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Rescue service operators and responsibilities Rescue departments carry out rescue service duties in their respective regions There are 21 regional rescue departments in Finland. Rescue departments carry out rescue service duties in their respectiv...

Order of precedence International flag etiquette should be observed when flags of more than one nation are flown. On international occasions, the flag of the host nation should have pride of place. This rule has also been incorporated in the decre...

Rescue services reform aimed at improving services Under the Act on Organising Rescue Services, adopted in June 2021, the wellbeing services counties and the City of Helsinki are responsible for organising rescue services from the beginning of 202...

Border management operators and responsibilities Responsibility for performing the duties of the Border Guard rests with nine administrative units. These units are the Border Guard Headquarters (which also operates as the Ministry’s Border Guard D...

Departments and units Police Department The Police Department deals with matters concerning the police administration under the National Police Board, combating crime, public order and security, licencing, firearms, gambling policy, the private se...

Frequently asked questions about the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war Russia attacked Ukraine on 24 February 2022 and launched a full-scale war. This page contains frequently asked questions about the consequences of the war in Ukraine. Entry into...

The EU or member states themselves are responsible for readmission agreements

National objectives for the functions of the wellbeing services counties The Government adopts, at least every four years, national strategic objectives for the performance of the healthcare, social welfare and rescue service functions of the well...

23.4.2025 | Finland has sent material assistance to the regions affected by earthquake in Myanmar through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The assistance consists of storage and hall tents and water purification tablets requested by the country.

25.6.2026 | Baltic Sea Security Meeting 18 June 2026; Final Statement 18 JUNE 2026 We, the Ministers and representatives responsible for the internal security, law enforcement and border management of the Kingdom of Denmark, the Republic of Estonia, the Repub...

6.3.2026 | Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Germany have agreed to deepen their cooperation on protecting the civilian population and have signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the ministries responsible for civil preparedness. The ministers discussed the Memorandum at a videoconference in February, with Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen representing Finland.

18.6.2026 | The interior ministers of Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Germany or their representatives have gathered for a meeting of the ministerial group on Baltic Sea Security on 17 and 18 June. The representatives of the countries will discuss drone-related threats in the region and joint measures to respond to these threats. The meeting is chaired by Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen.

10.12.2025 | An independent group of experts has conducted a broad-based interim evaluation of the wellbeing services county reform, which was published on 10 December. Minister of Social Affairs and Health Kaisa Juuso, Minister of Local and Regional Government Anna-Kaisa Ikonen and Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen consider the findings valuable.

25.5.2026 | At a roundtable event on 25 May 2026, representatives of wellbeing services counties, cities and labour market organisations developed a shared understanding of how to address drone-related threats and communicate about them to the public. The purpose of the discussion was to strengthen the resilience of society and increase understanding of what has already been done to ensure preparedness and how it can be further developed through cooperation. 

20.12.2023 | Civil defence shelters offer much more than strong protective structures. I don't think many people know about all the functionalities, devices and equipment that our civil defence shelters have – or should have, writes Project Manager Ira Pasi.

Services The emergency number in Finland is 112 Finland only has one general emergency number: 112. The same number works in all EU countries. You can call 112 free of charge from any phone without using an area code. You can also call 112 from a ...

13.11.2025 | Nordic ministers responsible for civil preparedness or their deputies will meet in Helsinki on 13 November. This so-called Haga ministerial meeting will be chaired by Finnish Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen. The ministers will discuss topical issues related to crisis preparedness in the Nordic countries.

9.1.2023 | Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari and Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen are visiting Kyiv, Ukraine, on 9 January. In Kyiv, the ministers are meeting Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration, Minister of Energy, Minister of Internal Affairs and the Mayor of Kyiv.

29.9.2022 | The Government appointed an advisory board for rescue services under the Ministry of the Interior in line with the Act on Organising Rescue Services. The advisory board consists of representatives from the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Ministry of Finance, the wellbeing services counties and the City of Helsinki. The first task of the advisory board is to discuss the national objectives of rescue services.

10.12.2025 | The wellbeing services county reform is progressing towards the set objectives throughout Finland, but there are still many issues left to address. This is according to a broad-based interim evaluation of the wellbeing services county reform made by an independent expert group.