Paavo Lipponen is also an advisor for the Nordstream company which intends to lay the pipeline between Russia and Germany. He says the government is on the right track by considering the pipeline as an environmental matter.

Talk of a security problem was unfounded, he added. In Lipponen's view, the pipeline was in accord with Finland's traditional role of promoting co-operation between east and west.

Reacting to Lipponen’s comments, Defence Minister Jyri Häkämies says Finland presupposes other nations will not increase their military presence in the Gulf as a result of the pipeline.

He said he understood security concerns on the issue but added that in his view the pipeline actually enhanced Baltic security.

“Russia needs the money while Europe needs the energy,” he said. One concern, though, was an increase in shipping traffic during the construction phase.