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8.9.2023 | Recent news has shown that countries in Europe also need to be increasingly prepared for serious, protracted and large-scale crises. Even in the EU, Member States have the primary responsibility for preventing, preparing for and responding to natural and man-made disasters.

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 ...

Civil preparedness strengthened through international cooperation

Rescue operations Rescue operations cover: receiving emergency calls issuing warnings to the public preventing potential accidents or hazards protecting people, property and the environment against danger, and rescuing accident victims extinguishi...

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...

International operations of the rescue services International cooperation with the European Union, United Nations, NATO, the Nordic countries and other neighbouring countries is part of the daily work of the rescue services. Finland may provide in...

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...

29.6.2026 | Venezuela was hit by two devastating earthquakes on 24 June. Finland is assisting Venezuela by providing emergency shelter assistance through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism.

26.4.2026 | On 26 April 2026, Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala visited Ukraine to attend memorials commemorating the Chornobyl nuclear power plant accident 40 years ago and to participate in a high-level meeting on improving the plant safety. She also took part in a G7+ meeting in Kyiv to discuss support for Ukraine for the winter of 2026–2027 amid Russia’s continuing attacks on energy and civilian targets.

30.9.2016 | Katastrofiriskien ennaltaehkäisy esillä korkean tason YK-vierailun yhteydessä

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.

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.

18.8.2025 | By decision of the Ministry of the Interior, Finland has sent a module for ground forest firefighting to Spain to help manage wildfires raging across the country. The module will be deployed in Spain for about a week.

24.7.2024 | Finland will participate in a rescue service deployment by sending 48 experts in international civil protection to Portugal. These experts will be tasked with helping local authorities manage wildfires. The first of two groups will leave for Portugal at the beginning of August.

3.6.2024 | Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen met Austria's Federal Minister for the Interior in Vienna on Monday. The ministers discussed cooperation between the two countries in migration policy, ways to manage migration, and partnerships with third countries. Minister Rantanen will travel from Vienna to Brussels, where she will participate in the European Civil Protection Forum's high-level panel discussion on EU preparedness.

5.3.2024 | Ukraine has requested assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in preparing for threats related to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear agents. Finland responds to the request by sending an expert to join the EU’s international team.

1.3.2024 | Czechia has requested assistance in preparing for wildfires through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Finland responds to the request by sending a risk management expert to join the EU’s international team in the country. 

20.10.2023 | Because of the escalating conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, more than 100,000 Armenians have fled the region towards Armenia. Armenia has therefore requested assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. This includes, among other things, necessities such as food packages, clothing and hygiene supplies.

17.1.2023 | The European Commission is funding the EU’s first chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear strategic reserve in Finland, under rescEU, which includes personal protective equipment, measuring equipment, pharmaceuticals and antibodies in Finland for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear accidents.

14.9.2023 | Libya has requested assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism following the destruction caused by Storm Daniel on 12 September. Libya has requested a wide range of assistance, including shelters, medical supplies and expert assistance.