Government Programme measures to reform border security

The Border Guard has been granted and will be granted more powers to improve the efficiency of criminal investigations carried out by the Border Guard. 

In November 2023, an amendment to the Act on Crime Prevention by the Border Guard entered into force. According to the amendment, an authorisation for traffic data monitoring to prevent crime will no longer be limited to particular network addresses and terminal equipment that are known at the time of requesting the authorisation; instead, the authorisation will be requested and issued for a particular person. The Border Guard can also use covert intelligence collection in an information network to prevent any offence for which the most severe punishment by law is at least two years' imprisonment. Covert intelligence collection refers to intelligence collection for a brief period during which the Border Guard can use false, misleading or disguised information. These legislative amendments gave the Border Guard powers similar to those of the police.

The Ministry is also preparing legislative amendments that would extend the Border Guard's right to carry out criminal investigations of human trafficking and money laundering offences in certain cases. With respect to secret intelligence collection measures and coercive measures, the reforms will mainly focus on the extension of the powers related to traffic data monitoring, covert intelligence collection and the use of covert human intelligence sources.

The Ministry is also reviewing the powers of the Border Guard at the internal borders of the Schengen area. In order to promote border security, the aim is to examine whether the powers available to the Border Guard when carrying out duties at internal borders are up to date, taking into account the regulation of other EU Member States.

Finland's security environment has changed fundamentally and the risks in the Border Guard's operating environment have increased. The Border Guard is prepared to manage border security incidents both on land and at sea, to deal with maritime accidents and to monitor Finland's territorial integrity.

The Border Guard will replace three outdated offshore patrol vessels with two new Turva-class offshore patrol vessels. The new vessels will upgrade the Border Guard’s capabilities to meet the demands of its duties and operating environment. The vessels will also support the important work of many other authorities at sea and in the archipelago. 

The Border Guard is also planning to replace the Dornier surveillance aircraft with two new multirole aircraft. New, more capable multirole aircraft will significantly improve Finland's border security and the monitoring of territorial integrity.

The aim of the Border Guard is to use more modern technology in its key statutory duties, such as border control and the maintenance of border security and order along the border. 

The ongoing legislative project seeks to extend the purpose and area of use of the technical surveillance carried out by the Border Guard. The Government has also proposed that the Border Guard be given new powers for conducting surveillance based on radio technology. It means the right to detect, locate, recognise, identify and monitor radio-frequency electromagnetic waves and radio equipment.

The legislative amendments aim to respond to the requirements of the changed operating environment and, for example, hybrid influence activities that exploit migration. The goal is to build situation awareness for directing the Border Guard’s operational activities and supporting decision-making on border security.

Finland is preparing for wide-ranging influence activities, such as those experienced by eastern European countries in recent years. The fence will improve our border control here and now. It will help support the management of incidents at the border significantly.

In practice, a physical barrier is essential in the event of instrumentalised migration or large-scale illegal entry. The fence will also reduce Finland's dependence on the effectiveness of Russian border control.

The Ministry of the Interior is working on a legislative project to combat instrumentalised migration and to strengthen border security. The project is preparing legislative amendments that will help strengthen border security and effectively combat any attempts to put pressure on Finland through instrumentalised migration. The purpose of the legislative amendments is to protect Finland against threats to its national security.