HELSINKI, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Leaders from eight European Union (EU) member states met in Helsinki on Tuesday to discuss security issues along the bloc's eastern flank, according to a press release from the Finnish government.

The participating countries were Finland, Romania, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Poland. The meeting was hosted by Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, the release said.

"Our task is to ensure that the issue stays high on the agenda and is understood at the EU level," Orpo said.

At the meeting, the leaders agreed that Finland and Poland will coordinate a joint project aimed at strengthening collective defense of the eastern flank. ■