Budget proposal for 2021 to include additional resources for combating human trafficking

One of the aims of the Government Programme of Prime Minister Marin’s Government is to ensure that Finland is a safe and secure state governed by the rule of law, offers a stronger sense of security and secures the operational capability of the security authorities. The 2021 budget proposal includes a total of EUR 1.568 billion in appropriations for the Ministry of the Interior’s branch of government.

A team to combat human trafficking to be established within the police

An additional appropriation of EUR 4.1 million is proposed in the 2021 budget proposal to increase the human resources of the police. The aim is to increase human resources in the fight against human trafficking, in sparsely populated areas and in the combating of economic crime in the Greater Helsinki area.

Additional resources will now be allocated to sparsely populated areas to secure police response times and the availability of police services. The increase in resources to combat the grey economy and economic crime in the Greater Helsinki area will also help to implement measures to combat the grey economy set out in the Government Programme. 

The Government Programme of Prime Minister Marin’s Government includes a number of anti-trafficking measures, one of which is a team to be established within the police for detecting and investigating human trafficking offences. 

“The team to be established will play a key role in the fight against human trafficking. It will strengthen the capabilities of the police to tackle this serious form of hidden crime and its consequences. The police will also have a better understanding of the different forms of human trafficking,” says Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo.

Number of quota refugees to be raised to 1,050

The number of quota refugees to be received by Finland will be raised to 1,050. The number of quota refugees is estimated annually, taking into account the total number of asylum seekers. 

“Raising the refugee quota is an important way of helping those fleeing war and persecution, and the most vulnerable refugees. This way, we can create safe and controlled routes for refugees to seek refuge and we carry our global responsibility,” says Minister Ohisalo.

In view of the progress of the project to replace the outdated offshore patrol vessels of the Border Guard, funding for the acquisition of the vessels is necessary. In its sixth supplementary budget proposal for 2020, the Government is prepared to include a procurement authorisation for the Border Guard for two offshore patrol vessels.

The budget proposal for 2021 will be submitted to Parliament in a government plenary session on Monday 5 October. The figures presented here may change. They will become final after the government plenary session.

Inquiries:
Kati Korpi, Director of Finance and Planning, tel. +358 295 488 513, kati.korpi@intermin.fi 
Jussi Pyykkönen, Special Adviser to Minister Ohisalo, tel. +358 44 023 9149, jussi.pyykkonen@intermin.fi