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Preparedness is the key for the rescue services

16.4.2026 | Ministers responsible for internal security and preparedness (or their deputies) from Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden will meet in Helsinki on 16 April to discuss how the EU can prepare for security threats and various crises. Sauli Niinistö, former President of Finland, and Hadja Lahbib, the EU Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, will deliver the opening addresses.

14.10.2025 | The EU home affairs ministers will gather in Luxembourg on 14 October. The topics on their agenda include the development of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex and the reform of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Finland will be represented at the meeting by Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen. 

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.

NATO membership and Finland’s resilience Finland joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 2023. NATO membership will strengthen Finland’s security as well as the security and stability of the Baltic Sea region and Northern Europe. A...

Rescue services The Ministry of the Interior guides and directs emergency response centre operations, and prepares related legislation. The aim is to build a safe and crisis-resilient Finland. There are 21 regional rescue departments in Finland, w...

Small ministry, large branch of government The National Police Board and the Finnish Immigration Service operate under the Ministry of the Interior. The agencies provide guidance within their scope of activities. The Finnish Border Guard is respon...

The aim of the legislative project is to enhance national security and the resilience of society.

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...

Ministry of the Interior The Ministry of the Interior forms part of the Government. The Ministry of the Interior is the ministry for internal security. The Ministry’s vision is a safe and secure society in all situations. Under the Government Rule...

Activities of the Ministry of the Interior’s branch of government in the war in Ukraine As part of the European Union, Finland is doing its part for Ukraine with respect to the impacts of Russia’s war of aggression. In particular, we want to prote...

9.12.2025 | The Government proposes improvements to the Finnish Border Guard's preparedness and its ability to respond to the requirements of the changed security and operating environment. The Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments a government proposal for an act amending the Border Guard Act and certain related acts.

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...

Contact information of the management, departments and units Email addresses are in the format [email protected] , unless otherwise indicated. Management Mari Rantanen, Minister of the Interior, tel. +358 295 418 800 Matti Sarasmaa, Permanent Secr...

Joint EU reserve: rescEU The European Union’s rescEU system consists of reserves designed to prepare for various disasters. There are two rescEU stockpiles in Finland: the rescEU CBRN Stockpile , which prepares for chemical (C), biological (B), ra...

EU Civil Protection Mechanism helps countries confronted with overwhelming crises The EU Civil Protection Mechanism has become one of the most important instruments of international assistance in recent years. The Mechanism covers various natural ...

16.4.2026 | Helsinki, 16 April 2026 Statement of the European Coalition for Civil Preparedness and Resilience Ministers and representatives responsible for the internal security, civil preparedness and resilience of the Kingdom of Belgium, the Kingdom of Denm...

13.11.2025 | On 16 July, the European Commission put forward a proposal for a reform of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The reform is one of the key measures to implement the EU Preparedness Union Strategy. The Government informed Parliament of the proposal by submitting a Union communication on 13 November.

Government Programme measures to reform national security Finland’s security environment changed significantly when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The Government Programme aims to strengthen national security ...

2.10.2025 | The tense security situation underscores the importance of preparedness, both in the Baltic Sea region and in the Euro-Arctic area. Meeting new threats requires joint exercises and well-functioning processes, as underlined at the Rescue Borealis 2025 international field exercise held in Oulu.