Finland and Sweden to strengthen civil preparedness and emergency planning together
At a meeting between the Finnish and Swedish governments in Stockholm on 16 September, the countries agreed to further intensify their cooperation in civil preparedness and emergency planning. Minister of Transport, Communications and the Interior Lulu Ranne and Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin signed a letter of intent concerning the joint planning of the protection of the civilian population.
Minister Ranne: Government strengthens police and Border Guard activities in budget negotiations
“Next year’s budget proposal shows that the Government has the will to strengthen security. In Finland, help is available in times of need,” says Lulu Ranne, Minister of Transport, Communications and the Interior.
Joint EU crisis preparedness helps support preparedness in all Member States
The civil preparedness ministers of the Nordic countries, Baltic States, Poland and Ukraine met in Vilnius on 6 September to discuss the current situation and common challenges. Items on the agenda included warning the population, civil defence shelters and mass evacuations across borders. Finland was represented at the meeting by State Secretary Antti Salminen.
Phase two of Rescue Act reform launched
The Ministry of the Interior has set up a project for the second phase of the Rescue Act reform. The government proposal is due to be submitted to Parliament in autumn 2025.
Municipal health protection authorities to be given powers to issue emergency warnings
The Ministry of the Interior has set up a project to amend the Emergency Warnings Act to enable municipal health protection authorities to issue emergency warnings if necessary.
Extensive project launched to develop regional preparedness for incidents
The Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Finance have launched an extensive project to examine the need for the development of regional preparedness and situation awareness activities. The aim is to introduce as uniform an operating model and practices as possible for managing emergency conditions and various incidents under normal conditions across Finland.
Finland to send rescue personnel to Portugal to help manage wildfires
Finland will participate in a rescue service deployment by sending 48 experts in international civil protection to Portugal. These experts will be tasked with helping local authorities manage wildfires. The first of two groups will leave for Portugal at the beginning of August.
Finland exercises use of EU strategic stockpiles
The EU’s strategic stockpiles in Finland can be deployed in major accidents and emergencies. Supplies must be ready for delivery within 12 hours. An extensive exercise was organised under the lead of the Ministry of the Interior from 27 May to 30 May 2024 where assistance was delivered to an accident area.
Minister Rantanen visits Vienna and Brussels to discuss migration and EU preparedness
Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen met Austria's Federal Minister for the Interior in Vienna on Monday. The ministers discussed cooperation between the two countries in migration policy, ways to manage migration, and partnerships with third countries. Minister Rantanen will travel from Vienna to Brussels, where she will participate in the European Civil Protection Forum's high-level panel discussion on EU preparedness.
Minister of the Interior Rantanen speaks with Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs
Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen and Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko held a videoconference on Friday 31 May. The home affairs ministers discussed Finland's assistance to Ukraine and Ukraine's immediate support needs. The ministers also talked about Ukraine's preparedness expertise.