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9.10.2023 | The Government will propose an appropriation of approximately EUR 2.5 billion for the administrative branch of the Ministry of the Interior in the 2024 Budget.

21.9.2023 | On Thursday 21 September, the Government appointed Kimmo Kohvakka, Master of Military Science, as Director General for Rescue Services at the Ministry of the Interior for the period from 1 November 2023 to 31 October 2028.

13.3.2025 | Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen visited Ukraine on 11–12 March and met with Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko. During her visit, Minister Rantanen also learnt about the various activities of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs’ branch of government, such as the situation centre and the operations of rescuers and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

11.12.2024 | During May and November, Finland delivered 68 truckloads of civilian material assistance to Ukraine.

30.11.2022 | On 24 November, Finland sent much needed help for the energy sector in Ukraine. The delivery package comprised components of the electricity grid, such as current transformers, circuit breakers and relays. Earlier this autumn, 28 current transformers were delivered to Ukraine.

10.4.2025 | In January, Moldova requested energy sector assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism after Russia had stopped gas deliveries to the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova. The situation has jeopardised the functioning and stability of the electricity sector throughout the Republic of Moldova.

29.12.2022 | Finland has sent more energy sector supplies and hospital supplies to Ukraine. Last week, Finland also delivered school furniture for the first time. This year, Finland has delivered a total of 55 trucks of civilian material assistance to Ukraine. New assistance packages are being prepared, among other things, for the energy sector.

15.3.2023 | Finland has been one of the leading providers of assistance to Ukraine's energy sector during the war. On Tuesday 14 March, the latest energy sector assistance, a smart solar power system, was sent from Finland to Ukraine.

3.9.2024 | “Next year’s budget proposal shows that the Government has the will to strengthen security. In Finland, help is available in times of need,” says Lulu Ranne, Minister of Transport, Communications and the Interior.

9.2.2022 | The final reports of the “Capacity of and planning criteria for rescue services and civil emergency preparedness” project have been published on the Institutional Repository for the Government (Valto). The objective of the project was to produce a basis for the national planning criteria for rescue services and investigate how well the resources and capacity of rescue services and civil emergency preparedness correspond to the operating environment, risks and customer needs. 

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.

24.5.2021 | The Ministry of the Interior has submitted the draft equality and non-discrimination action plan for rescue services for statements. The aim of the action plan is rescue services that actively and systematically promote equality in the long term. The draft action plan will be out for comments from 24 May to 30 June 2021.

19.3.2025 | The Finnish Ministry of the Interior and the Ukrainian Ministry of Strategic Industries signed a joint letter of intent concerning cooperation on civil defence shelters on 19 March 2025 in connection with the meeting between President of the Republic Alexander Stubb and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

18.11.2021 | In the supplementary budget proposal for 2022, a total increase of EUR 20.4 million is proposed for the administrative branch of the Ministry of the Interior. Appropriations are proposed for the development of the national security authorities’ KEJO common information system (EUR 6.85 million), for the Emergency Response Centre Administration’s information system fees (EUR 1.3 million) and for ...

24.2.2025 | Finland has been active in responding to Ukraine’s need for assistance. Finland has delivered more than 100 vehicles to Ukraine through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The latest consignment of 16 vehicles was delivered during the first weeks of February. Finland has also delivered more than 400 truckloads of civilian material assistance to Ukraine through the EU mechanism.

26.2.2021 | The Ministry of the Interior has set up a project to reform the administration of rescue services. The project will prepare for the implementation of the rescue services reform by developing the national guidance system to meet the requirements of the reform. The goal is to transfer the responsibility for organising rescue services from municipalities to wellbeing services counties in a controlled manner.

23.2.2024 | The second anniversary of the beginning of the Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine in its entirety will be this week on 24 February 2024. However, one anniversary was already observed last week on 15 February, when it had been exactly two years since the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism following Ukraine’s request for assistance.

8.12.2020 | According to the government proposal, the wellbeing services counties and the City of Helsinki would be responsible for organising rescue services in their respective areas starting at the beginning of 2023. Contract fire brigades could be used to provide these services as at present. The role of central government guidance and direction in rescue services would be strengthened.

15.6.2020 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of the Interior request comments on the draft government proposal concerning the health and social services reform and the organisation of rescue services. The act would lay down provisions on, for example the organisation of rescue services, and the system of management and coordination as well as development and oversight of rescue services.

5.6.2020 | On 5 June, the Government published its policy on the reform of rescue services. The Government proposes that the responsibility for organising rescue services would rest with health and social services counties and the City of Helsinki. Rescue services would continue to be a separate sector working in parallel with the healthcare and social welfare sector.