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11.9.2025 | Finland will host Rescue Borealis 2025, an international exercise bringing together hundreds of experts from Finland and abroad. The exercise strengthens cooperation between authorities in Euro-Arctic and cross-border emergencies. Rescue Borealis 2025 includes a field training exercise that will take place in the Oulu area between 29 September and 3 October 2025.

History of the ministry The Finnish Ministry of the Interior was set up in 1809 as the Administrative Department for General Management. In 1869, the name was changed to the Administrative Department for Civil Affairs, and in 1917, to the Administ...

3.2.2026 | As part of the European Union, Finland bears its share of responsibility for the impacts of Russia’s invasion in Ukraine. Public authorities alone cannot respond to the extensive need for aid; instead, assistance must be provided through broader cooperation. The Ministry of the Interior coordinates the provision of civilian material assistance to Ukraine through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism. 

27.11.2025 | The inauguration of the civil defence coalition co-led by Ukraine and Finland will take place in Kyiv on 27 November. Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will attend the inauguration to announce Finland’s EUR 11 million funding for constructing civil defence shelters. Finland has earlier confirmed approximately EUR two million in funding for the bilateral project, which makes Finland’s total support to Ukrainian civil defence sector about EUR 13 million. 

9.12.2025 | The Ministry of the Interior has procured 50,000 litres of foam suitable for extinguishing different types of fires for use by Ukraine’s rescue services. The foam purchase is part of an emergency assistance package coordinated by the Ministry through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The package consists of donations from various sectors of society and targeted procurements.

31.10.2022 | Finland has sent two international civil protection experts to Havana, Cuba, to support the training of local urban search and rescue personnel. Having identified a lack of expertise among Havana’s local authorities in conducting rescue from collapsed structures, Cuba requested international assistance to train urban search and rescue workers. The experts left Finland on Monday 31 October.

6.9.2022 | Finland has sent an expert in international civil protection to Pakistan to assist in coordinating humanitarian aid related to monsoon floods. The expert left Finland on Tuesday 6 September.

17.10.2025 | The Rescue Borealis exercise, conducted in Finland between August and October 2025, brought together around 700 professionals from healthcare, rescue services and other security authorities from Finland, Sweden, Norway and Germany. This multi-agency exercise, which was mainly funded by the European Commission and focused on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats (CBRN), was reportedly the largest of its kind in Europe in recent years.

17.9.2025 | Finland and Norway held a preparedness exercise on 15–16 September to prepare for serious accidents, crises and emergencies. The exercise entailed Finland sending medicinal products and medical supplies to Norway in a fictitious crisis scenario. The exercise was related to the EU’s shared emergency stockpiles, known as rescEU stockpiles, some of which are located in Finland.

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.

4.3.2022 | The Ministry of the Interior has decided to send three experts to Moldova to assist in coordinating the humanitarian assistance needed by people fleeing Ukraine. The experts left Finland on Friday morning.

14.4.2022 | The Ministry of the Interior has decided to send two experts to Poland and Slovakia to assist in coordinating the humanitarian assistance needed by people fleeing Ukraine. The experts left Finland on Wednesday evening. The Emergency Services Academy Finland is the employer of the posted experts.

7.3.2022 | The Ministry of the Interior has set up a legislative project to review the legislation within the mandate of the Ministry of the Interior concerning the provision and reception of international assistance.

6.6.2022 | The working group appointed by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs presents proposals concerning the amendment of the Act on the Making of Decisions Concerning the Provision of and Request for International Assistance. The working group proposes that the Act be amended so that its scope of application would cover not only international assistance but also activities arising from Finland's national needs without an outside request.

31.5.2024 | Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen and Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko held a videoconference on Friday 31 May. The home affairs ministers discussed Finland's assistance to Ukraine and Ukraine's immediate support needs. The ministers also talked about Ukraine's preparedness expertise.

29.9.2017 | Finland sends experts to Dominica to assist in relief and recovery after Hurricane Maria Ministry of the Interior Publication date 29.9.2017 14.48 | Published in English on 2.10.2017 at 11.27 Type: Press release 103/2017 Press release from the Min...

2.9.2025 | The Government of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has reached a decision on its budget proposal for 2026. The Government’s decisions aim to support economic growth, which is picking up. Supporting economic growth and continuing responsible fiscal management is necessary to ensure the security of people in Finland and safeguard their access to important services going forward.

Whistleblower protection Whistleblower protection safeguards people who report certain types of misconduct. In this case, a ‘whistleblower’ is a person who, in the course of their work, discovers a breach of European Union or national law concerni...

Questions and answers on gambling system reform General information on the gambling system reform Why switch over to a licensing system and retain a partial monopoly system instead of, for example, strengthening the current system based on the Vei...

10.12.2025 | Joint Statement delivered to the Conference of Ministers of Justice of the Council of Europe, 10 December 2025 The following States: Denmark, Italy, Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, ...