Minister of the Interior Päivi Räsänen: Working with Estonia to prepare for emergencies

Finnish Minister of the Interior Päivi Räsänen and Estonian Minister of the Interior Ken-Marti Vaher today signed a rescue services agreement between the two countries in the fields of emergency prevention, preparedness and response.

"Geographic proximity, long-term cooperation and knowledge of each other's systems and cultures are a good basis for successful mutual assistance between Finland and Estonia," said Ms Räsänen.

The purpose of the agreement is to protect people, property and the environment. It includes provisions on the parties' competent authorities and points of contact, emergency notifications, mutual assistance and joint measures.

"Our two countries' civil protection cooperation is not restricted to the EU — it extends across many forums involving the Baltic Sea countries, Baltic States and Nordic countries," said Ms Räsänen.

"Close regional cooperation seems to be today the only possible way to manage all the complex scenarios for which we have to be prepared here in the states around the Baltic Sea. We have a long tradition of effective cooperation with our neighbours in Estonia."

According to Ms Räsänen, the agreement does not only apply to acute rescue operations; it takes in training, exercises, exchanges of information and experts, and projects aimed at preventing incidents and enhancing preparedness.

Increased cooperation should be a particular priority in the field of accident prevention, where Estonia’s determined efforts in terms of preventive work and improved fire safety in the home have driven down the number of deaths caused by fires.

This new agreement, to be adopted by Parliament in autumn 2014, replaces the previous one signed in 1995. It will come into force in 2015.

Preparations for growing Eastern Mobility and visa-free travel

The Ministers also discussed the question of increasing Eastern Mobility and the possibility of visa-free travel between the EU and Russia. Ms Räsänen summarised what preparations Finland has made to prepare for the impacts on internal security of increasing traffic volumes across the eastern border and possible visa-free travel.

She considered it important for Finland and Estonia to step up their exchange of information and experiences in this field.

"Growing Eastern Mobility and the anticipated EU-Russia visa-free regime require real-time information exchange and cooperation between different authorities both nationally and at EU level."

For further information, please contact:
Mr Niklas Andersson, Special Adviser, tel. +358 295 488 213
Ms Tiina Peltola-Lampi, Director of International Affairs, tel. +358 295 488 444 (questions about the agreement).