Project launched to review Finnish Border Guard’s preparedness powers

The Ministry of the Interior has set up a project to enhance the Finnish Border Guard’s powers related to preparedness to meet the demands of the changed security and operating environment. The project will assess and prepare the necessary amendments to legislation for normal conditions.

The needs to develop legislation concern, in particular, technical monitoring, the related automatic identification, and interception of unmanned devices.  

The project will also examine the powers of border control authorities during internal border controls, the regulation on border troops, and the powers of the Border Guard in maintaining public order and security. In addition, the regulation on international border security assistance and cross-border cooperation will be specified. 

“Finland will continue its consistent work to develop border security. It is essential to develop the powers of the Border Guard so that we can respond to the challenges of the changed security environment in the best possible way. We must ensure that border guards can operate effectively in all situations,” says Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen.

The aim is to submit the government proposal to Parliament during the autumn session 2025.

The needs for legislative amendments related to the maritime functions of the Border Guard will be assessed in a separate project. The powers of the Border Guard in emergency conditions will be examined in the overhaul of the Emergency Powers Act, which will be completed by autumn 2025.

Project motivated by Government Programme and previous preliminary studies 

According to the Government Programme, the powers of the Border Guard will be developed to meet the demands of the security environment. The Government will examine the need to increase the powers of the Border Guard at internal borders in accordance with the practices of other EU Member States and increase those powers as appropriate. The Government will also carry out an overall review of the regulation on incidents and crisis situations in all administrative branches.

In addition, the project will take into account the conclusions of previous preliminary studies and examine other needs for legislative amendments related to preparedness.

The Ministry of the Interior completed a review of the powers of the Border Guard at the internal borders of the Schengen area on 26 November. The review examined the powers of the authorities of other EU Member States at internal borders and assessed whether they would be suitable for Finland. The review also identified a need to set up a legislative project to prepare legislative amendments related to the Border Guard's preparedness and situational awareness with regard to internal borders. A comprehensive preliminary study of the need to develop the powers of the Border Guard was also conducted in 2022.

Inquiries:

Anne Ihanus, Senior Adviser for Legislative Affairs, tel. +358 295 421 608, [email protected]