HELSINKI, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Finland will receive 17 million euros (about 20 million U.S. dollars) from the European Union (EU) to strengthen surveillance of its eastern border and the Gulf of Finland, the Finnish government said on Friday.
According to a press release issued by the Ministry of the Interior, the funding will help improve Finland's border monitoring capacity and its ability to maintain an up-to-date situational picture.
The ministry said the Finnish Border Guard will use the funding to procure unmanned surveillance systems that can operate despite disruptions to satellite positioning systems, or GNSS interference.
The new equipment, including drones and unmanned surface vessels, will significantly enhance the Border Guard's ability to monitor both the eastern border and the Gulf of Finland, it said.
The funding is provided under the EU's Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy (BMVI). A total of 150 million euros was made available under the scheme, with Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Lithuania, Poland and Romania also receiving support. (1 euro = 1.16 U.S. dollars)
