Priorities in EU and international affairs in the Ministry of the Interior’s administrative branch for 2023

The Ministry of the Interior sets out annually the priorities that guide the international and EU activities in its administrative branch.

The general premise of the EU and international activities in the Ministry of the Interior’s branch of government is to support the development of the rule of law and the implementation of fundamental and human rights.

• Actively exert influence to reform the EU asylum system with the aim of creating a well-functioning system for all migration situations. Develop ways to anticipate migration movements and improve crisis preparedness nationally and at the EU level.
   
• Build tailored migration partnerships at bilateral and EU levels with key countries of origin and transit, covering return and readmission issues, reintegration and the development of legal pathways.
   
• Strengthen the resilience of the Schengen area by supporting the comprehensive development of the Schengen system.
   
• Promote effective European integrated border management by actively contributing to the launch of the multiannual policy cycle and to the updating of the regulation on the European Border and Coast Guard.
   
• Improve the operational capabilities of law enforcement authorities to respond to changing security threats. Ensure that the needs of the Ministry of the Interior’s branch of government as well as data protection and privacy protection will be taken into account comprehensively in the preparation of EU regulation on artificial intelligence.
   
• Show leadership at EU and international levels in preventing violent extremism and radicalisation.
   
• Reinforce the efforts to improve resilience and preparedness in the Nordic countries, the EU and NATO by actively highlighting Finnish expertise and effective cooperation models and promoting cooperation between the EU and NATO in these areas.
   
• Combat threats to national security by improving the security authorities’ ability to respond to information influence activities, hybrid influence activities and serious cyber threats, taking into account the objectives of the EU’s Strategic Compass and the resilience requirements imposed on critical infrastructure.
   
• Actively promote the use and development of national expertise in the formulation of the EU’s digitalisation, research and innovation policies and in the implementation of various programmes.

The Ministry of the Interior will monitor the impact and implementation of the priorities alongside the implementation of the Joint Strategy for the Ministry of the Interior’s Administrative Branch. In implementing the priorities, the Ministry will make full use of the available external financing.