit, the parties agreed to continue close cooperation between the ports and discussed current urban planning issues. The discussion on urban planning topics also included Tallinn's Deputy Mayor Tiit Terik, who noted that Helsinki's experience is particularly valuable for Tallinn at a time when the city is developing a new overall plan. “The last overall plan for Tallinn was approved 25 years ago. During this time, both the city itself and the needs and expectations of people regarding the living environment have changed. The overall plan should help guide the development of the city as a whole – not only in terms of mobility and transport but also regarding the entire urban space and habitat,” said Terik. “In a rapidly changing world, it is important to revisit the overall plan more often than once every quarter-century. In Helsinki, it is revised twice as often, and this approach helps better address the changing needs of the city. This is the direction we want to pursue in the future in Tallinn as well,” Terik added. Tallinn and Helsinki have set a clear goal: joint actions in the rounds of European Union funding, in initiatives to create a 'green corridor,' and in strengthening tourism between the two capitals.
