Legislative project launched to bring police cooperation agreement between Finland and Sweden into force

The Ministry of the Interior has today set up a legislative project to prepare a government proposal for adopting and bringing into force the agreement on police cooperation in the border area between Finland and Sweden.

The Finnish and Swedish interior ministers signed the agreement on police cooperation in October. The agreement is applied in Finland in the territories of the municipalities of Enontekiö, Kolari, Muonio, Pello, Tornio and Ylitornio. In Sweden, the agreement is applied in the territories of the municipalities of Haparanda, Kiruna, Pajala and Övertorneå.

The agreement covers urgent situations related to prevention of serious crime

The agreement is applied only in urgent situations and it contains mainly two types of cooperation: measures carried out on request and without a request. A request can be made to the neighbouring country if urgent assistance is needed to prevent a serious criminal offence involving danger to the life, health or physical integrity of an individual. Such serious offences include rape, aggravated assault and homicide. However, the parties may also deny the request.

In the government proposal, Parliament will be requested to adopt the agreement. The proposal will also include a bill to bring into force the provisions of a legislative nature in the agreement. The project will also examine national legislation and, if necessary, relevant contents will be brought in line with the agreement.  

The project will run from 20 December 2021 to 31 May 2023.

Inquiries:
Hannele Taavila, Police Director, tel. +358 295 488 568, hannele.taavila@govsec.fi